Wines of Mainland Greece, from Macedonia to Peloponnese

In this part, I would like to talk about mainland Greece, from northern Macedonia down to the southern Peloponnese. Greece grows more than 200 native grape varieties, along with many international ones, and vineyards exist throughout the entire country. Of course, it doesn’t make sense to cover every single region and variety, so let’s focus on the most important and interesting ones.

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Greek Viniculture: History, Wine Laws, Retsina

For many, Greece evokes vivid images of wine’s ancient roots—amphoras, Dionysus, Bacchanalia, and a history steeped in the free flow of wine. Yet paradoxically, Greek wine often goes unnoticed in the modern world, rarely coming to mind when browsing a wine shop. Greece is often regarded as the cradle of world winemaking and the progenitor of European viticulture. While the exact origins of Greek winemaking are lost in the mists of time, it is widely believed that viticulture reached Greece via Egypt and Phoenicia, both of which inherited it from the ancient winemaking traditions of the Caucasus and Mesopotamia. Greece embraced and refined the craft, spreading it across the Mediterranean. For over four thousand years—and perhaps as many as six—Greeks have been making wine, with some of the world’s oldest grape varieties still thriving on Greek soil. Yet, despite its rich heritage, Greece has struggled to achieve modern recognition as a producer of prestigious wines.

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