Southern Greece
One of the oldest wine producing countries in the world with evidence of vinification dating back to 3000 BC. For years unfairly tarred with the stigma of Retsina, numerous new, boutique wineries have emerged in the last 30 years offering quality wines from the big range of indigineous grapes. Coupled with extensive classical and cultural sites, and a wonderful climate with long hours of sunshine, Greece is a great place to visit. With a series of unique tours, Criterion Wine are THE leading experts in Greek wine tourism.
The wine regions are spready widely over the mainland and the islands. The key geographical regions include Thessaly, Macedonia, Epirus, Attica, Crete and the islands. The important PDOs are Nemea, Mantinea, Naoussa, Amyndeo, Rapsani and Santorini as well as the luscious sweet wines of Samos, Limnos and other Aegean islands.
Greece has a huge range of indigenous grape varieties (most unpronounceable!), and the most important ones are – for whites, Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Moschofilero, Vidiano, Roditis, Savatiano and Robola; and for reds Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro, Kotsifali, Mandilaria, Limniona and Mavrodaphne.
Greece is Europe’s third most mountainous country after Switzerland and Spain. The climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and hot summers, though more continental further inland. The strong maritime influence comes from three oceans – Aegean, Ionian and Libyan. Soils are mainly limestone, sandstone, loam on sedimentary rock, and volcanic on Santorini and other islands.
Fun Fact
Past Tours to Southern Greece
A magical mix of the modern and the ancient. That sums up our 9 day tour around Athens and the Peloponnese. We held our breaths at the astonishing views of the Acropolis, from our hotel’s rooftop bar in Plaka, Athens. We plunged into deep pools overlooking hillsides, in historic Olympia. We exclaimed at the classical sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus and Olympia. We tasted heavenly wines, sighed over exquisite food, bathed in crystal clear waters and sighed over stunning scenery. And we could almost imagine the Greek gods smiling down on us benevolently, throughout the tour.
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