Kotsifali thrives in low-fertility, calcareous clay soils.
The soil in the Dafnes area ranges from medium-textured to clay loam and is rich in calcium carbonate, exceeding 40%. The presence of calcium carbonate neutralizes soil acidity, with pH levels ranging from 7 to 8.5—ideal for the absorption of trace elements by the vine.
Calcium carbonate also improves soil structure, ensuring good drainage and stable temperature conditions. These soil characteristics support excellent phenolic and technological ripening of the grapes, contributing to wines with rich body and structure, deep color intensity, and balanced acidity.

The vineyards of the Dafnes region are located northeast of Mount Psiloritis.
The terrain of the wider area is shaped by approximately three main hill ranges, running almost parallel from the northern to the southern part of the region, at an altitude of 300–500 meters.
The vineyards of Dafnes are planted on the slopes of these hills, mostly facing east or west.
The elongated valleys between the hills act as natural channels, carrying cool air from the Cretan Sea toward the center of the region, keeping summer temperatures at excellent levels. Rainfall is rare during the summer months, allowing the vines and grapes to remain healthy.
It is this unique microclimate that has enabled vine cultivation in the area for centuries, dating back to the Venetian era, from the 13th to the 17th century.

Shape–Size: Medium to large, round, five-lobed. The lower sinuses are deep and narrow, U-shaped.
Veins: Green, smooth and slightly hairy around the petiole area on the upper surface; green, downy, and slightly shiny on the underside.
Blade: Flat, sometimes slightly wavy, thick, with faint blistering.
Teeth: In two rows, uneven in size, small with slightly curved sides, blunt. Petiole green with reddish streaks, striated, generally smooth, sometimes slightly hairy, short.

Small to medium-sized, almost spherical to slightly flattened.
The skin is of medium thickness, resilient, reddish-purple to reddish-brown, with abundant bloom.
The flesh is soft, colorless, slightly tart, flavorful, and juicy.
The pedicel is short and easily detachable.

The berries usually contain 1–3 seeds, typically two per berry, medium-sized, spindle-shaped.

Yellowish-brown to grayish, elliptical or circular in cross-section, angular, with lenticels, smooth.

The ampelographic description is based on the book “The Cretan Grapes” by Manolis and Maritina Staurakakis.