Discovering Greece’s Wine Regions - PELOPONNESE

The Peloponnese, the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula, is a mountainous area, divided into two main vine growing regions by the ranges that traverse it. One region encompasses the central and northern parts, where Mantinia and Nemea are the main winemaking hubs respectively. The western part, which stretches from the northern slopes of Mount Panachaiko to the coastline of the Ionian Sea down to Messinia, represents the second region. The vineyards of the Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands are located in areas featuring a mild Mediterranean climate, due to the moderating effect of the sea in the Gulf of Korinthos (Corinth) to the north, as well as the protection and the cool winds offered by the mountain ranges of continental Greece and the central Peloponnese.

Nemea in the Peloponnese and Naoussa in Northern Greece possess the two most significant red wine Protected Designations of Origin in Greece, both regarding quality, quantity and number of producers as well as regarding how recognizable they are.

Achaia is one of the largest viticultural zones of Greece, in terms of volume. The vineyards of Achaia in the northern Peloponnese include those of Egialia, one of Greece’s most beautiful vine growing areas, stretching along gentle slopes with a northerly orientation and protected by the cool sea breezes of the Gulf of Korinthos (Corinth) in the summer.

At even lower altitudes in the Patras area thrives the red varietal Mavrodaphne, which yields the well-known dessert wine, while the coastal flatlands between Patras and Rio to the east are dominated by the white Muscat.

Arcadia is located in the heart of the Peloponnese, surrounded by tall mountains, which influence the region’s climate and distinguish it from the rest of the Peloponnese. Here we have the only appellation zone in Arcadia is PDO Mantinia. The vineyards of Mantinia are in one of Greece’s coldest vinegrowing zones where, quite frequently, adverse weather conditions in the autumn—such as protracted periods of precipitation—can often have a negative impact on the quality of the yields.

Throughout the western side of the Peloponnese a cluster of international cultivars have been successfully cultivated for decades -Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Rouge and Refosco being the most important ones. The native varieties of Roditis, Mavrodaphne, Fokiano and Avgoustiatis are also present.

Laconia has not managed to develop as much as the others, despite being one of the most important viticultural regions of Greece in the Middle Ages. Monemvassia, Laconia’s medieval port was, for many centuries, the place of origin of the famous Malvasia wine. The wine’s character and the varieties it came from remain unclear to this day.

The creation of a new appellation zone in Laconia, the PDO Monemvassia-Malvasia for sweet wines, is also an indication of positive developments in the oenological activity of the region and, by extension, of Greece as a whole. This white wine is made mainly from Monemvassia with the addition of Assyrtiko, Asproudes and Kidonitsa.

Some wineries to visit :

Semeli Estate, Gaia Wines, Ktima Palivou, Tselepos Wines, Domaine Skouras, Rouvalis Winery, Mega Spileo Estate, Achaia Clauss, Merkouri Estate, Monemvasia Winery, Estate Theodorakakos

Sources & Photos : Wines of Greece 2018, Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, wineofgreece.org