Mountainous and semi-mountainous terroirs

Mountain terroir

The mountainous and semi-mountainous terroirs are the most common in Greece. By and large, the Greek areas producing wines that carry a protected designation of origin (PDO wines) label are situated in semi-mountainous and mountainous areas where the terrain is either smooth (plateaus) or inclined. In the first instance, the vineyards are planted in deep soil of alluvial origin while, while in the second instance, the growing soil is shallow and poor. Characteristic examples of vineyards in mountainous areas are those of Amynteo, Zitsa and Metsovo, and Achaia (slopes of Egialia). Parts of the zones of Samos, Nemea, Peza, Cephalonia and Rapsani are also included in this category. Most of rest may be described as semi-mountainous areas.

In the mountainous and semi-mountainous terroirs, average daytime temperatures drop by about 0.5 to 0.9°C per 100m, causing differentiations in the climate. The result is localized climatic conditions (meso-climates) favorable to the successful adaptation of a wider range of cultivars. When it comes to sloping vineyards, another important factor in their well-being is their exposure (slope aspect) to sunshine. Under Greece’s climatic conditions, exposures of a southern orientation are normally avoided as they subject grapes to overheating.

Mountainous and semi-mountainous terroirs, particularly in warm climates, have the important advantage of a more moist environment, due to  a smaller loss (through evaporation and transpiration) in soil moisture and higher cloud concentration and rainfall. They also benefit from midday and night breezes from the mountains and valleys which revitalize the vine stocks and contribute to their normal growth. Such conditions facilitate ripening and the optimization of the range of cultivars, and allow for better conditions in handling the grapes during the stages following their initial harvest.