Northern Greece Wine Roads
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orthern Greece always held an exceptional position in winemaking and it achieved several firsts in the development of Greek wine: it was in Naoussa that the first wine was bottled (Naoussa Boutari, classified by Wine Spectator among the 100 best wines in 2013), and this is where the first dry Greek wines began exports. It is the uniqueness of Mount Athos, the impressive appearance of Drama, the Sithonia Cabernet, the mountainous robustness of the Metsovo reds that put Greek wines on the global map. 28 winemakers suggest 8 routes across northern Greece, stopping at the most important vineyards of Thessaly (Rapsani, Krania), Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace. The visitor can stop at wineries and taste the wines where they are made, meet the people discover the gastronomy of each area where the aromas and the tastes seem to harmonize with the land.
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Wine RÎżute of the Olympian Gods
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eautiful Rapsani is famous for its rich vegetation, its wonderful view, the mild climate, the cool gurgling water from Olympus springs and of course its wine. The vineyard, spread over less than 2,000,000 sq.m., with a production of just over 1,000 tons, climbs the hilltops of Profitis Ilias, in the communities of Rapsani, Pyrgetos, Ampelakia. Most vines are planted on the Tempi side for eastern and south-eastern exposure to the sun, at an altitude between 100 and 700 meters. Three varieties are cultivated, all red: Xinomavro, Krasato, Stavroto. Collective winemaking produces Rapsani, a red wine with an intense bouquet and a curvy body. On the eastern slopes of Olympus, the French varieties of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvugnon and Merlot were planted in the traditional community of Krania with the wonderful micro-climate, the sparse rainfall, the cool summer with the morning Aegean breezes and the evening mountain winds from Olympus and the excellent soil. These produce the white and red Local Krania Wine.
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Wine RÎżute of Epirus
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reshness and aromatic finesse of the Zitsa white wines and the mountain robustness of the Metsovo reds. Two centuries ago, Lord Byron and his co-traveller John Hobhouse spent two days in the monastery of Profitis Ilias in Zitsa. The natural environment enchanted the poet so much that he wrote a long poem about the vineyards of Zitsa, mountainous, spread over slopes, enjoying the view of the Ionian. 95% of the vineyard is taken up by the Debina variety, which makes nice bubbly wines. High on Pindos, in picturesque Metsovo, the residents are woodwork, textile and embroidery artisans. Their cheeses are much sought after, just like their wine. Here there are the most mountainous vineyards in the country, at an altitude that reaches 1,000 meters, producing the red Local Metsovo Wine and Epirus tsipouro.
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Wine Rοute of the Lakes
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liakmonas, the largest river in Greece, the lake of Polyfyto, Vegorotida, the lake of Petres, Kastoria. The wet element plays a defining role in Velvedou and Amyntaio wines. Amyntaio took its name from Alexander the Great’s grandfather and is in the north-west corner of Greece, near the Albanian-FYROM borders. At an altitude of 650 meters, it spreads over the Vermio mountain range, away from the influence of the Aegean. The pure continental climate is even milder due to the Vegoritida lake, and so harvesting of the Xinomavro extends to midOctober. There is a revolution at the moment in Amyntaio with bubbly rosés and whites, taking into advantage the development of more and more wine and all day bars in the country, which promote the consumption of easily drunk wines. Besides Xinomavro, conditions here are ideal for the cultivation of white varieties. From Roditis, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer, the white Local Florina Wines are born, with an impressive fruity intensity and varietal formality.
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Wine RÎżute of Naoussa
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aoussa, an all-green picturesque town in central Macedonia, has connected its name with the sacrifice of women at the Arapitsa waterfalls, with a renowned festival and its deep-red robust wine. Its vineyards are on the southeastern slopes of Vermio in a privileged position, as they are protected from the cold north winds and benefit from the midday sunrays. The famous OPAP Naoussa wine is made exclusively from the fine red Xinomavro grape, which reaches perfect maturity easily in Naoussa. Inevitably, white Local Imathia Wines are produced with the blanc de noirs method.
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Wine RÎżute of Pella-Goumenissa
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o the north-west of Thessaloniki, Goumenissa is a beautiful town with obvious architectural elements of mountainous Macedonia, which once lived from its silk and wine. Coming down into the Pella valley, the vineyards spread out across the eastern slopes of Paiko mountain, where the Vardaris wind blows throughout the year, while the humidity from the neighboring valley of Axios moderates the summer heatwaves. Researchers believe that this is where Euripides got his inspiration for the Bacchae. Apart from Xinomavro, the red Negoska is also cultivated. We visit the wineries of Christos Aidarinis, Boutaris, the Tatsis family, and, of course, the ever-green Paiko in the background. On the Giannitsa hills, in the heart of Pella, the vine has been cultivated since ancient times. We stop at the Liga winery with the 150-year-old press and the archaeological site of Pella, which was once the capital of the Macedonian kingdom. Other magnets in the area are the Edessa waterfalls, the Kaimaktsalan ski center, and the Poza baths for relaxing in the natural pools with the thermal springs.
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Wine Route of Thessaloniki
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rom the Thermaikos coast to the mountains and down into the plains, famous wines are produced in this region. The climate in Epanomi is Mediterranean with warm summers, but the cool wind from the sea slows down the ripening of the grapes. The Local Epanomi Wines are made from Asyrtiko, Malagouzia, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Syrah, Merlot, Grenach Rouge, Limnio, Mavroudi, Mavrotragano. In the mountains, on the south-west slopes of Vertisko, close to the Ossa settlement, the vines grow among clusters of oak, beech and chestnut trees. In the lowlands we meet Nea Messimvria. Most of its residents brought the experience of vine growing from Eastern Rumelia, when they immigrated to their new land. Today the Roditis is grown here. It is mixed with the white Zoumiatiko to produce the Local Messimvria Wine. The renowned Macedonian tsipouro is made throughout the region.
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Wine Route of Halkidiki assandra, Sithonia and Athos. Three peninsulas full of vineyards and wine tasting. The vineyards in central Halkidiki extend over low hills, next to the sea, where the breeze balances the extreme summer temperatures. White grapes are mostly cultivated here. On the sunny slopes of the Melitona mountain, the dry climate and the beneficial humidity from the Aegean Sea favors the production of fine wines. From Limnio, an old Greek variety, and the French Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, comes the red OPAP Melitona Slopes. There is a long-standing winemaking tradition in almost all Mount Athos monasteries. This blessed strip of land with the mild climate, the ample sunshine, the mountain dew and the sea humidity produces the white Agioritiko, one of the first bottled wines that made an impression in the 70s, while Metochi, one of the best Cabernets in Greece, is made organically on a beautiful vineyard in Metochi, Chromitsa.
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Wine Route of Dionysus
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trong wine emotions from wines produced on the slopes of the majestic Paggaio mountain in Serres, Drama, Avdira and beautiful Maroneia. On the southeastern sheltered foots of the Paggaio, on rocky, well-draining soils, the vines have the cool breeze of the Strymonas gulf. Here, winers created model vineyards and wonderful wineries. They chose to plant cosmopolitan varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, Ugnie Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Greek: Roditis, Asyrtiko, Limnio, Agiorgitiko. The irresistible Dionysian charm of the Paggaio mountain leads us to Drama. Their exemplary vineyards in the valley and the low hills east of the town are planted with many white and red varieties. Vines in Maroneia are cultivated on mild hills, with Ismaro mountain behind to protect them from the cold northerly winds. Before them, the Aegean, softening the winter cold.