Agianniotiko
A rare red variety from the Aegean islands whose maturation usually coincides with the fete day of Saint John Prodromos on August 29, Agianniotiko is usually blended with Chiotiko Krassero, giving dry and sweet red wines.

Aidani Black
Dark colored clone of the aidani variety, Aidani Black is rarely found on the Aegean islands nowadays. It usually gives acidity and mature aromas to red blends.

Araklino
A rare, high-alcohol, red variety of the Ionian islands, Araklino is ordinarily found in red blends.

Asprorobola
A white variety cultivated around the vineyards of the Ionian Sea, Asprorobola, in contrast to Robola, its kith and kin, is usually encountered in blends.

Asprouda Santorini
One of the many rare varieties of Santorini vineyards, Asprouda Santorini is found in very small quantities and is used in white blends.

Asproudes
Asproudes is a grape variety that some could say it exists on the “twilight zone” of Greek viticulture. Actually, there is a chance that Asproudes (which is a plural, with «Asprouda» being the…
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Athiri Black (Mavrathiro)
A variation of white athiri, Athiri Black (mavrathiro) is rarely found in Santorini vineyards. It is used for red mixtures and dessert wines.

Batiki
Batiki, this low-acidity, white cultivar of central and northern Greece, used to be grown for its table grapes.

Begleri
Begleri is a white grape rarely found on the Aegean islands. It produces light, refreshing wines with a strong citrus aroma, somewhat reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc.

Bekiari (Bekari)
A red grape of northern Greece, Bekiari (Bekari) has a thin skin which makes the grape ideal for the production of light reds and rosés.

Black Corinth
The history of Black Corinth is as enormous as its commercial value since it is the main variety behind one of Greece’s most important agricultural products: currants, which merited a mention even in the ancient texts of Hippocrates and Aristotle. Despite the fact that almost 99% of Black Corinth normally finds itself sold in a pouch full of currants, the remaining small percentage ends up in the bottles containing Mavrodaphne of Patras, the famous sweet red wine.

Bogialamades
Bogialamades is a rare aromatic red variety with rich color, found dispersed in some vineyards of northern Greece.

Chiotiko Krassero
A grape cultivated on the Aegean islands, Chiotiko Krassero is believed to have produced the famous Ariusian wine of antiquity. Nowadays it yields red dry and –after being left in the sun– dessert wines.

Chondromavro
Chondromavro is a rare red variety, mostly found in vineyards in northern Greece and the Peloponnese.

Fileri
Genetically related to but aromatically weaker than Moschofilero, red Fileri is cultivated in central Greece, mainly used in white blends.

Gaidouria
A particularly rare, white cultivar, Gaidouria has a soft, sweet taste and is planted on the Aegean islands.

Goustolidi (Vostylidi)
A white cultivar with a distinct character, Goustolidi (Vostylidi) is cultivated on the Ionian islands and the Peloponnese, yielding fatty wines of mature aromas.

Kakotrygis
Known from its role in the production of ancient Corfu’s “Anthosmias oenos” as mentioned by Thucydides, white Kakotrygis is one of the most widespread varieties in some of the Ionian…

Kalavrytino Black
A red grape variety of the Peloponnese, Kalavrytino Black has a fruity aroma and refreshing taste. It is vinified on its own or participates in red blends.

Karabraimis
A late-harvested red cultivar, of possibly Asia Minor origin, Karabraimis is cultivated on the island of Evia and on a few of the Aegean islands.

Karnachalades
Karnachalades is a late red grape variety, very rarely found in some vineyards of northern Greece and yielding dry, relatively light red wines.

Katsano
A gentle and alcohol-rich white grape variety, Katsano is found on the Aegean islands. The few Katsano vines cultivated are scattered among the vines of other varieties.

Keratsouda
Keratsouda is a rare, nearly extinct, red variety of northern Greece. It is mainly used in white blends.

Kolindrino
Red Kolindrino is an exceptionally rare cultivar of northern Greece. The first attempts at vinifying it yielded robust wines, full-bodied and richly hued.

Kolliniatiko
A variety of a deep red color, Kolliniatiko is cultivated in the Peloponnese and is named after the village of Kollines, Arkadia (Arcadia)..

