The vineyards of northern Greece

Northern Greece vineyards

The geographical zone of northern Greece stretches from the Pindos mountain range in the west to Thrace in the east. Its natural border to the south is the Olympus mountain range, at approximately latitude 40o north. The vineyards of northern Greece (Drama and Kavala, Halkidiki, Goumenissa, Naoussa, Amynteo, Rapsani, Zitsa and Metsovo etc.) cover an area of approximately 25,000 acres which benefit from the temperate and humid climate of the region. They host cultivars of foreign origin, yielding some of the best Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Syrah varieties produced in Greece, as well as native cultivars, notably Xinomavro, the noblest red produced by the vineyards of northern Greece.

The vineyards of northern Greece are usually scattered amidst other cultivations, orchards and crops alike. Vineyards are normally found on smooth terrain, but they may also be perched on mountain slopes or semi-mountainous terroirs. They frequently stretch along the coastline or lakesides, benefiting from the favorable temperate climate created by the Mediterranean waters. The soil they are planted in is generally fertile with fair moisture capacity and favors brisk vine growth, necessitating the use of advanced training systems and elaborate cultivation practices. Because of the region’s typically flatter terrain -in relation to southern Greece -and the ampler availability of natural resources like cultivable soil and water, the vineyards of northern Greece are almost all linear and irrigated, with medium to low planting densities —fewer than 4,000 vines stocks per hectare.