From the assiduous efforts of Greek vintners, Greek wines presented at international competitions have won signigicant awards, making a dynamic appearance in markets abroad, with the result that Greece is regaining the reputation her wines had in antiquity. Today, although the international environment is in danger of becoming enologically monotonous through the popularity of a small number of selected varieties of grapes, Greek varieties are beeing cultivated which have nothing to fear from foreign ones.

Macedonia and thrace

Unquestionably the most traditional variety of the region is the Xynomavro. It is a grape over a large area in northern Greece. This excellent red variety, with its choice flavour can be found in Amyntaio, Goumenissa and Naoussa.

We do not know when viticulture began in Epirus, as ancient sources on the subject have disappeared. Today the region has been developed enologically only in Zitsa and Metsovo.

The Thessaly plain today presents great hopes for the development of Thessalian wine.

From the point of view of quantity, the geographic region comprising Sterea Ellada and Evia is the first in wine production. The most significant enological feature of Sterea Ellada is unquestionably the predominance of one particular wine, the popular retsina. If one wanted to define retsina, one would call it a dry, white resinated wine produced from Savatiano grapes. During the 1960s, the Kourtaki company took decisive steps to develop the quality of this much sung wine.

From the enological point of view, the Peloponnese has two important characteristics: 1) It is the most varied region in Greece in terms of terrain. In its interior there are indigenous varieties of grapes, and in the northwestern and western Peloponnese, one can identify the influence of the Ionian Islands. 2) The Peloponnese produces large quantities of wine, accounting for 25% of total wine production in Greece.

The Thessaly plain today presents great hopes for the development of Thessalian wine.

The Ionian Islands off Greece's western coast have certain specific features which affect their evolution from a viticultural point of view, with significant differences from one island to another.

Crete, known for centuries to the West by the name Candia, produces about 20% of all Greek wines. With a virtually ideal climate and soil, it has all the features necessary to make it the top region for wine production, and not only in Greece. The oldest winery that has been discovered in the world is at Archanes in Crete. It is said to date back to the Minoan age and proves that Minoan wine-making was technically the most advanced of its time.

Sources:
- HELLINIK INOGNOSIA, PERIIGISI STA HELLINIKA KRASIA, INIOHOS PUBLICATIONS, 1995. AUTHOR: ARGYRIS TSAKIRIS
- TO VIVLIO TOU KRASIOU, PBLISHED BY THE HELLENIC WINE ACADEMY WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MAGAZINE ATHINORAMA, ATHENS 1994.
- THE MAGAZINE "TROFIMA & POTA", NO. 208, JANUARY, 1998
- BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTATION: MRS ROULA GEORGAKI-VASILEIOU.

Written by
Nikos Komn. Hatzgeorgiou
Journalist