A Beginner's Guide to Greek Wine

Greece has one of the longest winemaking traditions of the world, since the oldest evidence of winemaking dates back to 4,200 B.C. The ancient Greeks regarded wine as a gift of the gods, to be more precise of Dionysos, god of wine, pleasure, theatre, vegetation and of the liberating and ecstatic aspects of human existence.

The history of Greek wine starts with an affair of Zeus, who fell in love with Semele, daughter of the king of Thebes Kadmos, and slept with her, promising her anything she wanted. Semele deceived by Hera, asked Zeus to come to her as he came to Hera on their wedding day. So, Zeus visited her to her palace in his chariot with lightning and thunder. The palace caught fire and Semele, already pregnant, perished. Zeus snatched the baby from his mother’s belly by sewing it up in his thigh. And when his son, who was called Dionysos, was born from his father’s thigh, he was conveyed by the god Hermes to be brought up by his nurses, who lived in a remote place. And when Dionysos grew into a handsome young man, he traveled widely teaching mankind the winemaking art.  

The Greeks’ expertise in winemaking dates back to very ancient times. They actually started systematically in about 2,500 B.C.

The process of winemaking experienced a slowdown during the nearly four centuries of Ottoman occupation. Until the ends of the 70’s retsina wine, produced by the addition of natural pine resin, overshadowed other distinguishing Greek wines. Since the early 80’s, however, Greek wine makers have invested in talented enologists and incorporated modern techniques and technology into their winemaking process.

The Greek landscape is well-suited for producing top-notch wines, featuring various microclimates from one wine region to another. Key factors include high altitude, proximity to the sea and abundant sunlight. There are more than 300 indigenous Greek varietals, more of 70 of which are vinified.

The most exquisite wine varietals I highly recommend that you try during your stay in Greece are:

Assyrtiko. The flagship white wine of Greece originated from Santorini. A fascinating classy white wine with a crisp freshness and high minerality and aromas of ripe fruits, rocks and salt.Moschofilero. Crisp white wine with delicate and expressive aromas laced with notes of citrus, green fruits and rose petals.

Malagousia. White wine with an expressive and intense nose and hints of peaches, green bell pepper, fresh herbs and flowers.

Agiorgitiko. Lush “multidynamic” deep red wine, with intense aromas of fresh red fruits, a spicy character, balanced acidity and soft tannins.

Mavrodaphne. Dark red dessert wine, with velvety mouth, medium body, an explosive bouquet of dried fruits, flowers and nuts and high acidity.

Xinomavro. Capricious red wine, bitter and subtle aromas of sundried tomato and olive paste around a core of red fruits, cherries, strawberries and roses, high acidity and tannins.

And here are some famous Greek wine brands: Estate Argyros, Domain Sigalas (Santorini), Domain Costa Lazaridi, Alpha Estate, Ktima Gerovasiliou, Domain Porto Carras, Biblia Chora, Katogi Averoff, Boutari Winery (Northern Greece), Gaia Wines, Tselepos, Palivou Estate, Skouras (Southern Greece), Avantis Estate, Katsaros Estate (central Greece).

My tipp: while you are in Greece, make sure to check out a wine tasting!