Five wine trips in Greece from north to south, which combine knowledge of the Greek vineyards and visits to important archaeological sites.
Wine production is closely associated with the culture of a country and in particular of a region. Below you can find five Greek wine-producing regions close to important archaeological sites that have defined them, so that you can get an overall picture of each destination. Assyrtiko, Vidiano, Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro, Robola, Moscofilero, Malagouzia, Debina ΄meet΄ with Stolisko’s fresco in Akrotiri, Santorini, the palace of Knossos, the Stadium of Nemea, the ancient theater of Mantineia and the oracle of Dodoni.
SANTORINI, the land of wine tourism
The trademark of Santorini vineyard is Assyrtiko, followed by varieties such as Aidani and Athiri, Mavrotragano and Mandilaria. Santorini has also built a strong name in the field of wine tourism with wineries that can be visited.
When in Santorini you should not miss visiting the Akrotiri of Thera, or the “Pompeii of the Cyclades”, which after the eruption was covered with the volcanic material. It is one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. The first habitation at the site dates from the Late Neolithic times (at least the 4th millennium B.C.). Among the most special findings is the fresco of Thera (or Stoliskos of Akrotiri), a representation of 1500 BC. depicting a coastline, harbour, river and ships, which is considered an early type of map.
CRETE, Minoan winepress
Wine in Crete has a long history. As a product of gastronomy and culture, its roots are deep, with the Minoans not only producing, but also trading wine. In central Crete, in an area where the Minoan civilization particularly flourished and a Minoan winepress dating from 1600 BC was found (Vathipetro), today there is fertile ground for a new, quality Cretan wine, which combines traditional varieties with modern techniques.
A must visit is to the archaeological site of Knossos and the most famous Minoan palace, on the hill of Kefala, just 5.5 km from Heraklion. Autumn is an ideal time to tour Knossos in order to admire the great ancient city, which began with Neolithic foragers and at the height of its glory, the Bronze Age, hosted a culture exhibiting grandeur and rare characteristics, as confirmed by the term “pax minoica”.
PELOPONNESE, Nemea, from Herakles to Agiorgitiko
The protected designation of origin (PDO) zone of Nemea/Corinth, with the popular Agiorgitiko variety, is suitable for one-day wine tour from Athens. Nemea is one of the PDO zones which, in addition to dry varieties, has also expanded to sweet wines; Agiorgitiko can produce wines that are masterful in taste and at the same time affordable to everyone.
In Nemea, wine production and ancient history are one. Many wineries literally surround the archaeological site, which is mythologically known for Heracles’ fight with the lion, while historically it is famous for the Némea, those sports games held in the Stadium, which you can visit after first seeing first the impressive temple of Zeus.
PELOPONNESE, Mantineia, Moscofilero wine, the “king”
The vineyard of Mantineia is a special case study of Greek wine. It is located in Arcadia and is known because of the Mantineia protected designation of origin (PDO) zone, which is identified with wines made from the Moscofilero variety. Cultivated in difficult climatic conditions, with summer and winter rains, cold and snow, Moscofilero produces white and rosé wines, while its contribution to sparkling wines is also huge. In recent years, the producers of the region, with continuous experimentation, introduce wines with a very different character.
The archaeological site of Mantineia is worth visiting as Arcadia belongs to those magical regions of Greece whose existence is first mythological and then real. The Arcadian Ideal, inspired by the idea of a bucolic paradise, was spread throughout the world during the Renaissance. Today, Arcadia has preserved its peaceful nature and this makes a visit to its ancient monuments special. The archaeological site of Mantineia is famous for the fortified precinct, the ancient theater and the temples of Zeus and Ira.
ΙΟΑΝΝΙΝΑ, “Debina” kingdom
In Ioannina prefecture there are two main wine-producing zones characterizing the region: Zitsa and Ioannina. The first is based on the ¨Debina¨ variety and produces white wines (dry, semi-dry, sparkling), the second, more flexible, includes various varieties (Debina, Vlachiko, Bekari, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.), which respectively give different types of wines (white, rosé, red, dry, semi-dry, sparkling, semi-sparkling). On the slopes of Zitsa, at an altitude of 700 m., wines and spirits from Debina, Vlachiko, Bekari, but also from some international varieties, are popular here. In another Prefecture of Ioannina, in Metsovo, you can taste the famous Katogi Averof, in a modern winery that offers a special wine tourism experience.
Close to the city of Ioannina, there is one of the most sacred ancient sites of Western Greece, the archaeological site of Dodoni. The legend has it that the sanctuary of Dodoni was established when a black dove from Egypt sat on an oak tree and gave instructions as to where the oracle of Zeus was to be created. Outside the temple of Zeus the priests gathered under the sacred Oak tree and listened to the sound of the leaves as they shivered in the breeze and glimpsed at the future. The theater of Dodoni dates from the 3rd century BC.
