GREEK WINE REGIONS
REGIONES VINICOLAS DE GRECIA
GREECE
FOCUSES ON INDIGENOUS GRAPES
Wine industry is experiencing a boom with radical transformation, thanks to new generations of skilled winemakers that have learned the world’s best winemaking practices. Vineyards in Greece are located in diverse and different soils, terrains and altitudes between sea level and 1,000m (~3,280 ft).
GRECIA
ENFOQUE EN VARIETALES INDIGENAS
Wine industry is experiencing a boom with radical transformation, thanks to new generations of skilled winemakers that have learned the world’s best winemaking practices. Vineyards in Greece are located in diverse and different soils, terrains and altitudes between sea level and 1,000m (~3,280 ft).
REGIONES DE VINO
- NORTE: Epirus, Macedonia Y Thrace
- ISLAS AGEAS: Islas Mediterraneas (Santorini, Samos, Límnos)
- GRECIA CENTRAL: Thessaly Yattica
- GRECIA DEL SUR: Crete, Peloponnese y Kefalonia
APELLATIONS + CLASSIFICATIONS
Just like in France there are AOC in Greece wines come from specific regions and their producers have become as important as their regions. Many viticultural regions of Greece’s 34 PDOs (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and more than 100 PGIs have roots in their soils and traditions.
34 PDI - PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN
MACEDONIA: Goumenissa, Naoussa, Amynteo, Slopes of Melton.
EPIRUS: Zitsa
IONAN ISLAND: Robola of Cephalonia, Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia, Muscat of Cephalonia.
THESSALY: Rapsani, Anchialos, Messenikola.
WEST GREECE: Patras, Mavrodaphne od Patras, Muscat of Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras.
PELOPONNESSE: Nemea, Mantinela, Monemvasia Malvassia.
CRETE: Malvasia Candia, Candia, Arcanes, Daphnes, Sitia Malavasia Sitia.
NORTH AEGEAN: Lemnos Muscat of Lemnos, Samos.
DODECANESE: Rodhes, Muscat de Rhodes.
CYCLADES: Paros Malvasia Paros, Santorini.
32 PGI-PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION DISTRICTS
1- EVIA
2- SERRES
3- THESSALONIKI
4- HALKIDIKI
5- MOUNT ATHOS
6- PELLA
7- FLORINA
8- KASTORIA
9- KOZANI
10- IMANTHIA
11- PLERIA
12- GREVENA
13- IOANNINA
14- CORFU
15- LEFKADA
16- ZAKYNTHOS
17- KRADITZA
18- MAGNISIA
19- EVIA
20- THEBES
21-ATTIKI
22- ILLIA
23- ACHAIA
24- KORINTHOS
25- ARKADIA
26-ARGOLIDA
27- MESSINA
28- LAKONIA
29- CYCLADES
30-DODEKANESE
31- HERAKLION
32- LASITHI
APELACIONES Y CLASIFICACIONES
Cómo Francia tiene sus AOC Denominaciones geográficas de control, también los productores Griegos se han convertido tan importantes como sus regiones especificas. Existen alrededor de 34 PDO (Designación de Origen Protegida) y mas de 100 Indicacion Geografica Protegida) las cuales tienen sus raíces en sus suelo y sus tradiciones.
34PDO DESIGNACION DE ORIGEN Protegida
MACEDONIA: Goumenissa, Naoussa, Amynteo, Slopes of Melton.
EPIRUS: Zitsa
IONAN ISLAND: Robola of Cephalonia, Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia, Muscat of Cephalonia.
THESSALY: Rapsani, Anchialos, Messenikola.
WEST GREECE: Patras, Mavrodaphne od Patras, Muscat of Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras.
PELOPONNESSE: Nemea, Mantinela, monemvasia Malvassia.
CRETE: Malvasia Candia, Candia, Arcanes, Daphnes, Sitia Malavasia Sitia.
NORTH AEGEAN: Lemnos Muscat of Lemnos, Samos.
DODECANESE: Rodhes, Muscat de Rhodes.
CYCLADES: Paros Malvasia Paros, Santorini.
