The Winery (Θερμοπυλών) Guarding Thermopylae of Continental Greece

Discovering the wine region of Continental Greece

CentralGreece is a large geographical region in the heart of mainland Greece. Home to around 4. 5 million Greeks and the capital city, Athens, the region is also the birthplace of one of the country's most famous wines, Retsina. ALong with this idiosyncratic wine (which is mostly made from the local Savatiano grape), many Dry red and white wines are produced in Central Greece, from varieties as far-ranging as Assyrtico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Athiri.

Central Greece has long been associated with mass production, producing around 200 million liters (52. 8 million US gallons) of wine each year. In recent years, producers in the region have been making a push toward quality and experimenting with different styles of wine. Retsina, long the pariah of European wine culture, has become a blank canvas for winemakers, who are experimenting with grape varieties such as Roditis and Assyrtico and with lower quantities of resin.

The region covers the Southern Part of continental Greece, just North of the Peloponnese Peninsula and south of Thessalia and Epirus. The Aegean Sea makes up the eastern coast of Central Greece, and the Ionian Sea is to the west. While there are no PDO-level appellations in this part of Greece, more than 20 separate PGI wine zones are spread across the region. Many of these appellations are found in the eastern part of Central Greece, on the low-lying plains of Attica.