The vineyards of Ilia and Messinia
The common feature of the neighboring areas of the vineyards of Ilia and Messinia is the broad presence of foreign cultivars. In Ilia, the vineyards are clustered on the flatlands southeast of the mountains, in fertile soil and with ample water supplies from the Alfios and Pinios rivers. In Messinia, the vineyards are found on plateaus, exposed to the beneficial effect of the Ionian Sea and planted in calcareous soil of a lower water-retaining capacity. The area of Trifilia is the most noteworthy for its viticultural performance. Throughout the western side of the Peloponnese a cluster of international cultivars have been successfully cultivated for decades -Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Rouge and Refosco being the most important ones. The native varieties of Roditis, Mavrodaphne, Fokiano and Avgoustiatis are also present.