Kontokladi
Hard to find, Kontokladi, is a white grape variety cultivated on the Ionian islands and the vineyards of mainland Greece.

Kotsifoliatiko
A Cretan, red cultivar, Kotsifoliatiko has all but become extinct. It is a cross between Kotsifali and Liatiko: hence, the color and character which hovers between the two varieties it comes from.

Krassato
Krassato is the heart of Rapsani, the red dry wine made out of the vineyards of the “godly” Mount Olympus. PDO Rapsani is produced from three red grape varieties: Xinomavro, which is found in the area…

Kritiko
Despite the fact that Kritiko’s name alludes to Crete, it is actually the Cyclades which can claim a few plantings of this high-alcohol, white cultivar.

Ladikino
A red grape variety, Ladikino is sparsely cultivated in Crete. Owing to its abundant aromas, it is used in blends.

Lagorthi
Lagorthi is a grape variety that boldly defies preconceptions about Greek whites. For some wine drinkers, Greek white wines are likely to be flat, flabby and lacking in freshness. Lagorthi is leaning close to the other…

Limnio
Limnio is a variety that manifests, beyond any question, the potential depth of the New Wines of Greece in today’s wine world. It is a grape first mentioned by numerous Ancient Greek writers such as Homer, Hesiod…

Malagousia
Malagousia is the quintessence of the modern renaissance of the New Wines of Greece witnessed in the last twenty years. It is the personification of the way Greek wine producers are rediscovering their potential. In the…

Maloukato
The resilient white cultivar of Maloukato is encountered in a few vineyards of the Aegean islands.

Mandilaria
Amorgiano; Pariano; Vaftra; Koundoura Black; Mandilari: These are but a few of the names of the late-harvested red grape Mandilaria variety and serve as testimonials to the extent to which the variety has spread…

Mandilaria White (Kountoura White)
Although its name brings to mind the white clone of mandilaria, it is most probably related to savvatiano. Mandilaria white (Kountoura white) is found all over continental Greece and the Aegean islands.

Mavrodaphne
About 150 years ago, German-born Gustav Clauss settled outside the city of Patras where he vinified the first sweet Mavrodaphne. Little could he have known at the time that the wine he had crafted would become one of…

Mavrotragano
Until recently, this red grape variety with its black (“mavro) and crisp (“tragano”) berries—hence, the name Mavrotragano—was merely blended in the Santorini sweet wines and had become all…

Mavroudi
The Mavroudi variety owes its name to the dark, nearly black color of its berries. This dark color is also the reason why Mavroudi is used mostly in the production of dark red wines, though they remain rare. Either on…

Messenikola Black
Few are the grape varieties privileged enough to be exclusively planted in one single area. Even fewer are those who are named after a person! Yet, such is indeed the case of Messenikola Black, the red-grape…

Moschofilero
Anyone in pursuit of a Greek white grape variety which promises refreshment and enlivenment, all the while offering exoticism unprecedented in a Mediterranean country, should look no further than Moschofilero: it…

Moschomavro
The word’s two compounds, moschos (muscat) and mavro (black) instantly usher into the “rhythm” of this rare variety restless wine lovers who, eager for new horizons, are drawn by the yet-to-be-fathomed…

Mouchtaro
Most probably the raw material for Vivlinos, the wine of antiquity, the rare Mouchtaro is a red variety cultivated in central Greece.

Muscat de Hambourg
A variety apart among various types of Muscat, Muscat de Hambourg and its blushing berries stand out. It is among the handful of varieties which, apart from being vinified, can also be consumed at meals: its grapes are…

Muscat di Trani
An Italian clone of the white, small-berried Muscat, Muscat di Trani participates in dry white and sweet wines produced in the Aegean islands.

Muscat of Alexandrias
Possibly hailing from North Africa, Muscat of Alexandrias was planted in Greece in the early 20th century. Its predilection for warmth helped it in adapting perfectly to the country, subsequently yielding sublimely…

Muscat of Spina
The aromatic variety Muscat of Spina is cultivated on mountainous Cretan vineyards. With a thiner skin than white Muscat, it yields dry as well as sweet white wines.