32 PGI-INDICACION GEOGRAFICA PROTEGIDA
1- EVIA
2- SERRES
3- THESSALONIKI
4- HALKIDIKI
5- MOUNT ATHOS
6- PELLA
7- FLORINA
8- KASTORIA
9- KOZANI
10- IMANTHIA
11- PLERIA
12- GREVENA
13- IOANNINA
14- CORFU
15- LEFKADA
16- ZAKYNTHOS
17- KRADITZA
18- MAGNISIA
19- EVIA
20- THEBES
21-ATTIKI
22- ILLIA
23- ACHAIA
24- KORINTHOS
25- ARKADIA
26-ARGOLIDA
27- MESSINA
28- LAKONIA
29- CYCLADES
30-DODEKANESE
31- HERAKLION
32- LASITHI
VINEYARDS/VIÑEDOS
NORTHERN GREECE - EPIRUS MACEDONIA AND THRACE WINERIES/VIÑEDOS
CENTRAL MACEDONIA
Argatia Winery – Naousa
Kokkinos Winery – Naousa
Found Estate – Naousa
Vaeni Naousa – Naousa
Kelesidis Estate – Naousa
Boutari Naousa – Naousa
Ktima Kir-Yianni – Naousa
Tatsis Winery – Naousa
Estate Chrisoou – Naousa
Domain Diamantakos – Naousa
Domain Dalamara – Naousa
Kourtis Oinovion – Pieria
Kechri Winery – Thessaloniki
Ktima Gerovassiliou – Thessalinikki
Arvanitidis Estate – Thessaloniki
Domain Porto Carras – Chalkidiki
Livadiotis Estate – Chalkidiki
Mylopotamos Athos – Chalkidiki
Tsantali Halkidiki – Chalkidiki
Tsantali Mount Athos – Chalkidiki
Ktima Ligas – Pella
GP Kenos Loutraki – Pella
Chatzivaritis Estate – Kilkis
WEST MACEDONIA
Domain Karanika – Florina
Amyntaio Winery – Florina
Alpha Estate – Florina
Dio Fili Winery – Kozani
Stergiou Kastoria – Kastoria
Magel Kastoria – Kastoria
EAST MACEDONIA AND THRAKI
Oenogenesis Winery – Drama
Wine Art Estate – Drama
Ktima Pavlidis – Drama
Domaine Costa Lazaridi – Drama
Domaine Michaelidi – Drama
Gennima Psihis – Drama
Chateau Nico Lazaridi – Drama
Vourvoukeli Estate – Xanhti
Biblia Chora – Kavala
Simeoditis Estate – Kavala
Katogi Averoff Winery – Epirus
Zoinos Winery Zitza – Epirus
Domaine Glinavos – Epirus
CENTRAL GREECE: ATTICA, THESSALY-RAPSANI WINERIES/VIÑEDOS
THESSALY
Filia Gi – Thessaly
Monsieur Nicolas Winery – Thessaly
Domaine Migas – Thessaly
Thessaly is divided in five regional units: Larissa, Karditsa, Magnesia, Trikala and Sporades.
Larissa produces PDO Rapsani, PDI Kranion and PDI Tirnavos.
ANTICA
ATTICA VINEYARDS/VINEDOS
Panagiotou Vasilis Attica
Domaine Vassiliou
Roxani Matsa Estate Attica
Domaine Evharis Attica
Mylonas Winery
Nikolou Winery
Kellari Papachristou Attica
Pyrgos Vasilissis
Domaine Costa Lazaridi
Allagiannis
Megapanos
Georga family Attica
Domaine Evinos Attica
Anagnostou
Gikas winery
Ktima Fragou
ktima Kokotou Stamata
Zahaios
Chateau Kaniaris
Strofilia Anavyssos Attica
Domaine Papagiannakos
RAPSANI WINERIES
Rapsani-Larissa prefecture, is the most important appellation of Thessaly. At Mount Olympus, the region Rapsani’s best vineyards are at higher elevations (over 500 m / 1,640 ft) With 370 acres, these vineyards occupy the smallest wine area where the Xinomavro variety is cultivated.
