Travels along Northern Greece's wine roads

Northern Greece is a top travel destination for wine enthusiasts. Travelers along the Wine Roads of Northern Greece will soon discover great wines and food, and amazing hospitality. Northern Greece, the homeland of Alexander the Great, has been making wine since the dawn of civilization. Today Greek wines are amongst the best in the world. In Greece you are never far from a beach and the vineyards are even closer. Come with me on a wine safari along Northern Greece's wine roads.

Views from Domaine Porto Carras © Spaswinefood

Northern Greece's Wine Roads

As you travel from seaside to mountaintop, you will discover many excellent wines, such as Assyrtiko (A seer' tec ko), a white wine, Xinomavro (Ksee NOH mah vroh) a red wine, a new-style of Retsina and international varieties. Great wines and food, with stunning scenery will make your travels along the wine roads a perfect escape. It is indeed time to checkout my wine stops. 

Halkidiki Wine Route

1. Domaine Porto Carras

My first stop Domaine Porto Carras in Sithonia, Halkidiki, a full service resort, is perhaps one of the most beautiful Northern Greece wine estates. We toured the estate, did a wine tasting, followed by fabulous dinner at one of their restaurants.

Domaine Porto Carras © Spaswinefood

Thessaloniki Wine Route 
1. Domaine Gerovassiliou

In Epanomi Thessaloniki we visited  Ktima Gerovassiliou, a beautiful winery surrounded by vineyards. After tasting a fabulous line wines we enjoyed an amazing morning brunch.

Ktima Gerovassiliou © Spaswinefood

2. Stelios Kechris Domaine

Any vinous traveler will not want to miss stopping at Stelios Kechris Domaine in Kalahari, Thessaloniki to try their award winning Retsina. It was indeed a special treat for me to taste Stelios Kechris Retsina. If you can imagine a modern style Retsina that is generating excitement in today's wine world, then Stelios Kechris Domaine is on that list.  After an exciting wine tasting we ate lunch that included delicious local foods.

Stelios Kechris Domaine Wines © Spaswinefood

Wine Route of the Olympic Gods


1. Tsantali's Rapsani 

While at Tsantali's Rapsani location we went on a Rapsani Safari Wine Adventure. We boarded 4X4's and headed into the Olympus Mountains vineyards. There in a vineyard, overlooking the nearby town, we did an outstanding wine tasting, with a most wonderful collection of cheeses. After the wine tasting we ate lunch in the nearby town. 

Rapsani Vineyards © Spaswinefood

Ktima Gerovassiliou's high quality wines are produced from Greek (Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Limnio, Mavroudi and Mavrotragano) and international (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Syrah and Merlot) grape varieties. In 1981 when Vangelis Gerovassiliou returned to the family vineyard he planted mainly Malagousia, which was in danger of extinction. He was the first to produce wine from this grape and quickly recognized its potential to make high quality wine. Today the winery continues to research and experiment with primarily Greek varieties. Its primary goal is to produce wines that best express the terroir of Epanomi. Perhaps it is no surprise that Ktima Gerovassiliou has become well known for its Malagousia.

Naoussa Wine Route

1. Boutari Winery

When we arrived at Boutari's winery in Stenimahos Naoussa we were greeted by winemaker, Vassilis Georgiou. Boutari has had a long tradition in Greece's wine industry. It one of Greece's top wine producers. The Boutari Company was established in 1879 in Naoussa. Today the company owns six wineries in Greece (Naoussa Boutari is one of the six) and one in Lanquedoc, France.

Arriving at Boutari's Naoussa Winery © Spaswinefood

Despite our late arrival we did a wine tasting that included three wineries (Elinos, Kitrvs and Boutari) before dinner. 

Boutari's Naoussa Winery Tasting Room © Spaswinefood

2. Kir-Yianni Winery

After a restful night in Naoussa it was onto Kir-Yianni winery in Giannakohori, Naoussa. While at Kir-Yianni we joined a group of Austrian and Greek sommeliers for an excellent wine tasting. It was indeed one of the most comprehensive wine tastings that I did in Northern Greece. I was delighted to be part of this experience. 

