Discover the PGI Wines of Central Greece – Branded Content

The land that today is called Central Greece has always been the epicentre of the ancient Greek wine world.

According to ancient scripts and archaeological excavations, wine was imported from the Middle East before expanding to the ancient Greek colonies in Southern Italy which brought wine to the Roman Empire. There are very few places in Greece where the shift of attitudes in viticulture is more evident than Central Greece. The range of wines produced is now the most diverse in Greece.

In the 19th Century, vine growing continued its long-standing presence in the region. Rural populations continued growing and tending their vines, despite the wars and the economic turbulences that marked the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. In the 1950s, the region’s grapevines were largely destroyed by the destructive pest of ‘phylloxera’. Growers grafted the European vines onto American rootstocks to save the old vines, and production, which had long been associated with mass-produced table wines, began to shift.

For more than 40 years, local winemakers have been exploring the potential of the region’s wide variety of mesoclimates. The number of grape varieties grown in the region is impressive: more than 40 indigenous and international varieties are grown locally, making Central Greece the country’s laboratory of viticultural experimentation. Several indigenous grape varieties have been revived in recent years by the local vine growers and winemakers in their quest to preserve Greece’s viticultural heritage.

Vine growing in Central Greece can be as diverse as its mountain-curved landscape. Dry-farmed old bush vines on slopes co-exist along with younger vineyards, irrigated by subterrestrial systems. Central Greece is the homeland of two of the most important white grape varieties of Greece: the sturdy ‘Savatiano’ and the aromatic ‘Malagousia’. The indigenous red, dark-skinned grape star varieties of the region are ‘Mouchtaro’, ‘Mavrokountoura’ (Black Kountoura), and ‘Vradiano’.

Following the current trends in modern winemaking, local winemakers strive to express the aromas, structure and unique character of their indigenous grape varieties. The style of wines produced is the most diverse in Greece: whites can range from light, easy-to-drink wines, to savoury and complex. As for the reds, they extend from fruity, mellow reds to sophisticated, pure expressions of terroir.

Today, wine producers are investing in the exploration of new terroirs found around the region as well as reviving forgotten local grape varieties. The combination of unique mesoclimates, successful vineyard management, promising rare varieties and skilled and dedicated winemakers can become a game changer for the reputation and development of Central Greece’s wine identity.

The young generation of wine growers questioned the established vineyard areas, the traditional varieties and cultivation techniques. First, they opted for cooler areas – in the foothills of Mt Olympus, in the Atalanti Valley, in Dirfi or Ritsona in Evia, or on mountains further south, like Kitherona, Gerania or Penteli. They planted native varieties from other parts of Greece, mainly Assyrtiko and Malagousia, alongside international varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. They have also resurrected forgotten local grapes, including Mavrokountoura in Evia or Mouchtaro in Viotia. Many producers adopted one, two or all of these different approaches, with stunning results, making many of the New Wines of Greece triumphs.

The combination of unique mesoclimates, successful vineyard management, promising rare varieties and skilled and dedicated winemakers have helped Central Greece’s wine trade to blossom.
The region boasts nine Protected Geographical Indication wine zones:

Click here for more information on Wines of Central Greece