Thousands of vines are planted in every corner of the Greek map. From unique indigenous varieties to world-renowned international ones, the grapes find in the various terroirs of the country the ideal conditions to produce great wines. The diversity of the soil, microclimate, altitudes and orientations form a mosaic terroir divided into four major wine families: mountain and semi-mountain, coastal, continental, and volcanic.
The mountain and semi-mountain vineyards are the most widespread in Greece. Almost all of the areas producing wines with a designation of origin (PDO) are located in semi-mountainous and mountainous areas, either on smooth soils (plateaus) or on soils with a slight or steeper slope. In the case of sloping vineyards, the orientation of the slope in relation to the sun is of great importance, as the direction of the sun’s rays has a significant effect on the vineyard. In the Greek climate, southern orientations are usually avoided, because they warm the grapes more.
A typical area with semi-mountainous and sloping soils with the characteristic microclimate is the “Slopes of Meliton”, which produces the PDO (RDPO) Slopes of Meliton of Superior Quality and P.G.I. Sithonia. The white wines found in this zone are produced from Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Roditis to a lesser extent and are wines with rich fruity aromas and medium-bodied. The reds are produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Limnio varieties. The combination of the three red varieties gives full-bodied wines of medium acidity with deep color, aromas of black and red fruits, herbs and spices.
