Top 100 white wines of Greece
Discover the top 100 best white wines of Greece as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the white wines that are popular of Greece and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Greece
Greece, a mountainous Turkey/mediterranean">Mediterranean country in Southeastern Europe, is often considered the cradle of Western civilization. Archaeological evidence suggests that wine has been made in Parts of Greece for over 4000 years.
References in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey confirm that viticulture was widespread here in the 8th century BC. The importance of wine is also evident in Greek mythology.
Dionysus (the Greek god of wine) appears in the legends of all regions of Greece, from the plains of Attica to the Aegean island of Chios.
From the 4th century onwards, the tumultuous history of Greece as part of the Byzantine Empire meant that viticulture did not flourish as it did in neighbouring Italy. As a result, Greece's importance in the modern wine world is far less than one might expect, given its early success. In the late 20th century, however, Greek viticulture showed signs of revitalization, supported by modern winemaking techniques and a generation of motivated, quality-oriented producers.
The modern face of Greek wine combines the traditional with the modern. Native Greek Grape varieties such as Assyrtico, Agiorgitiko and Xynomavro stand alongside famous international (French) varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The range of 21st century Greek wines includes fresh, citrusy whites, Sparkling rosés and deliciously Sweet reds.
Geographically speaking, Greece consists of its mainland and numerous islands.
Discover the grape variety: Roussanne
Roussane is a white grape variety, planted on an area of more than 700 ha. Originally from Montélimar, it is also found in Savoie, Languedoc and Roussillon, and grows very well in calcareous, poor, stony soil. It prefers to be pruned short. Roussane is also called fromenteau, barbin or bergeron. The young leaves are bubbled with fine down. When adult, they become thicker. It flowers in June and matures in mid-September. The grapes are cylindrical in shape, the berries are small and turn red when ripe, and the wine produced from pure Roussane is of extraordinary quality. It has a delicate aroma reminiscent of coffee, honeysuckle, iris and peony. The taste of this wine improves with age. It is part of the blend of the appellations Vin-de-Savoie, Côtes-du-Vallée du Rhône or Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Food and wine pairing with a white wine of Greece
white wines from the region of Greece go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, lean fish or pork such as recipes of scallops with chorizo sauce, fish and shrimp wok with curry or sauté of pork with cider.
