Getting Familiar With Greek White Grape Varieties

Hellasfrappe's dedication to the Greek agricultural industry is ongoing. Today we will examine Greek white wines. Over the past few decades the Greek white wine industry has undergone a major revolution. In fact you can taste the history of the country with every sip. Today Greece produces a world class series of wines which are made from indigenous grape varieties as diverse as the landscape and the people themselves. Discover how much more there is to learn about Greek wines, and with your new found knowledge you too can help our agriculture industry by preferring Greek wines. In our next lesson HellasFrappe will touch on red wines, and then we will also teach you which wines match better with different types of dishes. But as a first lesson, let us familiarize ourselves first with the various varieties.

• Aidani: It can found on Santorini and other Aegean islands. Flowery bouquet.
• Assyrtiko: This variety, one of Greece's best, is found on the
• Aegean islands, especially  on Santorini. It covers about 65% of this volcanic island's plantings and is the base for the production of the Appellation of Origin (A.O.) Santorini. Its high acidity is sometimes ameliorated with the addition of Savatiano. The wines have a fruity taste and come in many styles.
• Athiri: It is grown mainly in the Aegean but has presence in northern Greece and the Peloponnese. A.O. Rhodes is produced by this grape and is usually blended with Assyrtiko.
• Debina: An indigenous variety found in Zitsa, Epirus which produces dry and sparkling wines (A.O. Zitsa). The area's high altitude gives a distinct freshness and fruity aromas to the wines.
• Kakotrigis: A variety unique to southern Corfu.
• Lagorthi: A highly promising variety located in the northwestern Peloponnese which unfortunately is not widely planted.
• Malvazia: This variety is found today on the island of Paros in small quantities. If one traces its history, it can be found during the middle ages as a sweet wine, largely exported from Crete. The name comes from the Venetians who transformed the name of Monemvasia, a coastal town on the eastern Peloponnese, to Malvazia.
• Moschofilero: It produces "Blanc de Gris" wines as the grape has
• a pinkish color. The German counterpart is Gerwutztraminer. This fine variety grows at high altitudes (600m) in central Peloponnese. The A.O. Mantinia has a distinct fruity bouquet with high acidity.
• Muscat: There is a varietal aroma in these wines which are produced in a range of styles from dry to dessert wines. It is grown on Cephalonia, Rhodes, Samos and in Patra and it gives these areas one of their A.O. wines.
• Robola: A variety with a rich aroma which is found mainly on the island of Cephalonia and is expensive to buy.
• Roditis: This variety can be found in most of the Greek wine regions and its grape skin is either white or light red. It produces the Patra and Anhialos A.O.. Roditis' quality increases with the altitude of the region it is grown at.
• Savatiano: Due to its light taste it has been used mainly in the production of Retsina. However, there has been a dramatic change in this wine's character due to advances in technology and techniques. It is the commonest variety to be found in Attica and Euboea and amounts to about 15% of Greece's wine grapes.
• Sideritis: A variety found in the northern Peloponnese close to Patra.
• Tsaoussi: This grape is grown on the island of Cephalonia and is blended with the Robola variety.
• Vertzami: A low profile variety found mainly on Lefkada.
• Vidiano: The best results are when this Cretan variety is grown at high altitudes.
• Vilana: This is central and eastern Crete's main white variety and fully comprises the A.O. Peza. One can usually detect floral tones in these wines.

Keep in mind that there are many other white grape varieties grown all over Greece as well. In most cases the varieties that are cultivated include known varieties such as - Chardonnay, Semillion, Grenache Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Ugni Blanc. Interestingly, Chardonnay is probably the most popular with plantings all over the country.