The Genetic Legacy of Cretan Landrace Grapevines and Their Relationship to the Southern Levant

Societal Impact Statement Grapes are more than an agricultural crop; they are a vital part of human history, economy, and culture. Yet the origins of many traditional varieties remain unclear. By studying the genetics of Cretan grapes, we discovered that they are a “genetic mosaic”—combining local lineages with those from the Southern Levant and Eastern Europe. This insight underscores how centuries of human travel and trade shaped the realm of viticulture. Understanding this historical pathway helps to protect these unique varieties and preserve their genetic diversity, contributing to the resilience of vineyards in the face of global climate change. Summary Cultivated grapevines ( Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera ) have a long‐standing Mediterranean history shaped by millennia of human‐mediated diversification. Crete, with viticulture roots dating back to the Minoan period, hosts some of the world's oldest vineyards and traditional landraces, yet their genomic origins remain a subject of debate. We investigated the genetic legacy of Cretan landraces by integrating new genomic data from Cretan and Israeli cultivars into a global grapevine dataset. Population‐level analyses ( F 3 statistics, F ST , PCA, and STRUCTURE) were employed to evaluate the genetic affinities of the pan‐Greek population—with a specific focus on Crete—relative to Southern Levantine and Eastern European lineages. Results reveal substantial genetic diversity in Cretan landraces, consistent with long‐term cultivation and selection. Cretan grapevine genomic profiles align with the broader pan‐Greek population, forming an ancestral continuum that connects Eastern European lineages with those of the Southern Levant. These shared genetic affinities, supported by population‐structure analyses, indicate that regional exchange, rather than insular isolation, was the primary driver of Cretan germplasm development. Notably, shared ancestry between Greek and Southern Levantine cultivars is consistent with previous archaeological and genomic evidence suggesting historical westward movement of grapevine material across the Eastern Mediterranean. Crete emerges as a unique genetic reservoir of grapevine genetic diversity and a hub for Mediterranean exchange, redefining traditional concepts of island insularity. The findings highlight the role of Cretan grapes as a biological and cultural crossroads in Mediterranean viticulture. Consequently, conserving these traditional landraces is crucial for cultural heritage and for ensuring grapevine resilience under climate change.