Greek Wine Guide: Beyond Retsina and Into Something Extraordinary

Most people’s experience of Greek wine begins and ends with a cold glass of Assyrtiko on a whitewashed terrace in Santorini, or (for the unlucky ones) a resinous sip of retsina at a tourist taverna. But Greek wine is far more interesting than that single encounter suggests. Greece is one of the most exciting wine countries in the world, and almost nobody outside the country truly knows it yet.

The Retsina Myth

Let’s get this out of the way first. Retsina, flavoured with pine resin, is a historical curiosity rather than a representation of what Greek winemaking can achieve. It dates to an era when resin was used to seal amphorae. Today’s serious Greek wine has nothing to do with it. Dismiss the memory and approach Greece with fresh eyes.

Four Grapes Worth Knowing

Assyrtiko

If you only remember one Greek grape, make it Assyrtiko. Grown on the volcanic island of Santorini, it produces one of the world’s most distinctive white wines. The mineral intensity is extraordinary: think lemon, green apple, saline, and slate, all wrapped in a searingly dry, high-acid frame. The best examples from Santorini come from ancient, ungrafted vines trained in basket shapes low to the ground to protect them from the fierce Aegean winds.

Assyrtiko is also produced in northern Greece, where it tends to be softer and fruitier. But for the full volcanic mineral experience, Santorini is the benchmark.

Agiorgitiko

Pronounced ah-yor-YEE-tee-ko, this is Greece’s most widely planted red grape and arguably its most approachable. Grown primarily in Nemea in the Peloponnese, Agiorgitiko produces soft, round reds with generous dark fruit, low tannins and a velvety texture. Think of it as the Mediterranean answer to Merlot: plum, cherry, chocolate, and a gentle herbal note.

Nemea PDO is the top designation to look for. At lower altitude, wines tend toward richer, more commercial styles. Higher-altitude Nemea, sometimes labelled “Ancient Nemea,” produces more structured and age-worthy bottles.

Xinomavro

This is where Greece gets serious. Xinomavro (ksee-NO-mav-ro, meaning “acid-black”) from Naoussa in Macedonia is often called Greece’s answer to Nebbiolo, and the comparison holds up. High acid, firm tannins, and complex flavours of dried tomato, leather, rose, and red fruit make it one of the most food-serious red grapes in the world.

It is not an easy drink in youth. Give a good Naoussa PDO Xinomavro a few years in the bottle and it will reward you generously.

Moschofilero

For aromatic white wine lovers, Moschofilero (mos-kho-FEE-leh-ro) from the Mantinia plateau in the Peloponnese is a revelation. High altitude keeps the acidity sharp while the grape packs in extraordinary floral and spice aromas: rose petals, orange peel, violet. Bone dry on the palate, it is lighter in body than Assyrtiko and makes an excellent aperitif.

Why Greek Wine Punches Above Its Weight

Greece has around 300 indigenous grape varieties, most of them grown nowhere else on earth. That uniqueness, combined with a winemaking renaissance over the past three decades, means Greek producers are making wines of genuine world-class quality. And because Greek wine remains relatively unknown outside specialist circles, prices have not yet caught up with quality. For now, you are getting outstanding wine for very reasonable money.

Food Pairings

Greek wine was made for Mediterranean food. Some reliable combinations:

• Assyrtiko with grilled fish, octopus, sea urchin, or anything with lemon
• Agiorgitiko with lamb souvlaki, moussaka, or roasted Mediterranean vegetables
• Xinomavro with braised lamb, rabbit stifado, or aged hard cheeses
• Moschofilero with mezze, seafood salads, or light fish dishes

Explore with Sommo

Greek wine is the kind of discovery that transforms how you think about the wine world. Use Sommo to scan bottles, build your knowledge of indigenous varieties, and track which producers and regions resonate with you. The app’s learning tools will help you connect the dots between Greece’s ancient vine heritage and the glass in your hand.

Download Sommo and start your Greek wine journey today.