Tsantali Rapsani – Rapsani
Dougos Winery – Rapsani
SANTORINI: Area 7,619 Ha (76,19 km2) = 18 WINERIES/VIÑEDOS
Venetsanos winery
Santo Wines
Canava Avantis
Canava Roussos
Canava Petros Nomikos
Gavalas Winery
Canava Chryssou-Tselepos
Kasteli Vaggelis Karamolegos
Hatzidakis Winery
Domaine Sigalas
Boutari Winery
Volcanic Slopes Vineyards
Volkan Wines Koutsoyannopoulos
Estate Argyros
Artemis Karamolegos Winery
Arvanitis Antonis
Gaia Santorini
Vassaltis
SOUTHERN GREECE: PELOPONNESE, CRETE, KELAFONIA WINERIES/VIÑEDOS
PELOPONNESE AREA 250 HA = 30 large-scaled WINERIES + 2 PREFECTURES Corinth and Argolida. It’s located 127 km from Athens. It’s the biggest vineyards of the Balkans. AKA “Bordeaux of South Eastern Europe”
KORONIOTIS – Nemea
DOMAIN BAIRAKTARIS – Nemea
ANTONOPOULOS – Achaia
NESTOR WINERY – Messenia
DOMAIN SKOURAS – Nemea
LEFKIOTIS WINERY – Nemea
RAPTIS ESTATE – Nemea
LAFAZANIS NEMEA – Nemea
CAVINO AIGIO – Achaia
ZACHARIAS NEMEA – Nemea
ACHEAON WINERY – Achaia
DOMAIN MEGA SPILEO – Achaia
PAPANTONIS WINERY – Nemea
TSELEPOS ESTATE – Arkadia
COOPERATIVE WINERY OF NEMEA – Nemea
BARAFAKA – Nemea
DOMAIN SPIROPOULOS – Arkadia
TETRAMYTHOS WINERY – Achaia
BIZIOS ESTATE – Nemea
IEROPOULOS FAMILY WINERY- Nemea
ESTATE THEODORORAKAKOS – Laconia
GAIA WINES – Nemea
KTIMA BRINTZIKI – Illia
PALIVOS ESTATE – Nemea
ANASTASIOU ESTATE – Nemea
KINTONIS WINERY – Achaia
MECOURI ESTATE – Illia
AIVALI WINERY -Nemea
LANTIDES DOMAINE – Nemea
NEMEION ESTATE – Nemea
DOMAIN REPANIS – Nemea
SANT’OR WINERY Achaia
GIANNIKOS ESTATE – Nemea
PARPAROUSSIS WINERY – Achaia
DOMAIN NIKOLAU – Nemea
RIRA AIGION – Achaia
SEMELI WINERI – Nemea
SOFIA TIS WINERY – Nemea
KARAMITSOS ESTATE WINERY – Nemea
TROUPIS WINERY – Arkadia
ACHAIA CLAUSS – Achaia
CRETE PGO (Protected Geographical Origin) are:
Archanes – red wines
Heraklion, Dafnes – red wines
Heraklion, Peza white & red wines
Heraklion, Sitia & Malvasia of Sitia white & red wines, dry & sweet Lasithi,
Handakas – Candia & Malvasia white wines.
GRAPES / UVAS
NORTHERN GREECE - GRAPES + FLAVOR PROFILE
GRAPES/UVAS NORTHEN GREECE: EPIRUS, MACEDONIA, THRACE
RED/ROJAS
Xynomavro
Limnio
WHITE/BLANCAS
Malagousia
Assyrtiko
Sauvignon Blanc
ZITSA:
WHITE: Debina
RED: Vlahiko
Zitsa, Epirus is a cooler region with high altitude mountains covered with pine trees and where the Debina grape grown. This grape produces white and sparkling wines with soft floral and citrus notes.
Xinomavro (The Barolo of Greece) the most important grape in Macedonia, Northwest of Epirus. It is being grown in the regions of Naoussa and Amyndeo. This wine is reminiscent of the Nebbiolo grape, delivering flavors of red fruit like cherries, licorice, cinammon, and savory notes. Xinomavro brings high-tannins and medium plus acidity. In Naoussa wine makers produce fruity wines with high tannins.
Malagousia, was saved from extinction by wine maker Vangelis Gerovassiliou owner of a winery with the same name, 25 km from Thessaloniki. Wines made with Malagousia brings a richer white wine style, reminiscent of Viognier and Chardonnay. It offers fruity flavors of peach, lime, and orange and lemon oil.
More grapes of Northern Greece: Assyrtiko and Roditis, which are often blended with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Malagousia that produce rich, peppery white wines with gooseberry, and melon flavors.
CENTRAL GREECE- ATTICA, THESSALY AND RAPSANI: GRAPE/UVAS + FLAVOR PROFILE
GRAPE VARIETIES
WHITE: Savatiano, Retsina, Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Begleri and Chardonnay
RED: Xynomavro, Agiorgitiko, Krasato, Stavroto, Limniona, Vradino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
CENTRAL GREECE FLAVOR PROFILE
This has similar to Napa Valley and Sonoma near Mount Olympus which is an area dedicated to create red wines. Best wines are found at higher elevations (over 250 m / 1,000 ft). made with Xinomavro, Krasato, and Stavroto. Also Limniona for rosé.
Wines from here are usually blends, with a dominance of Xinomavro and spicy flavors of raspberry, anise, fennel, cherry, and sometimes savory flavors of olive or tomato with well structured tannins. This wines are reminiscent of Rhone Valley wines in France.
