Strat's Place - The Wine Regions of Greec

This is a short presentation of Greece's Wine Regions and it's vine varieties. The terms in "bold" are the regions recognised by greek and european law as quality wine producing regions.

V.Q.P.R.D. stands for Vin de Qualite Produit dans une Region Determinee meaning Quality Wine Produced in a Well Defined Region.
In this website are presented to you only the regions which produce V.Q.P.R.D. wines. Moreover Greece produces high quality Regional Wines (Vins de Pays) and Table Wines (Vins de Table).

The vine varieties of Greece are indigenous to the country since Antiquity, but for the last 20 years limited planting of the french noble vatieties has taken place.
Norwadays one can enjoy greek wines produced from indigenous varieties as well as form french ones.

In Greece more white than red wine is produced. The most popular wine is Retsina, a wine flavoured with pine-resin, often not particularly appreciated by foreigners and the young greek generation because of its peculiar flavour. Greek producers in their effort to give a more modern and therefore appealing flavour to retsina have reduced the proportion of pine-resin in the wine.

Map of Greece with the most importants wine regions

1. Central Greece & Evia
Savatiano (white)

2. Cephallonia V.Q.P.R.D.
Mavrodaphne (red)
Robola (white)

3. Patras V.Q.P.R.D.
Mavrodaphne (red)
Roditis, Muscat (white)
4. Nemea V.Q.P.R.D.
Aghiorghitiko (red)
5. Mantinia V.Q.P.R.D.
- Moschofilero (red)
- Moschofilero (redish)
6. Pilos Southwest Peloponnese
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (red)
Fileri (redish)

7. Archanes V.Q.P.R.D.
Madelari, Kotsifali (red)
7. Peza V.Q.P.R.D.
Madelari, Kotsifali (red)
Vilana (white)
7. Dafnes V.Q.P.R.D.
Liatiko (red)
8. Sitia V.Q.P.R.D.
Liatiko (red)

9. Rodhes V.Q.P.R.D.
Amorghiano (red)
Athiri, Muscat of Trani, Muscat White (white)

10. Santorini V.Q.P.R.D.
Assirtiko (white)
11. Paros V.Q.P.R.D.
Madelari (red)
Monemvasia (white)
12. Samos V.Q.P.R.D.
Muscat of Samos (white)
13. Lemnos V.Q.P.R.D.
Limnio (red)
Muscat of Alexandria (white)

14. Cotes of Meliton V.Q.P.R.D.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Limnio (red)
Asirtiko, Athiri, Roditis (white)
15. Drama
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (red)
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay (white)
16. Goumenissa V.Q.P.R.D.
Xinomavro, Negoska (red)
17. Amintaio V.Q.P.R.D.
Xinomavro (red)
18. Naoussa V.Q.P.R.D.
Xinomavro (red)

19.Rapsani V.Q.P.R.D.
Xinomavro, Stavroto, Krassato (red)
21. Messenikola V.Q.P.R.D.
Mavro Messenikola, Carignan, Syrah (red)
22. Aghialos V.Q.P.R.D.
Roditis, Savatiano (white)

20. Zitsa V.Q.P.R.D
Debina (white)

For the collectors of wine labels of greek wines:

If you want more information on greek wines visit my site at The Roads of Greek Wine This site is in Greek, English and French

About the author site

George Vekios was born in 1952.He is married and has one daughter. His family comes from a wine-producing area (Koropi- Mesogeia Attikis), and he himself started his career at the age of 15 as an assistant to his father who was also an oenologist. He studied oenology at the Oenology Institute of Bordeaux and graduated in 1975. During his studies and after them he worked with as an oenologist in the Bordeaux area. He returned in Greece in 1977 and worked until 1993 in some of the country's biggest wine-making industries (A. Kampas S.A., Botrys S.A., Boutaris & Son S.A.) as being Responsible for the Production of well known wines (Cava Kambas, Chateau Matsa, Lac des Roches). Today he works as a freelancing partner with wine-makers. He has also co-written a book entitled "The book of Wine" (in Greek), a book for wine-lovers. Çe was a member of the Greek Oenologist's Union Administrative Council for 10 years (serving as the Union's Secretary among other positions). He is co-editor of the scientific magazine "OINOLOGIA" (=Oenology) and has published many articles in magazines and newspapers. Today he writes for the well known among wine circle "GEFSI " (=Taste) magazine.

GeorgeVekios (oinos@eexi.gr)

We thank George for his gracious contribution of this information and hope that you will take the time to visit his great website. Art & Betsy