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.
White muscat is a white grape variety of Greek origin. Present in several Mediterranean vineyards, it has several synonyms such as muscat de Die, muscat blanc and frontignac. In France, it occupies a little less than 7,000 ha out of a total of 45,000 ha worldwide. Its young shoots are downy. Its youngest leaves are shiny, bronzed and scabrous. The berries and bunches of this variety are all medium-sized. The flesh of the berries is juicy, sweet and firm. Muscat à petits grains has a second ripening period and buds early in the year. It is moderately vigorous and must be pruned short. It likes poor, stony slopes. This variety is often exposed to spring frosts. It fears mildew, wasps, grape worms, court-noué, grey rot and powdery mildew. Muscat à petits grains is used to make rosé wines and dry white wines. Orange, brown sugar, barley sugar and raisins are the known aromas of these wines.
white wines from the region of Macedonia go well with generally quite well with dishes of pasta, mature and hard cheese or vegetarian such as recipes of pasta cake, pizza with beef and comté cheese or vegan leek and tofu quiche.
