Delve into the Assyrtiko, Vidiano, Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro, Robola, Moschofilero, Malagousia and Debina wines, and explore the famous Flotilla fresco in Akrotiri, Santorini, the palace of Knossos on Crete, the Stadium at Nemea and the ancient theatre of Mantineia, in the Peloponnese, the oracle of Dodoni in Epirus, the archaeological site of Dion and the early Christian monuments of Thessaloniki, in Macedonia. 10 of the best places to visit for the perfect wine tour!
1. SANTORINI
Over the centuries, Santorini has suffered from the eruptions of its unpredictable volcano. Nevertheless, the success of its wines is due to its volcanic soil, as well as to the prolonged sunshine, the wind, the lack of rain and the method of pruning the vines in the shape of a coil.
The PDO wine-growing zone includes areas of Santorini and the neighboring island of Thirasia. The flagship of the local vineyard is Assyrtiko, followed by varieties such as Aidani, Athiri, Mavrotragano and Mandilaria. Santorini has also built a strong name for itself in the field of wine tourism, with several wineries to visit. At Domaine Sigalas you will not only taste famous wines from great vineyards but also exquisite spirits. Estate Argyros has new facilities that make it one of the great architectural constructions of the island. Don’t leave without tasting the great twenty-year-old Vinsantos and the fine Assyrticos from the Monsignori series. Art Space, with its dry, sweet and organic wines, combines wine with art, since the winery is connected to an exhibition space.
Info
Domaine Sigalas, Baxes, Oia, Tel. (+30) 22860.716.44, tastings from €18.
Estate Argyros, Episkopi Gonias, Tel. (+30) 22860.314.89, from €15.
Art Space, Exo Gonia, Tel. (+30) 22860.327.74, from €10.
2. IRAKLEIO
In the prefecture of Irakleio, in central Crete, in an area where the Minoan civilization flourished and where a Minoan winepress dating back to 1600 BC was found (Vathypetro), today there is fertile soil for a quality Cretan wine, which combines traditional varieties with modern techniques. The prefecture of Irakleio has built a strong reputation as a wine production destination (PGI Irakleio, PDO Archanes, PDO Dafnes, PDO Peza). Douloufakis Winery produces wines from local and foreign grape varieties: Vidiano, Vilana, Kotsifali but also Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Syrah. Lyrarakis Winery also invests in local grape varieties, including Melissaki, which was transplanted from the foothills of Psiloritis to a family vineyard to produce a special dry wine. At Domaine Paterianakis they have chosen organic farming, cultivating Cretan and French grape varieties to create matching blends.
Info
Douloufakis Winery, Dafnes, Tel. (+30) 2810.792.017, tasting from €15.
Lyrarakis Winery, Alagni, Tel. (+30) 2810.336.648, from €10.
Domaine Paterianakis, Melesses, Tel. (+30) 2810.226.674, from €12.
3. NEMEA
Nemea is located in the Peloponnese and is only an hour and a half from Athens, which is why it is ideal for one-day wine tours. The famous Agiorgitiko grape variety is cultivated in the PDO Nemea zone. One of the most famous wineries in the area is Semeli Estate, with wines that are suitable for the autumn and winter table. One of its pluses is the neutral carbon footprint certificate that the winery has received, which is confirmation of its stance on environmental issues. Domaine Skouras is one of the most recognizable names among the wines produced in Nemea. One of its standout labels is the aged Megas Oenos (PGE Peloponnese), a blend of Agiorgitiko (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%). Palyvou Estate, apart from Agiorgitiko, deals with varieties such as Roditis, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Info
Semeli Estate, Koutsi, Tel. (+30) 27460.203.60, tasting from €19.
Domaine Skouras, Malandreni, Tel. (+30) 27510.236.88, from €10.
Palyvou Estate, Archaea Nemea, Tel. (+30) 27460.241.90.
4. KEFALONIA
Kefalonia is considered an established wine destination in western Greece. The PDO wines of Robola, Muscat of Kefalonia and Mavrodafni of Kefalonia are all produced on the island. You can stop by Oralios Gaea, the Vine Growers of Robola of Kefalonia Cooperative, consisting of around 300 vine growers, to indulge in the island’s most famous variety, Robola. At Sclavos Wines they love Mavrodafni of Kefalonia and other local varieties (Vostilidi, Tsaousi), which they cultivate using a biodynamic method. At Haritatos Vineyard you’ll also find wonderful vinifications of Mavrodafni and Vostilidi.
Info
Haritatos Vineyard, Kladata, Tel. (+30) 6976.108.768, tasting at €20.
Sclavos Wines, Kehrionas, Tel. (+30) 26710.922.15, sclavoswines.gr, from €12.
Vine Growers of Robola of Kefalonia Cooperative ̶ Oralios Gaea, Omala Winery, Tel. (+30) 26710.863.01, from €8.
5. DRAMA
Drama has achieved something that in most other wine destinations requires a great deal of effort: to come out united, with a single wine identity. It is not a certain variety or a specific winery that plays the leading role, but Drama itself, its terroir and the work of the winemakers who build its brand name. With PGI Drama, PGI Agora and PGI Adriani wines, the region produces some recognizable wines. At Pavlidis Estate you will find the Thema Trilogy (white, rosé, red) together with Emphasis Tetralogy, consisting of four different varietal wines, while at Wine Art Estate special wines such as Nebbio are produced from the red Nebbiolo grape variety of Piedmont.
