Greek Macedonia (Makedonia) is an expansive region in Northern Greece. It is bordered by the Republic of North Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria to the north and the Aegean Sea in the South.
The vineyards in the mountainous region are extensively planted to Xynomavro, along with Roditis, Limnio and the more-international Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. Macedonian red wines are noted for their firm tannins and big flavors, and the best examples are among Greece's most-sought-after reds.
There are several PGI-level regional appellations alongside the PDO titles, including Drama, Kavala, Sithonia, Mount Athos and Thessaloniki. A large range of both native and international grape varieties are used for these appellations.
Macedonia is perhaps slightly more Balkan than Mediterranean in terms of landscape. Furthermore, the Climate here has both Mediterranean and continental influences.
The latter manifest in the hot summers and colder winters. This is amplified by the usually mountainous locations of the vineyards, concentrated largely in the western Part of the region on the border of Epirus.
Here, the appellations Amyndaio, Goumenissa and Naoussa produce some of Greece's most popular reds, made from Xynomavro. Further south on the Halkidiki Peninsula, wines bearing the Playes Melitona appellation feature Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Limnio.
Certainly the oldest of the Greek grape varieties, it is given as having its first origins on the island of Lemnos or Limnos in the northern Aegean Sea, today much more cultivated in the northern part of Greece. It should not be confused with limniona, also of Greek origin, and to aggravate the confusion has as synonym limnio. Limnio can also be found in Romania, Italy, Germany, ... in France almost unknown.
white wines from the region of Macedonia go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, game (deer, venison) or shellfish such as recipes of bare-assed cockerel (ardennes), rabbit terrine in the style of a grandmother (pas de calais) or zarzuela mayonapo.
On the nose in the region of Macedonia often reveals types of flavors of peach, stone or black fruit and sometimes also flavors of non oak, vegetal or spices. In the mouth in the region of Macedonia is a powerful with a nice freshness.
The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards – with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal. ‘Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional’ said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. ‘Platinum is like the stratospheric level’ she commented, ‘so it’s really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.’ Making up just 0.87% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 c ...
The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards – with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal. ‘Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional’ said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. ‘Platinum is like the stratospheric level’ she commented, ‘so it’s really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.’ Making up just 0.87% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 c ...
Cheval Blanc 2021 was released en primeur this morning (19 May) at €390 per bottle ex-Bordeaux, up by around 3% on the 202o-vintage opening price last year. Liv-ex said the new release was still cheaper on the market than the well-regarded vintage trio of 2018, 2019 and 2020. UK merchants offered the 2021 wine at £4,740 (12x75cl in bond), it said. It marks another relatively early release for Cheval Blanc, with this year’s Bordeaux en primeur campaign just getting started. Cheval Blanc 202 ...