Down south is hotter and arid, a white wine is produced: Savatiano. This wine has a good and bad reputation of over producing low quality wine with Savatiano and Retsina, a white wine that’s infused with sap of an Aleppo pine tree.
Today wine makers are taking Savatiano and Retsina seriously and good quality Savatiano wines are being produced with flavors of sweet melon, green apple, and lime with tingling acidity. This wine is reminiscent to Chablis. When is oak-aged, Savatiano offers more personality with flavors of lemon curd, wax, with lemon bread notes and a creamy mid-palate structure and finish similar to Burgundy.
Red wines made with Xinomavro and classic grapes offer more savory fruit. Vradiano brings flavors with tasty ripe strawberry, black pepper, and tropical fruit notes blended with a well balanced dry tannins.
ANGEAN ISLANDS: SANTORINI, SAMOS, LIMNOS. GRAPES/UVAS + FlaVOR PROFILE
GRAPE VARIETIES
WHITE GRAPES: Assyrtiko (Santorini), Muscat Blanc (Samos), Athiri, Malvasia (called Monemvasia)
RED GRAPES: Limnio (Límnos), Mandilaria (Paros), Mavrotragano
White Assyrtiko to its full expression of a classic in Santorini. Its wines bring fruity elements with passion fruit, flint, and citrus notes of lemon with a subtle bitterness and saltiness on the finish. Assytiko labeled as Nykteri are always oaked at different levels and it brings an intense lemon, and orange peel, pineapple, fennel, cream, and apple baked pie notes.
Also in SANTORINI Vinsanto is a classic seductive, sweet thick dessert/apperitif wine based on Assyrtiko, Aidani, and Athiri, its a sun-dried sweet wine with high acidity and pronounced tannins with notes of raspberry, raisin, dried apricots, and maraschino cherries.
In SAMOS the Muscat Blanc/Samos variety is one of the world’s most widely used and travelled grape. This grape makes dry to sweet with aromatic lychee and perfumed notes.
Also the most popular style is Vin Doux, a blend of Muscat juice and Muscat grappa/spirit, which offers sweet tropical and jammy flavors of lychee, with light hay notes on the finish (classic flavor from the grappa). Aged Muscats, get deeper in color as they age with more raisin and cocoa-like flavors.
In Límnos is the home of Aristotle’s favorite grape, Limnio, with notes of raspberry fruit and herbs. This wine also grows in mainland where it’s blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, with flavor profile of a Bordeaux.
SOUTHERN GREECE: PELOPONNESE, CRETE, KELAFONIA - GRAPES/UVAS + FLAVOR PROFILE
PELOPONNESE
WHITE: Moschofilero
RED: Agiorgitiko, Mavrodaphne
GRAPES/UVAS FROM CRETE
WHITE: Vidiano
RED: Kotsifali, Mandilaria, Liatiko, Syrah
GRAPES/UVAS FROM KEFALONIA
WHITE: Robola, Roditis
RED: Mavrodaphne
SOUTHERN GREECE WINES FLAVOR PROFILE
Agiorgitiko, is the most used grape in Nemea up north in Peloponnese. Red wines bring full-bodied flavors of sweet raspberry, black berries, plums, cinnamon and herbs like oregano with spicy peppery tones. These wines are reminicent to Merlot.
The varietal Moschofilero is grown in central Mantineia,/Peloponnese. The flavor profile of this grape brings dry, aromatic white wines with notes of peach, potpourri, when age it develops sweet citrus tones of mandarin and apricot flavors with toasted almond notes.
In the upper northern tip of the Peloponnese lies Kefalonia, known to produce sweet red wines with Mavrodaphne grapes, today wine makers are making white wines based on the Robola and Roditis (leaner) grapes. Roditis brings citrus, melon, saline and oil lime flavors. Robola, a rare grape, used in Kefalonia. Delivering richer flavors of sweet lemon, pineapple, and beeswax, with rich passion fruit flavors.
Down south of Greece lies Crete island and Vidiano, is the most popular grape that makes every day dry white wine with tones of mango, pear, and sweet apple pie flavors with subtle acidity.
Crete red grapes: Kotsifali, and Mandilaria, is usually blended together to create wines with both sweet red and black fruit flavors, cinnamon, allspice, and savory elements, with soft sweet tannins.
Another indigenous rare grape is Liatiko, that makes aromatic red wines with aromas of sweet cherries, roses, and cinamon, and mild acidity.
