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Wine is believed to have been produced in Greece
since 4,000 BC
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REEK
wine is making a name for itself on the dinner tables
of the more discerning host. The country’s wine
industry—which offers much more than traditional
retsina—is going from strength to strength as Greek
producers refine their winemaking techniques and implement
strict quality control measures. Many production facilities
are state-of-the-art following substantial investment
and modernization.
The results are already starting to bear fruit as more
and more consumers, both at home and abroad, recognize
the growing quality and diversity of local wine production.
Today, approximately 20% of Greek wine is exported with
the rest consumed locally.
Nearly all exports currently go to the EU, although
the timing could be right for the opening of the U.S.
market. Probably the top selling local make is Tsandalis’s
Makedonikos, which shifts around 3.5 million bottles
every year.
The country’s 6,000-year tradition—it is believed
that wine was first introduced in Greece around 4,000
BC—has allowed the local wines to have a distinct
identity of their own. Most recently, there has been
a flight to quality.
During the last 20 years, Greek producers have been
promoting wines under the Appellation d’Origine
Controlee (AOC) mark, a strict quality control measure
adopted by international wine makers worldwide. The
Greek Wine Federation and the government have been keen
supporters in the ongoing quest for quality.
Greece’s wine regions are scattered far and wide
across the mainland and throughout the islands. The
diversity and quality of the wine results from the varieties
of grapes used, the distinctive qualities of the soil,
the location, and the climate.
| Sunny
climate and fertile soils create ideal conditions
for cultivation of distinctive local varieties |
On the mainland, chief wine growing areas include Macedonia,
Epiros, Thessalia, and the Peloponnese. The Aegean islands,
Crete and the Ionian islands—notably Kefalonia,
of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin fame—are also
major wine areas. The landscape is ideal for unique
micro climactic conditions favoring the cultivation
of local grape varieties.
The combination of a mild climate, plenty of sunshine,
and low rainfall makes soils of moderate fertility and
small crops of excellent quality for producing red,
white, and rose wines.
Greek wine has entered a new phase in its history. It
is time for the rest of the world to sit up and take
notice, according to local producers.
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