Old World
Greece wine
One of the oldest wine cultures in the world, now best known internationally for Assyrtiko from Santorini and Xinomavro from the north.
Overview
Greece has been making wine continuously for thousands of years, and retains a large catalogue of indigenous varieties that exist essentially nowhere else.
Assyrtiko, grown on the volcanic island of Santorini, is the country’s international calling card: bone dry, extremely high in acidity and often saline in character, with a structure closer to a serious white Burgundy than to a simple Mediterranean white.
In the north, Xinomavro produces pale, high-tannin, high-acid reds that are frequently compared to Nebbiolo — a comparison that holds for structure and savoury character rather than for flavour.
Mediterranean and frequently hot, with altitude and strong island winds providing the freshness that latitude does not.
Regions
mediterranean · hot
Attica
The region around Athens, the historic home of Retsina, and now a source of serious dry Savatiano.
mediterranean · hot
Crete
Greece’s largest island, with a 4,000-year winemaking record and a set of indigenous varieties found nowhere else.
continental · moderate
Drama
A cool northern Greek region growing international varieties alongside indigenous ones, at the foot of the Rhodope mountains.
continental · moderate
Macedonia
Northern Greece, and the heartland of Xinomavro — the country’s most structured and longest-lived red variety.
continental · high-altitude
Mantinia
A high plateau in the Peloponnese producing floral, delicate whites from Moschofilero.
continental · moderate
Naoussa
Northern Greece’s benchmark region for Xinomavro, producing high-tannin, high-acid, savoury reds.
mediterranean · moderate
Nemea
The Peloponnese home of Agiorgitiko, Greece’s most planted red variety.
mediterranean · moderate
Peloponnese
The southern Greek peninsula, containing Nemea and Mantinia and most of the country’s vineyard.
mediterranean · hot
Santorini
A volcanic Aegean island where Assyrtiko is grown in low basket-trained vines, producing intensely mineral dry whites.
Wines
Grapes grown here
Sources
Sources consulted
- Wines of Greece — Greek Wine Federation
- eAmbrosia — the EU geographical indications register — European Commission