Marouvas is a high-alcohol, traditional wine produced in the area of Kissamos in Chania, western Crete. Romeiko is the grape variety prevalent (if not the only one) in the wine. During the centuries of Ottoman rule the name “romeiko” indicated that anyone or anything to
The island of Santorini has a long history in the production of traditional wines. One of the most interesting ones still produced today is Nychteri, a dry white wine with a character of its own. Traditionally, it was made from a blend of Assyrtiko, Athiri
Verdea is a traditional multi-varietal white wine produced on Zakynthos, one of the Ionian Islands in western Greece which was under Venetian rule for centuries. It owes its name to the Italian “verde,” meaning “green,” which refers to the color of the unripe grapes used
Retsina is the best known traditional Greek wine. Its reputation, not always positive, had long overshadowed that of other distinguished Greek wines and appellations. According to archaeological finds and countless written accounts regarding its production and consumption, Retsina, or “retinitis oenos” as it was called
From ancient times to today, Dafnes is one of the major wine growing regions of Crete, an island that has seen viticulture thrive through all historical periods. Cretan viticulture was particularly strong during the Roman Times, as indicated by many finds of amphorae and ancient
Sitia, in Crete, has a nearly unrivalled place in the history of wine. After all, it was in Sitia, at the Palace of Kato Zakros, that traces of vinification of grapes thousands of years ago were found! The area’s winegrowing fame continued through the centuries,
The PDO Muscat of Cephalonia zone—with its eponymous sweet white wines which come from the Muscat variety planted on the island—was once threatened with extinction just as the island’s corresponding red wines were (PDO Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia). Nevertheless, in recent years, Cephalonia has returned to
Cultivation of the white Muscat variety on Rhodes, the island of the knights, is certainly limited when compared to the cultivation taking place on other Aegean islands. However, Rhodes has its own PDO zone and offers interesting versions of that grape variety in the form
Meager in quantities yet first-rate in quality, the sweet wine bearing the “Muscat of Rio Patras” appellation comes from semi-mountainous vineyards found over Rio, Achaia. The small-berried white Muscat takes advantage of the rainfall and the cool summers while the grapes’ desiccation fortifies even further
The region of Achaia looms over the Greek production of dessert wines, boasting three PDO wines of its own (PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras, PDO Muscat of Patras, and PDO Muscat of Rio Patras). Occupying a sizable part of Patras’ vineyards, white Muscat has come to
Its wine is said to date as far back as the times when it was used to quench the thirst of the Achaeans during the Trojan War. Yet even now Lemnos—its wines bearing the “ PDO Muscat of Limnos” (ΠΟΠ Μοσχάτος Λήμνου) indication—and the fame
Though Patras may have the lion’s share of overall Mavrodaphne plantings, Cephalonia is an equally important albeit smaller hub of the variety’s cultivation. Despite the fact that on this island of the Ionian Sea the greatest part of the Mavrodaphne production finds its way to
It has been almost two centuries since Gustav Clauss, a German noble, settled outside Patras and vinified his first Mavrodaphne using his own, now famous, “recipe.” Yet even today, PDO Mavrodaphni of Patras (ΠΟΠ Μαυροδάφνη Πατρών) continues to hold the title of the most popular,
Santorini’s sweet white wine or “ambrosia of the gods”? Although the first answer is a certainty (Vino di Santorini), the second is equally appropriate since Santorini’s grand Vinsanto (PDO Santorini) is indeed fit for the gods! Although Vinsanto has been renowned since the 12th century,
In the past century, Samos has been able to showcase its sweet white wines throughout the world, and they have duly found fame and renown on their merits. The small-berried clone of the white Muscat White variety has found in every nook and cranny of