To Know Means To Enjoy

When we talk of PDO wines, all of their production stages are carried out inside the designated area, while grapes must also originate exclusively from the same area.

Correspondingly, with respect to PGI wines, the above relate to at least one of their production stages, while with respect to the grapes, at least 80% must originate from the particular area.

The geographical environment from where every grape originates is also reflected in the wine it will produce. The climate and microclimate of every region, the vineyard’s orientation, the altitude, the variety selected and, of course, the entire vinification process which will then follow, are all combined in that we refer to as “wine”.

Xinomavro, the diva of viticultural varieties in Greece, reigns supreme mostly in central-western Macedonia. It is a multidimensional variety offering a wide spectrum of wines and which can produce, besides red wines with the capacity for long-term aging, rosé, white, orange style, sparkling, sweet, even exquisite viticultural distillates.

November 1st is established as the International Xinomavro Day

A proud red variety grown in central-eastern Macedonia and Thrace and one of the oldest varieties in the world, Limnio, which has been cited by Homer, Hesiod and Pollux, offers elegant wines which are usually worth consuming while they are young.

Malagousia, the “Cinderella” of the Greek vineyard, revived in Halkidiki and spread across the land. A white aromatic variety, full of liveliness and complexity, it is very popular and grown with notable success in Macedonia.

Asyrtiko, the variety from the Aegean and Santorini which made Greece known as a wine producing country all over the world! It is worth noting that Asyrtiko found a home away from home in Northern Greece, since the soil and climate conditions favour it, boosting its aromatic characteristics.

Debina is the queen of Epirus. A white variety, also producing a wide spectrum of wines, such as Xinomavro, while it is well known for the sparkling and semi-sparkling wines it produces. Debina is complemented in Epirus by two red varieties, Vlachiko and Bekari. All three of these varieties of Epirus cannot be found anywhere else save for Zitsa in Ioannina.

The area of Drama is renowned for the robust cultivation of international varieties, which include, besides the French ones, also Italian, Spanish and Portuguese varieties. Moreover, Drama has established a very distinctive style of white wine in the market, the blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Asyrtiko, combining the wealth of aromas of the first with the acidity and minerality of the second.

From Amynteo, Siatista, Holy Mt. Athos and Pangeo we get, besides the dry well-tempered wines, also sweet, sundried, late harvest wines and the monastic “Nama”, all ideal recommendations for aperitif or dessert wine.

Many Greek white varieties are common in the vineyards of Norther Greece, such as Roditis, Moschomavro, Moschato, Athiri, Vidiano, while there are also red varieties, such as Negoska, Mavrodafni, Agioritiko, Mavroudi, Mavrotragano and several local varieties.

Besides, several international, mostly French, varieties are grown throughout Northern Greece. The first Cabernet Sauvignon in Greece was grown in Metsovo, at an altitude of 1,050 meters. Tsapournakos, a clone of Cabernet Franc in grown in Velvento near Kozani, while the altitude in Amynteo and Kastoria gives us a Sauvignon Blanc with distinctively high acidity. One of the most impressive Chardonnay in Greece can be found in Krania on Mt. Olympus and Grenache Rouge is cultivated in Halkidiki with great success. Of the red varieties, Syrah is very popular in Northern Greece, producing wines with a style that rivals the appellations of Northern Rhone.

Other international varieties we come across in the vineyards of Northern Greece are: Merlot, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Aglianico, Verdichio, Montepoultsiano, Tanat, Gewurztraminer and Semillon.