The Greek name “Sterea Ellada” means “solid Greece.” This wine regions is located in the middle of the country and is mainly mountainous, with the plains lying mainly to the east in Attica and Boeotia and to the west in Aetolia–Acarnania. There is a wide diversity of soil types, ranging from very poor to very fertile. The vineyards of Central Greece account for 28% of all Greek vineyards. The region is divided into four sub-regions: Attica, Fthiotida, Viotia, and Evia Island.
This area has long been known for the production of retsina, which began here almost two millennia ago. Pine resin was used to seal the clay amphorae—clay vessels where wine was stored—in order to create a protective film on the surface of the wine, minimizing air contact. This made the wine less prone to oxidation and helped mask any off-flavors that could develop during winemaking or storage. From here, the practice spread to other parts of Greece and southern Italy.
Savvatiano is the main grape cultivated in the region, covering 90% of the vineyards in Attica, 50% in Viotia, and 80% in Evia. Its resilience is due to its drought tolerance and to the traditional cultivation method: densely planted vineyards with vines trained as goblets. The rest of the vineyards are planted mainly with Roditis.
The region was traditionally focused on white wines, so rosé and red wine production only began about thirty years ago, with Cabernet Sauvignon becoming particularly popular. Mouchtaro, a local red variety, has recently been revived by regional producers with very promising results.
In recent years, young and open-minded vine growers have introduced many new varieties to the area, including Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Chardonnay, as well as red grapes such as Grenache Rouge, Carignan, Syrah, and Merlot.
Unfortunately, Sterea Ellada has no PDO appellations. Instead, it has many regional designations, with more than 36 PGI appellations.
Its proximity to Athens makes this area ideal for a day trip.
Wineries to visit :
Roxane Matsa Estate, Oenotria Ghi (Domaine Costa Lazaridi), Harlaftis Winery, Kokotos Estate, Domaine Papagiannakos, Samartzis Wines, Ktima Avantis, Lykos Winery, Montofoli Estate, Ktima Hatzimichali
Sources : Wines of Greece 2018, Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, wineofgreece.org
