New Wines Of Greece

The vineyards of Attiki (Attica), mainly in the Mesogia area, together with those of Viotia and Evia -in the valley of Chalkida and the plain of Lilantio- account for most of Greek Retsina production, traditionally from the Savvatiano and, to a lesser degree, the Roditis varieties. The soil of Attiki is mainly calcareous, the result of river and lake silt deposits, and of low fertility because of its sandy loam composition and little organic matter. The vineyards of Attiki are among the hottest and driest in the country: the thermal sum exceeds 2,300dd while annual precipitation is no more than 19 inches, of which a mere 4 inches falls during the summer months. Savvatiano is perfectly comfortable under these conditions owing to its great resilience to drought and the manner in which it is cultivated in densely planted vineyards and in which the vines are trained into goblets. The area also features a number of international cultivars which are often planted in linear vineyards.