Unveiling the Birthplace of Wine: Exploring Nemea Valley, the Cradle of Greek Winemaking
In ancient Hellenic myths, the gods gave people wine as a gift. Dionysus decides to tell Oeneo (which is why the word “oenological” is used when talking about wine) the secret of the nectar and tells him to grow it all over the world. Not surprisingly, the Greeks brought enology to southern Italy (Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia) where the climate was similar. From there, it spread like wildfire, taking advantage of the similar climate.
Even though the process of turning grapes into wine is even older, the fact that it started in Greece is very important and is still a big part of Greek agriculture. If the “Bel Paese” has Chianti and Barolo, then the Nemea Valley is without a doubt the center of Greek winemaking and the place where it all began. Nemea is in the northwest part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is close to the archaeological site of Iraklion, which was one of Hercules’ twelve labors.
Nemea’s wines are made from grapes that are common in Europe but may not be native to the area, such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
Agiorgitiko, on the other hand, is very Greek. It is an ancient black grape variety with very narrow berries that is picked in September and made on about 3,200 hectares in the south-central part of Greece. Nemea’s red wine made from Agiorgitiko grapes has the POP (Prostatevómeni onomasa proélefsis) label, which is the same as the DOC. It is made through carbonic maceration, which is also used in the Beaujolais region of France.
If you fall in love with the wines of Nemea, which is very likely, you will also fall in love with the area where they are made. In the Peloponnese valley, there are many archaeological sites. One of the oldest is ancient Nemea, where the Panhellenic Games were held as early as the 6th century BC. Its stadium was built before Olympia’s.
From the Sanctuary of Zeus, we go to the Acrocorinth, a large fortified complex that overlooks the city of Corinth and is one of the artificial navigation channels that “split” Greece in two. Lake Stymfalia is one of the best places in this part of the country to watch birds and learn about the environment because it has Venetian-style towers, ancient artifacts, and beautiful natural scenery.
The DOC regions of Northern Greece
There are several PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) wine-making regions in the north of Greece.
In particular, there are six areas that stand out:
- Amynteon, near the borders of North Macedonia, in the vicinity of Lake Vegoritida
- Goumenissa, always in the extreme north of Greece, at the foot of Mount Paiko and just outside the homonymous city of Goumenissa
- Zitsa, in Epirus, is the southernmost of the six and also the most mountainous
- Naoussa, around the city of the same name and at the foot of Mount Vermion
- Meliton, one of the three “arms” of the Chaldicica peninsula (Sithonia peninsula) and on the slopes of Mount Meliton
- Rapsani, on the hills surrounding the sacred Mount Olympus
The wine roads of Northern Greece, which were put together by a group of producers, are one of the best ways to get to know these six regions, each of which has a strong food and wine culture and a rich monumental heritage made up of archaeological sites, churches, monasteries, museums, and so much more.
Visiting the wine region of northern Greece means, above all, going to the cellars that welcome tourists who want to learn about the Hellenic drinking culture, which is very different from that of the countries around it, both in terms of taste and culture.
In fact, the culture of Greek wineries is one that needs to be carefully explored, leaving behind the knowledge and stereotypes that are part of good drinking in our parts of the world.
The Wine Road of the Olympic Gods runs along the southern edge of the Tempi valley. It goes through Rapsani, Krania, Pydna Pieria, and Agios Panteleimon, which still has clear signs of Venetian rule. The route is even more interesting because it goes by beaches, temples, and taverns where you can try fish dishes. It can be done in both the summer and fall.
Epirus Wine Route
The Epirus Wine Route is like a song about how peaceful and calm nature is. Ancient stone bridges in the middle of dense forests, mountain villages like Metsovo, which is almost 1200 m above sea level, and famous vineyards are all things you can see in this country.
Metsovo is home to the winery Katogi Averoff, which is right in the middle of the area. People go there a lot in the winter because it has ski slopes. The Tsouka Monastery, the Pavlos Vrellis Wax Museum, and the Perama Quarries are also interesting places to visit.
The Lakes Wine Route is in Western Macedonia, and its vineyards are spread out along a plateau that goes up to 750 m above sea level, especially around Amyntaio. Vegoritida and Petra lakes, which are the most important natural places in the area, are protected by the community because they are home to many different kinds of animals.
Metamorfosi is a historic winemaking center built around a monastery from the 9th century. The road goes on to Siatista, where there is a “sunny” wine, which is made with grapes that are left out in the sun for a long time.
The Naoussa Wine Route
The Naoussa Wine Route is the most well-known in northern Greece. It is where the high-quality red wine Xinomavro is made.
The route goes through Naoussa, which has a Wine Museum in a neoclassical building that Ioannis Boutaris built in 1908.
The Subani waterfalls are also beautiful and worth seeing if you are in the city. Do not miss the Nymphaeum of Mieza, which shows the School of Aristotle, the ski slopes of Pigadia and Seli, and the archaeological sites of Vergina and Veroia.
Goumenissa-Pella Wine Route
The Goumenissa-Pella Wine Route, which is about 70 km from Thessaloniki, goes through two wine regions between the holy and the ordinary.
Not only wine, but also three important monasteries (of the Virgin Mary and of San Nicodemus in Goumenissa and of San Raffaele in Grivas-Pella) and the Kilkis archaeological site.
Did you know that on February 1, we celebrate San Trifone Martire, the patron saint of winegrowers?
Thessaloniki Wine Route (Thessaloniki)
The Thessaloniki Wine Route (Thessaloniki) is an important part of Greece’s second-largest city. It lets us get to this place, which is full of stories about how different countries affected Greece before it became independent in the 1800s.
Thessaloniki has a lot to see, like the White Tower, the Archeology, Byzantine, and Folklore museums, the city walls, the Arch of Galerius, and the old Byzantine temples. Besides toasting Greece and all of its wonderful things.
Chaldicida Wine Route
So, we end our trip with the Chaldicida Wine Route, which starts just outside Thessaloniki and goes through Agios Pavlos, Porto Carras, and Mount Athos (where women aren’t allowed), and the Dionysos Wine Route, which starts at the foot of Monte Paggaion, which used to be mined for gold and silver in the past.
