Greece

Greece – the mountainous, Mediterranean country in the sun-drenched southeast of Europe – is often considered the birthplace of Western civilization. Archaeological evidence suggests that wine has been made in some parts of Greece for more than 4000 years.

References in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey confirm that viniculture was prevalent here by the 8th Century BC. Wine's importance is also evident in Greek mythology. Dionysus (the Greek god of wine) appears in legends from every part of Greece, from the plains of Attica to the Aegean island of Chios.

From the 4th Century onwards Greece's tumultuous history as part of the Byzantine Empire meant that winemaking did not flourish as it did in neighbouring Italy. As a result, Greece's importance in the modern wine world is far less than one might assume, given its early success. In the late 20th Century, however, Greek winemaking showed signs of revitalization, supported by modern winemaking techniques and a generation of motivated, quality-focused producers.

The modern face of Greek wine combines the traditional with the modern. Native Greek grape varieties such as Assyrtico, Agiorgitiko and Xynomavro are found alongside such famous international (French) varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The portfolio of 21st-Century Greek wine includes everything from fresh, citrus-scented whites and sparkling rosé to lusciously sweet reds.

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