The Greece is one of the historic cradles of wine, with a winegrowing tradition going back more than 3.000 years ago.
From Dionysian mythology to the trade of antiquity, wine is an integral part of Greek cultural identity.

Today Greece is a modern, dynamic and fast-growing wine region, able to combine ancient native grape varieties with contemporary winemaking techniques.
Its extremely varied territory — made up of islands, peninsulas, mountains and plateaux — offers a unique mosaic of terroirs, which allows the production of wines mineral, aromatic, Mediterranean and long-lived.

The climate is generally Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers, mild winters and strong maritime influences, though in the inland and mountain areas it becomes more continental.
The soils range from volcanic (Santorini) to limestone (Macedonia), from schist and slate (Peloponnese) to clay and sandy ground.

What is the Greece wine region?

Greece is divided into 8 main wine macro-regions, each with very clear identity traits:

1. Macedonia

A cool, mountainous northern area: the home of Xinomavro.

2. Thrace

Structured wines, aromatic and international whites.

3. Epirus

High altitude and heroic viticulture: Zitsa and Debina.

4. Central Greece

Mainland Assyrtiko, Savatiano and Retsina.

5. Thessaly

Modern reds and rosés from Krasato and Stavroto.

6. The Peloponnese

The cradle of many important PDOs: Nemea (Agiorgitiko), Patras, Mantinia (Moschofilero), Monemvasia-Malvasia.

7. The Ionian Islands

Robola di Cefalonia, fresh, mineral whites.

8. The Aegean and Crete

Santorini: iconic Assyrtiko
Crete: Vilana, Vidiano, Kotsifali, Liatiko
Rhodes, Paros, Samos: Muscat and sweet wines

The Greek PDOs number more than 30, with some wines rated among the best in the Mediterranean.

Characteristics of Greek Wines

Whites

• Colour: Pale, bright yellow

• Aromas: Citrus, flint, white flowers, Mediterranean herbs

• Palate: Mineral, saline, fresh, often volcanic (Santorini)

Reds

• Colour: Bright or deep ruby

• Aromas: Red and black fruit, spices, wild herbs

• Palate: Warm, Mediterranean, elegant, velvety tannins

Desserts

• From Muscat and Assyrtiko: dense, aromatic, complex

Sparkling wines

• Mainly based on Roditis and Moschofilero, aromatic and fresh

Typical Grape Varieties of Greece

White Grape

• Assyrtiko – iconic, mineral, saline

• Moschofilero – aromatic and floral

• Malagousia – elegant and modern

• Roditis, Vilana, Vidiano, Debina, Robola

Black Grape

• Xinomavro – structured, tannic, long-lived

• Agiorgitiko – soft and fruity

• Mavrodaphne – sweet or dry, complex

• Kotsifali, Mandilaria, Liatiko

Why choose a wine from Greece?

• It offers indigenous grape varieties found nowhere else in the world

• Mineral, volcanic whites among the best in the Mediterranean

• Elegant, balanced reds, often very long-lived

• Combines history, tradition and modernity

• Excellent value value for money