Info
Pavlidis Estate, Kokkinogeia, Tel. (+30) 25210.583.00, free tasting.
Wine Art Estate, Mikrohori, Tel. (+30) 25210.836.26, (only guided tours).
6. MANTINEIA
The Mantineia vineyard is located in Arcadia and is known for the PDO Mantineia zone, in which the Moschofilero grape variety is grown. Moschofilero produces white, rosé and sparkling wines. The new generation of Tselepos Winery vinifies this variety, giving it resistance over time, while also dealing with other grape varieties (Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon, among others). Ktima Spiropoulos applies organic farming practices and produces, among other things, a white, dry, varietal Moschofilero from an altitude of 650m, which matures in wine lee. Kalogris Winery has been engaged in organic farming for about 40 years and produces white wine from Moschofilero (PGI Arcadia), as well as rosé and red wines.
Info
Tselepos Winery, Rizes Arcadia, Tel. (+30) 2710.544.440, tasting from €20.
Ktima Spiropoulos, Archaea Mantineia, Tel. (+30) 6936.003.101, from €10.
Kalogris Winery, Kapsia, Tel (+30) 2710.222.290, from €12.
7. FLORINA
In the region of Florina, in Macedonia, there are some of the northernmost vineyards in Greece. Here, the PDO Amynteo and PGE Florina zones have been established and the dominant variety is Xinomavro. Alpha Estate has loyal friends and is an established brand name in the wine industry both within and outside of Greece. Besides Xinomavro they also produce Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Dimopoulos Estate has a two-storey winery on the outskirts of Konti Karydia region, which is homonymous with one of its labels, the red dry Konti Karydia (50% Xinomavro, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Montepulciano).
Info
Alpha Estate, 2nd km. Amynteo-Ag.Panteleimon, Tel. (+30) 23860.201.11, free tasting.
Dimopoulos Estate, Xino Nero Florina, Tel. (+30) 23860.810.88, free tasting.
8. THESSALONIKI
Ktima Gerovassiliou, a major name in the field of wine, is located south of the city of Thessaloniki, in Epanomi. This is one of the cases where the winery surpasses its vineyards in reputation. More people know about Gerovassiliou wines than PGI Epanomi wines, which are the same thing. It is worth trying Malagousia Gerovasiliou, either in a varietal or in a blended version. Ktima Gerovassiliou Wine Museum is also very interesting, hosting rare accessories related to winemaking (corkscrews, amphorae, viticulture and barrel making tools, and so on). Nearby you’ll also find Domaine Florian with the family boutique winery, where they love classic and organic wines and have nice event ideas (like the “Cigar and Wine Experience,” a cigar and wine tasting event).
Info
Ktima Gerovassiliou, Epanomi, Tel. (+30) 23920.445.67, guided tour ticket at 5 euros, tasting from €2/glass.
Domaine Florian, Trilofos, Tel. (+30) 23920.649.78, tasting from €12.
9. PIERIA
Pieria is a wine-producing zone located at a geographical border: between Mount Olympus and the Aegean Sea, between Thessaloniki and Larissa. It has been influenced by the mountain and the sea, by the culture of Thessaly and Macedonia. On the wine side there is PGI Pieria, an umbrella that includes various varieties (such as Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trebbiano and Merlot). Kourtis Winery is probably the most outgoing winery of Pieria, with wines from classic Greek (Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko) and several international grape varieties. In addition, the people of the estate are very hospitable, which is equally, if not more important than the quality of the products. In terms of group promotion, the Olympus Wines Tasting Room, in Litochoro, is really interesting; here, you can taste wines from three wineries in the area (Mythiko Vouno, Papagiannoulis Winery and Kourtis Winery).
Info
Kourtis Winery, Rachi Pieria, Tel. (+30) 6974.471.230, tasting from €2,5/glass.
Olympus Wines, 2 28is Octovriou, Litohoro.
10. IOANNINA
In the prefecture of Ioannina, wine is a (semi) mountainous affair, with two main wine-growing zones characterizing the region: PDO Zitsa and PGI Ioannina. The first is based on the Debina grape variety and produces white wines (dry, semi-dry, sparkling), the second includes various varieties (Debina, Vlachiko, Bekari, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.), which produces different types of wines (white, rosé, red, dry, semi-dry, sparkling, semi-sparkling). In the village of Zitsa you will find the visitable Zoinos Winery, with wines and spirits from Debina, Vlachiko, Bekari, and others. At the other end of the prefecture of Ioannina, in Metsovo, you will find Katogi Averoff, a modern winery that offers a unique wine tourism experience. In fact, the vineyards of Katogi are the most mountainous in Greece (an altitude 950m-1,050m).
Info
Zoinos Winery, Zitsa, Tel. (+30) 26580.222.97, tasting from €5.
Katogi Averoff, Metsovo, Tel. (+30) 26560.314.90, from €2.5/glass.
Source: greece-is
