We often have wine lovers as guests who, upon their visit in Greece, are not aware of the fact that they can enjoy exquisite Greek wines at a wine bar or a restaurant. When they do, they are pleasantly surprised to discover, not only that various Greek wines actually exist, but that they also offer great diversity and are of world-class quality. 

Interested in finding out more? What about an Athens wine tasting and nightlife tour? Better privately? Send us a message. We would be more than happy to arrange a delightful evening for you and your loved ones. 

Why is it that you don’t hear so much about Greek wines

Only recently serious effort has been put to promote Greek wines, despite the fact that Greeks have been making wine for millennia and wine is an integral part of our lifestyle and culture. As a small, mountainous country, wine production is limited, covering mostly the needs of the local market. Many Greeks make and drink their own house wine (10 out of 10 times, they will present it to you as the best in the world :).

Box wine is on offer at the tavernas, where the food is simple yet tasty; the fish is fresh, the lamb is tender, the cheese is homemade, but the wine ranges from simply ok to seriously oxidised. Most of the Greeks are happy with that, and still consider bottled wine a bit fancy and are not used to paying extra for it. But, as a traveller, if you don’t go to a restaurant or wine bar, you will never get to explore the potential of Greek wines and you’ll go back home with the wrong impression.

photo credit: wine makers of Northern Greece

On top of that, Greek wine earned its bad reputation in the ‘60s and ‘70s when “retsina” was served to tourists. Back then, people added pine resin into white wine to cover any faults and presented it as our national drink you cannot miss. Actually, resinous wine in Greece has a long story. Ancient Greeks used pine resin to glue the lids of vessels carrying wine to their colonies.

The resin gave its distinctive taste to the wines and slowly people started liking it. In the last years, many winemakers honour their ancient roots and produce high quality retsina that can compete internationally. But most importantly, retsina pairs nicely with more assertive Greek tastes other white wines “shy away”, like intense flavours of garlic, spices and herbs. 

A new era for Greek wines

Lately, the mentality of people has changed and more and more learn how to order and taste fine Greek wines. The most important role was played by the talented and hardworking Greek winemakers who raised the bar of Greek wine quality very high. Another credit should be given to the wine bars who “democratised” wine drinking, in a sense that they offered wine tastings by the glass, without customers having to purchase a whole bottle instead. Wine bars gave a new, unpretentious breath of fresh air in the Athens bar scene and the trend picked up quickly, providing an affordable alternative for Greeks to enjoy wine without paying a fortune. 

Did we whet your appetite for more Greek wine? Check out the best wine bars in Athens as explained in our blogspot. Bottoms up!

Our favourite Greek wines for wine tasting

In a more and more homogeneous wine world, Greece offers around 200 indigenous varieties to refresh your wine-loving palate with their unique character and diverse terroir, and still of great value for money. Here’s a few to start with:

Greek white wines

Assyrtiko 

• Born in Santorini: In some of the world’s oldest vineyards, volcanic, ungrafted and pre-phylloxera.
• Born a survivor: Grown in Santorini’s unfriendly environment, therefore…  
• Sought after: Because of its resilience and ability to keep acidity even in hot and dry climates.
• Born to conquer the world: Enchanted winemakers “kidnapped” this charismatic variety to plant it all around Greece and as far as Australia.
• Gastronomic wine: Reveals its true potential when paired with food, from freshly-caught fish by the seaside to semi-wild lamb on the mountains of Greece.

photo credit: wines of Greece

Robola

• An islander. Coming from Kefalonia island in the Ionian Sea.
• Nicknamed. “Vino di Sasso”, wine of stone, as it grows on the barren slopes of Mount Ainos.
• Good acidity, minerality and salty aftertaste.

Vidiano

• A proud Cretan.
• Saved in the nick of time. Thanks to visionary winemakers believing in its potential.
• Fruity with peach and apricot notes.
• Beauty comes with age. Oaked can last more than 5 years.

Moschofilero

• A very refreshing wine that hails from the region of Mantíneia, close to Tripoli in the Peloponnese.
• Its characteristic is the blush color of the skin. Moschofilero wine is almost transparent in color with gray/salmon hues.
• “Moscho”, (pleasant scent) as its name suggests, is one of the most aromatic varieties.
• Intense citrus fruit and floral aromas.
• Medium or high acidity and light body.
• Gives excellent sparkling wines where it reaches its full potential.

Malagousia

• Originates from the west part of Central Greece, now cultivated all around the country.
• In the 1970s, it was a white variety only a few knew about and considered to be extinct.
• Nowadays, considered to be a world class grape, producing exceptional dry whites.
• A highly adaptable wine variety with different faces (floral, botanical, fruity, oaky).

Savatiano

• Historical white grape variety, indigenous of Attica region and one of the most widely planted in Greece.
• The original variety traditionally used to make retsina. 
• Moderate acidity and medium body, pleasant aftertaste with herbal notes.
• When in contact with oak, it is taken to another dimension.

Greek red wines 

photo credit: wines of Crete

Xinomavro 

• An eccentric diva of the North. Only for true wine enthusiasts who enjoy idiosyncratic wines.
• Tomato and olives. Characteristic aromas and flavours that give it away in every blind wine tasting.
• Crazy for protein. No Greek meat-based recipe intimidates it. Make sure you pair it with giouvetsi, Greek lamb, spetzofai, moussaka, pastitsio, to enjoy the best Greek food and wine pairing of your travels. 

Mavrodaphne 

• Adorable love story, as it is said to be named after the beautiful black (mavro) eyes of a renowned winemaker’s fiance, named Daphne, who died at young age.
• The beauty and the beast. Mavrodaphne was used to make sweet, cheap wine, and after being scorned for many years, vintners discovered the true beauty in her to make excellent dry wines.
• Loves chocolate. The good, dessert version of Mavrodaphne pairs excellently with dark chocolate.

Agiorgitiko

• The “Blood of Hercules”. According to the myth, the grape grew where the hero’s blood spilled on his effort to kill the Nemean Lion.
• Versatile. Produces different types of wine, from sparkling to rose and dessert reds.
• Merlot lookalike. Many compare it to the French star, because of its mellow and fruity character.

Liatiko

• An ancient black-skinned grape variety cultivated on Crete. 
• Liatiko is a short-form of the Greek word “from July”, an implication that the grape ripens early in the growing season.
• The grapes are being dried under the sun, making its nose intense, showing characters of ripe red fruits and sweet spices.
• The mouth is full, with high alcohol levels and very soft tannins.
• Produced in both dry and sweet styles. Sweet Liatiko is regarded as the best expression of this particular variety.

photo credit: wines of Crete

Dessert wines

Vinsanto of Santorini

Not a fan of sweet wines? Think again. Aging for at least 24 months, this complex wine still keeps its acidity even after years, without ever getting cloying. Pairs nicely with strong flavoured cheeses, just as a good Madeira or Sancerre would. But where on earth would you better enjoy a sweet wine with Greek baklava?

Muscat of Samos

It originates from the grapes in the semi-mountainous and mountainous terraces of Samos and it belongs to the Vins de Liqueurs category. Proudly, the most popular wine of Samos and the No. 1 sweet wine in sales in Greece that is exported worldwide with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

Want more? Dive deep into Greek wines here : The Beginner’s Guide To Greek Wines.