A wine trip to Magical Greece
Greek Wines
Plenty of researches have indicated that reasonable consumption of wine is beneficial for human's health. All Hellenic wines are considered of high quality due to the very special features of hellenic land, the temperate climate, the soil, the altitude and also the microclimate developed in several areas. The last years Hellenic wines have become known globally and have gained plenty of distinctions.
Hellenic Wines are followed by long tradition and history. The vineyards are the plants closely associated with the tradition and daily life of the Greeks from ancient times. The art of Wine making arrived in Greece from Egypt and Persia thousands of years ago. At that time wine was consumed in Greece mixed with water at a ratio of 1:3. It was part of daily life and a basic feature of the symposiums.
The history of wine continued without interruption in the course of time. Nowadays, wine is produced almost throughout Greek territory. Several wine varieties have been rescued while in the 20 century several Greek varieties were substituted by international ones.
In recent years "wine roads" bloom in many areas of the country and are intended to familiarize visitors with the characteristics of the wines of each region. Greece has applied to the European Union in order to fortify 33 wines as PDO and 114 as PGI.
Greek Wine VarietALS
The last years some Greek Wine Varieties have become famous globally
Despite their difficult to pronounce names, some Greek grapes have gained plenty of fans. More and more wine lovers from all over the world are asking for Assyrtico, Malagousia, Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, Liatiko and many more.
Assyrtico
PGI Dodecanese, Lipsi Island
It is a rare variety of the Aegean and one of the best in Europe and globally.
It gives excellent dry wines and sweet Vinsanto wines from sun-dried grapes. The dry wines are light, with relative acidity, high alcohol content, and a fruity flavor. One of the few Greek white wines that can mature in barrels. Its aging potential is from five to ten years.
It can provide excellent single variety wines but also matches extremely well with other varieties. This variety is key to PDO Santorini and the PDO Halkidiki Meliton.
Fokiano
PGI Dodekanese
Lipsi Island
Planted in the Greek mainland but mostly on the Aegean islands, red Fokiano yields dry red as well as sweet wines
VIDIANO
PGI Crete
Island of Crete
A very old Cretan grape which for many years was ignored, but due to the arduous and persistent efforts of some inspired winemakers of Crete has come back to the foreground and has given high quality wines in recent years
liatiko
PGI Crete
Island of Crete
It is considered to be one of the oldest varieties. It was the base of the famous Byzantine wine Malvazia known during the Middle Ages throughout Europe. It is mainly produced on the island of Crete, of Cyclades and the island of Zakynthos. It gives aromatic sweet or dry wine, of high degree and medium level of acidity wines. It lacks color and cannot give dry aging wines. It is part of DSQP and local wines.
Muscat of Alexandria
PDO Lemnos
Island of Lemnos
It has become famous on the island of Lemnos where it gives PDO wines. Although this variety can be found in other European countries, the Greek version is special. It is famous for its sweet wines, and recently gives dry and extremely aromatic white wines.
Limnio
PDO Lemnos
Island of Lemnos
This variety comes from the island of Lemnos and outside Lemnos also grows in the area of Halkidiki (PDO, slopes of Meliton) in northeastern Macedonia and in Maronia. There are references for this wine from Homer and Hesiod. It gives red wine with distinctive aroma and interesting color. It also gives excellent rose wines and white dry wines.
Mavrotragano
PGI Cyclades
Island of Paros
It was merely blended in the Santorini sweet wines and had become all but extinct. Today, it is one of the highly-touted varieties employed in producing reds
mandilaria
PGI Cyclades
Island of Paros
It is a very widespread variety on the islands of Greece, like the Cyclades, Crete and the Dodecanese, but can also be found to the Mainland of Greece. There are historical references from Pausanias to associate it with varieties cultivated in the island of Chios. It grows at low altitudes and hot climates and for this reason is widespread in the islands of Greece. It has a very rich color and is popular for blending with other varieties. It gives many PDO wines mixed with various others. One of its main features is the high amounts of tannins that contains.
malagousia
PGI Kozani
Konazi, Western Macedonia
It grows in different parts of the country, mainly in Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, Athens, Achaia and Etoloakarnania, where it comes from. It was one of the varieties threatened with extinction but was revived with great care and today is considered among the most powerful wines with an international perspective. It gives dry white wines and some excellent sweet wines. The wines have high levels of alcohol, strong flavor with good acidity and taste
Xinomavro
PGI Kozani
Kozani, Western Macedonia
It is a gentle variety of Northern Greece with great potential. It is grown especially in Macedonia (mainly in the region of Naoussa, Goumenissa and Amyntaio) and in the region of Thessaly (Rapsani). It gives red wine with particular color, ruby red to purple depending on age. It contains high levels of alcohol and high acidity. it takes part in many PDO wines
Messenicolas Black
PDO Messenicolas
Karditsa, Central Greece
It is a regional wine of the area of Karditsa called Messenikolas which owes its name to its Venetian origin. It gives DSQP wines along with Syrah and Carignan. It is only bottled by giving excellent rosé wines. The red wine is of moderate alcohol and of moderate color, light and with delicate perfumes.
Limnionas
Karditsa, Central Greece
It is considered one of the most dynamic grapes. It gives wine with dark red colour with strong taste of black fruits and a well balanced body. Its soft tanins are in balance with its acidity.