Greek wine regions

The Greek wine regions are extremely varied. There are different climates, different soils and last but not least, each region has its own grapes and traditions. On the mainland, three regions can be distinguished, and of course there are many islands.

Greek wine regions

Macedonia

The Greek province of Macedonia - not to be confused with the country of the same name - is located in the northwest of Greece, near the border with Albania. In Greek Macedonia, mainly red wine is made. The most famous appellation from Macedonia is probably Naoussa, a rich red wine from the Xynómavro grape.

Thrace

Greek Thrace is located in the northeast, near the border with Bulgaria. A very old wine region where, after years of oblivion, dry red wine is once again made from both international and Greek grapes and often sold as table wine.

Ionian Islands

On the west side of Greece lie the so-called Ionian Islands. Kefalonia is the most important. Quality wines are made here from the white Robola and the white Muscat and the red from Mavrodaphe grape.

Peleponnese

The Peloponnese, the peninsula west of Athens, is the largest wine region in Greece. Some of the most famous Greek wines come from the Peloponnese: Nemea, Mantinia, the Muscat of Patras and the Mavrodapne of Patras.

Crete

A very old wine region, but after years of silence, wine growing on Crete only flourished again in the 1930s. It now accounts for almost a quarter of the total Greek wine production. Cretan winemakers press a wide range of white, rosé and red wines, both dry and sweet.

Cyclades: the islands in the Aegean Sea

Wine is produced on many of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. The most important are Santorini, Samos, Limnos and Paros. Together they are called the Cyclades. Vineyards were already present on several of them in ancient times. Because of the heat and the wind, the vines are tied together in bunches, close to the ground. Several ancient and indigenous grape varieties grow on the islands.

Rhodes

Rhodes, like Crete, is in fact one of the Cyclades. Rhodes was already an important wine producer in ancient times. Good wines are still produced there. Not only red and white still wine, but also sparkling wine, the oldest in Greece, which is sold there as table wine. Read more about Rhodes >>