Wine destination
Greece is one of the world’s oldest wine cultures, with traditions stretching back thousands of years and a treasure of indigenous grape varieties found almost nowhere else.
Greece is one of the world’s oldest wine cultures, with traditions stretching back thousands of years and a treasure of indigenous grape varieties found almost nowhere else. Its vineyards range from windswept volcanic islands to high mountain slopes on the mainland. On Santorini, ungrafted Assyrtiko vines trained in low basket shapes (kouloura) yield searingly mineral, saline whites from volcanic soils. In the north, Naoussa and the wider Macedonia region are the home of Xinomavro — a structured, age-worthy red often likened to Nebbiolo. In the Peloponnese, Nemea produces supple reds from Agiorgitiko while Mantinia is known for aromatic Moschofilero, and Crete, the largest island, pairs ancient varieties with a fast-modernising scene.
Add the revival of quality retsina, a wave of skin-contact (orange) wines, and dessert wines such as Vinsanto and Samos Muscat, and Greece offers wine travellers a remarkably diverse, still-underexplored destination — matched, of course, by its islands, food and hospitality. Use the guides below to plan tastings across Santorini, the Peloponnese, Macedonia, Crete and beyond.
