VISIT GREECE & THE GREEK WINE REGIONS
The Greek island of Santorini and its vineyards
Photo source: Wine Keller
Our suggestions for exploring Greece’s wine regions:
Greece is a Mediterranean wine producer, which is only just emerging onto the global wine stage, a crazy statement perhaps, considering its particularly long, rich and fascinating wine history!
The vine in Greece dates back to the 7th century BC and on into the Roman era, in fact early Greek colonisation led to the vine being taken to all parts of the Mediterranean, thus laying the foundations for viticulture and the whole later development of wine in this area. Greek wine was traded within Greece and exported throughout the Mediterranean world via Athens.
Greek wine has been enjoying something of a renaissance which started in the 1980s, with the emergence of a new wave of winemakers, many trained in France. Most of Greece’s wine production is consumed in Greece, but there has been a growing focus on the export market since the financial crisis in Greece in the early 2010s. Today, global interest in Greek wines is growing, due mainly to its many intriguing grape varieties and the production of wines with real local character.
Greek wines offer great value and the opportunity to really push the boundaries and to try something new!
Wine regions in Greece
Wine map of Greece - source: Wine Folly
There is a common misconception that Greece is a challenging wine region due to high temperatures, however much of the terrain is unsuited for growing vines and temperatures are cooler inland than on the popular coasts.
The climate is typically Mediterranean with long, hot summers and short winters, but the variations in climates and terrains mean that there is a great variety in the wines.
Greece is very mountainous (Europe's third most mountainous country) and many of the vines grow in poor soils, which produces some great wines.
Vine growing areas are small due to the limitations presented by the land, the soils and the climate. Vineyards are owned and managed by many small-holders and many of these supply their grapes to the larger négociants.
The Greek wine regions are varied and are made up of northern, central and southern Greece and the many Greek/Aegean islands (approximately 150 inhabited islands).
On the mainland, vine growing is naturally concentrated around Athens in central Greece, but significant winemaking development and innovation is evident in parts of northern Greece, especially in Greek Macedonia and in southern Greece on the Peloponnese peninsula. Of all of the Greek/Aegean islands, the largest, Crete is the most dominant in terms of vineyards and wine production. Central Greece is dominated by co-operatives and négociants and is home to Greece’s largest wine region Attica, the home of the traditional Greek wine, Retsina.
Types of Greek Wines and Greek wine grapes
About 70% of the annual production is white wine, however there are also some excellent red Greek wines too. There are many local, indigenous grape varieties - more than 300 have been identified - although many of these are used solely for dried fruit and table grapes. About 80 grape varieties are used in winemaking today. Much is still to be discovered and documented about Greece’s impressive range of local, traditional grape varieties.
The controlled and protected appellations across Greece are called PDOs - or ‘Protected Designation of Origin’.
Many you won’t have heard of, some you will have tried - here is a list of some of the best Greek wines to get familiar with:
Some of the best Greek white wines:
Savatiano: Similar to a Chablis or White Burgundy - can be oaked
Assyrtiko: One of the top Greek white wines and grown all over the country - but most impressive from its home region, the island of Santorini. A lean white wine with passion fruit, flint, and lemon flavours, subtle bitterness, and saltiness on the finish.
Moschofilero: Dry white wine from Mantinía on the Peloponnese peninsula - an aromatic, floral, scented grape.
Some of the best Greek red wines:
Agiorgitiko: A full-bodied red wine from Neméa on the Peloponnese peninsula - similar in style to Merlot but more spicy and makes excellent rosés.
Xinomavro: Powerful red wines from Náoussa in Macedonia, Northern Greece. Often compared to Italian Nebbiolos.
Rapsáni: From the Thessaly region, Northern Greece, powerful red blends based on Xinomavro grapes - often compared to Rhône blends.
Crete: Red blends made from the traditional red grapes of Kotsifali and Mandilaria and also often blended with Syrah.
Greek white wines
Rapsáni vineyards, Greece
Santorini sweet, sun-dried Vinsanto
Other types of Greek wines:
Retsina: Retsina is the traditional Athens wine, made from the white Savatiano or Assyrtiko grape varieties and infused with the sap of the Allepo pine tree. It is often perceived negatively, but that’s probably because only a few producers make it really well! Excellent quality retsinas can be found and they match perfectly to the Greek national and traditional dishes.
Sámos Muscat wine: Based on the Muscat blanc grape and made in a variety of styles from dry to sweet.
Vinsanto: From the island of Santorini and made from late-harvest, sun-dried white grapes and aged for at least two years in oak.
For more information on the range of Greek wines and grapes visit The Wine Society website.
Planning your wine tour in Greece
Greece may not yet be at the top of the list for wine tourists, but it is certainly one of the top tourist and holiday destinations!
A Mediterranean country with a warm, sunny climate, azure seas, endless beaches, beautiful islands, rugged mountains, amazing historical sites, delicious cuisine and excellent local wines, Greece offers something for everyone. It is a spectacular land of beauty and varied landscapes and also the birthplace of civilisation and democracy - how can you not want to visit Greece??
When to plan to visit Greece
The best time to visit Greece is in the late spring, early summer, or beginning of Autumn. Temperatures are warm and rain is minimal. If you have no choice and have to travel in July and August, just be aware that it will be busy and very hot!
Photo: Wine Keller
Travelling to and around Greece
Greece has 15 International airports mostly located on the islands and in the main cities.
For those who wish to ‘island-hop’ all Greek islands are linked to the mainland and there is a regular service between them. Greek ferries are of a high standard and it’s a great, fun way to travel and explore Greece.
Traditional Greek cuisine
One of the many joys of visiting Greece is to sample its mouthwatering cuisine. Greek wines, which are sometimes quite spicy and bitter, perfectly match the simplicity and boldness of traditional Greek dishes.
Greece embodies the best of Mediterranean gastronomy - think world-class olives and olive oils, aromatic herbs, amazing cheeses and yoghurts, fresh fish, bright salads, scrumptious bread and pitta bread.
Popular local dishes include dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), tzatziki, keftedakia (Greek meatballs), souvlaki (skewers of spiced chicken, beef, pork or lamb), strapatsada (scrambled eggs with a rich tomato sauce and feta cheese), spanakopita spinach pie with filo pastry and moussaka.
Moussaka
Greek meze with spinach pie
Dolmades - stuffed vine leaves
The best places to visit for a Greek wine tour:
We would recommend that the best Greek wine regions to tour and arrange some winery visits and wine tastings include:
Náoussa in Macedonia, Northern Greece - Xinomavro red wine country
Rapsáni in Thessaly, Northern Greece in the foothills of Mount Olympus - powerful red blends
Neméa on the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece - for luscious Agiorgitiko red wines
Mantinía on the Peloponnese peninsula - for dry, white, aromatic Moschofilero wines
Crete for a wide range of juicy reds and dry whites
Santorini for its excellent Assyrtiko white wines and vinsanto
Kefalonia - a tourist hotspot but home to some excellent white Robola wines
If you don’t fancy planning your own trip we would recommend booking a tour - see below for some suggestions.
For general information about Greece see Visit Greece
Santorini is perhaps the best known of all the Greek islands - famous the world over for its views, white-washed villages, sunsets, culture, gastronomy and also wines! See what we discovered when we visited beautiful Santorini…