Greek wine varieties
Wine is a tradition of 4.000 years in Greece. Since the ancient times people produced and drank wine in this country. They consumed it mixed with water since they drank all day long.
Greece has more than 300 indigenous varieties of wine, which are 90% of the whole productions. Something which strongly indicates that most of the wine someone will find in Greece is produced from local varieties of grapes.
Some indigenous varieties are:
Agiorgitiko
A red variety from Nemea, Peloponnese
, with rich, velvet flavor.
Assyrtico
The most dominant variety in Santorini
, which can also be found in Halkidiki
, Epanomi, Drama and Peloponnese. White, it retains its high acidity even if it is fully maturated.
Limnio
Red, indigenous of Lemnos, with its routes in ancient Greece. It is also cultivated in Northern Greece.
Malagousia
Fine white variety with rich and aromatic flavor, it is an indigenous variety from Aetolia-Akarnania.
Mavrodaphne
A famous aromatic variety which is cultivated in the vineyards of Patra and Kefalonia
. It is an intense, sweet, maturated red wine.
Moschato
This variety offers a big range of white wines, from maturated sweat to fresh and fruity, sparkling ones. They have a distinctive aroma.
Moschofilero
It is a white variety, produced in Peloponnese, it has an intense, characteristic aroma. You can smell in it rose, mint and lemon.
Xinomavro
An elegant red variety from northern Greece. Which is cultivated all over the country since it easily adjusts to the epirotic climates.
Robola
A white variety cultivated in Kefalonia and in Central Greece. This wine is fresh with a lemony character.
Savatiano
The most widespread variety of the Greek vineyard. It is white, cultivated in Attica and all over Central Greece. It is used with Roditis variety for the production of Retsina.
Sideritis
A red variety with appetizing acidity. It is cultivated in Peloponnese, especially in Corinthus
, Achaia, Ilia, Attica and Evia
.
Mandilaria
Red variety of the Aegean Sea. Earthy aromas which are usually combined with other grapes since it is a "difficult" variety.