Karditsa

Near the magnificent, artificial Lake Plastira, in the heart of Mainland Greece, in the perfecture of Karditsa lies the PDO Messenikola zone. The vineyards of Messenikola are planted on slopes that are exposed to easterly winds and climb as high as 700 m. The soil is light and gravely with some clay spots, which has water-retention capacity and proves invaluable in drought spells. It is home to Messenikola Black, a unique, Greek red cultivar. A large part of the area`s small vineyards (30%) are dedicated to Syrah and Carignan, in order to boost the color and structure of the wines produced. The majority of the vines are traditionally trained into goblets, but some more recent plantings of linear formation also exist. Because of the area’s mild climatic conditions, shaped by the altitude and proximity to the lake, the black Messenikola variety ripens in late September.