Muscat White
The love of Muscat White for sunlight is common knowledge. It thrives when the sun warms up its small berries, bestowing on their thick skin a freckle-dotted yellow-gold color and uniquely concentrating the…

Negoska
A northern Greek variety, Negoska –also known as Popolka of Naoussa, constitutes yet another tile in the unique mosaic of varieties native to Greece. Its name derives from the Slavic Negush for the city of…

Pamidi
A relatively common variety, Pamidi’s rose-colored berries enrich red blends where dark-skinned varieties are present. Pamidi also yields rosés.

Pavlos
A rare white variety, Pavlos is cultivated on the islands of the Ionian Sea. Together with other varieties, it is used in blends, notably Verdea.

Petrokoritho
Red Petrokoritho is a late-harvested grape which yields plethoric reds in the Peloponnese but mostly in the Ionian islands.

Petroulianos
A white grape variety of the Peloponnese, Petroulianos yields dry wines. Due to its low acidity it is also used in a few sweet blends.

Priknadi (Prekniariko)
White Prinknadi (Prekniariko) takes its name from the freckles (preknes) its skin is dotted with. Planted in northern and central Greece it yields round, aromatic whites.

Ritino
A red cultivar rich in tannins, Ritino can be found in some vineyards in central Greece and on the Aegean islands.

Rokaniaris
The white variety of Rokaniaris is named after the “crunching” sound its crispy berries make when chewed. A Peloponnesian “exclusive”, it yields refreshing white wines.

Romeiko
Romeiko, a red Cretan variety, has a high alcohol content, low acidity and few coloring agents. It mainly used in the production of the traditional wine marouvas, which is similar to Oloroso sherry.

Sefka
Although a member of the Mavroudi family, red Sefka is not particularly dark-colored. It participates in blends in northern and central Greece.

Skiadopoulo
An exceptionally productive grape, white Skiadopoulo holds a prominent spot in the vineyards of the Ionian islands by its sheer numbers. It is normally summoned to participate in fresh, white blends.

Skylopnichtis
A blushing variety planted in the Ionian islands, Skylopnichtis owes its name owed to its berries’ thick globe and skin of which it is said that the dogs that try to nibble them choke on them. The variety has a white clone as well.

Stavroto
Another rare, native grape variety, Stavroto is used for the production of dry red wines. As is the case with Negoska, we won’t find Stavroto vinified on its own. It usually participates in blends so that, once…

Sykiotis
A thick-skinned, red grape planted in central Greece vineyards. It normally participates in blends although, on very rare occasions, it is possible to locate a Sykiotis monovarietal.

Thiako
The Thiako red cultivar is as pale in color as it is hard to find. It participates in blends of the Ionian islands and mainland Greece.

Thiniatiko
Thiniatiko is a rare clone of Mavrodaphne, found in very few terroirs of the Ionian islands, producing rich red wines.

Thrapsa
Different from Thrapsathiri, the rare, red Thrapsa variety is cultivated in the Peloponnese.

Tsaoussi
A productive white grape variety encountered on the Ionian islands and, on occasion, in northern Greece. Tsaoussi is normally part of blends which it endows with its aroma.

Vaftra
A sensitive cultivar yet rich in anthocyans and, hence, in color, red Vaftra is usually summoned to improve the color of some northern Greek wine blends.

Vardea
A white grape variety, Vardea is found in the Ionian islands. It is best known for its fresh as well as refreshing wines.

Vertzami
Vertzami is a rare red grape variety of western Greece, with a breathtaking intensity of aromas and flavours and a most individual character. In terms of plantings, Vertzami is almost insignificant. However, in terms of…

Voidomatis
With its plantings being scattered throughout the Peloponnese and the Greek isles, the red Voidomatis variety has a rich color albeit low acidity.
Volitsa (Black and White)
A hard-to-find variety with a white as well as a red clone, Volitsa is encountered only in the vineyards of the Peloponnese, planted at high altitudes.

Vradiano
The red grape variety of Vradiano, with a soft, fruity character, is found in the vineyards of Central Greece (the island of Evia included).

Zalovitiko
A bright red cultivar, Zalovitiko is sporadically cultivated in vineyards located in mainland and northern Greece.

Zoumiatiko
A rather aromatic, white grape variety, Zoumiatiko is cultivated throughout northern Greece. It is mixed into white and rosé blends.