Kir-Yianni Wine Tasting © Spaswinefood

Tasting Kir-Yianni Wines © Spaswinefood

Lunch was on the patio, overlooking the expansive vineyards surrounding the property. The setting of this winery is quite stunning.

Vineyard, Kir-Yianni © Spaswinefood

Wine Route of the Lakes


1. Alpha Estate

When we arrived at Alpha Estate  in Amynteon Angelos Latridis, winemaker and co-proprietor took us on a tour of Alpha's scenic vineyards. Angelos and his partner Makis Mavridis, a viticulturist, established Alpha Estate's vineyard in Ampelia, in the Amyndeon wine region of Northwest Greece. Their 90 hectare vineyard is located on a plateau, at 620-710 meters (about 2000 feet) above sea level, in the heart of the Amyndeon Appellation. This appellation, the highest and coolest wine making area in Greece, provides ideal grape growing conditions.

Stunning View, Alpha Estate © Spaswinefood

After an inspiring tour our host treated us to a very detailed wine tasting. It was indeed special to be introduced to Alpha Estate wines. Before leaving we ate a delightful lunch.


Epirus Wine Route
1. Katogi Averoff

We winded our way through the Northern Greece mountains towards the wine producing region of Metsovo. It was dark when we arrived at Katogi Averoff Hotel & Winery, located in the Pindus Mountains. 

Wine Bar, Katogi Averoff © Spaswinefood

Katogi Averoff, a four star winery hotel, on the northwestern slopes of Pindus, 55 km from Ioannine, is a special place for enotourists. Here visitors will experience a wine world where art and hospitality are the key foci of the hotel's operation. Throughout the hotel there are artifacts and artworks by important Greek artists. Moreover, the audio-visual inspired tour is quite artistic. The relaxed atmosphere at this perfect mountain getaway is ideal for experiencing Greek hospitality.

Dionysus Wine Route

1. Biblia Chora Estate

A mist was settling into northeastern Greece's Pangeon Mountain area when we arrived at  Biblia Chora Estate in Kokkinohori Kavala. According to Greek mythology Mount Pangeon is where Dionysus (the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre) was raised. Biblia Chora on The Wine Route of Dionysus, is not only perfect for exploring Greek mythology, but also viticultural history and modern day winemaking.

Biblia Chora Estate, Kokkinohori Kavala © Spaswinefood

We toured the winery, did an inviting wine tasting, and sampled wonderful local cheeses. Even though it was getting dark we took a quick look at their experimental vineyard.


2. Wine Art Estate

The Wine Art Estate in Mikrohori, Drama, was our second stop on The Wine Route of Dionysus. While at the Wine Art Estate we toured the winery, did a wine tasting, and concluded with an awesome dinner. The dinner was prepared for us by one of the winery owners who loves to cook. It was a wine and food experience that would even tempt Dionysus.

Dinner, Wine Art Estate © Spaswinefood


3. Ktima Pavlidis

Our last stop was Ktima Pavlidis winery in Kokkinogia, Drama, just 17 kilometers west of Drama. The winery is in a narrow valley at the foothills of Mount Falako. In ancient times the area was an epicenter for Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. Obviously winemaking at Ktima Pavlidis plays an important role in PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) Drama, one of Greece's most modern wine regions. Although this PGI Drama winery specializes in international grape varieties you will also find indigenous Greek varieties, such as Assyrtiko and Agiorgitiko.

Ktima Pavlidis © Wines of Northern Greece

Founded in 1998 by Christoforos Pavlidis, the winery's emphasis is on producing premium wines. Both indigenous and international grape varieties are grown in their two estate vineyards, Kokkinogia and Perichora. During our visit we toured the winery, did a delightful wine tasting, followed by lunch.

Our five-day wine safari was indeed an action-packed, seaside to mountaintop adventure. Please checkout the Wine Roads of Northern Greece to help you plan a vine-inspired adventure. Another important source is Wines of Northern Greece. I invite you to join me in my travels in Greece any elsewhere. Check out my travels at Spaswinefood. 

Sharon

July 2016

San José, California

© Spaswinefood

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