Red grapeSommo grape guide

Xinomavro

Xinomavro wine guide: what this red grape tastes like, where it comes from, the regions that grow it, and what to eat with it.

Colour
Red
Body
Full
Origin
Greece
Top region
Naoussa
2
Key regions
3
Pairings
9
Synonyms

Xinomavro is a red grape variety, with its roots in Naoussa, Greece.

The wines show full body, high tannin, high acidity, dry and medium alcohol.

The tasting note runs to prune, strawberry and sundried tomato.

It is planted most seriously in Naoussa and Rapsani.

In the vineyard it is marked by late ripening, fickle vigour and a preference for continental.

It blends readily with Merlot and Syrah.

On other labels it goes by Black Naousa, Xynomavro of Naousa, Xynomavro Naousis and Mavro Naoussis.

At the table it suits veal stew with onions (stifatho), meatloaf and lamb, walnut and pinenut kofta.

The structure.

Body
Full
Tannin
High
Acidity
High
Sweetness
Dry
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
prunestrawberrysundried tomato
Styles
dry redrosé

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 Veal stew with onions (stifatho)
02 Meatloaf
03 Lamb, walnut and pinenut kofta

Also labelled.

Black Naousa, Xynomavro of Naousa, Xynomavro Naousis, Mavro Naoussis, Mavro Naoustino, Niaoussa, Popolka, Pipolka, Xyno Mavro.

Bottles to look for.

  • Alpha Estate 'Ecosystem' Vieilles Vignes Single Block Reserve Xinomavro, Amyndaio, Greece
  • Alpha Estate Hedgehog Vineyard Xinomavro, Amyndeo, Greece
  • Artisans Vignerons de Naoussa Skyphos Xinomavro, Macedonia, Greece
  • Boutari Grande Reserve, Naoussa, Greece
  • Boutari Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece
  • Dalamara Naoussa, Macedonia Naoussa, Greece
  • Dalamara Paliokalias Xinomavro, Naoussa, Greece
  • Domaine Tatsis 'Old Roots' Xinomavro, Macedonia, Greece

Xinomavro: common questions

01.
What does Xinomavro taste like?
+
Xinomavro tastes of prune, strawberry and sundried tomato. The wines show full body, high tannin, high acidity, dry and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Xinomavro from?
+
Xinomavro originates in Naoussa, Greece.
03.
Where is Xinomavro grown?
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The key regions for Xinomavro are Naoussa and Rapsani.
04.
What food pairs with Xinomavro?
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Pour it with veal stew with onions (stifatho), meatloaf and lamb, walnut and pinenut kofta.
05.
What else is Xinomavro called?
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Xinomavro is also labelled Black Naousa, Xynomavro of Naousa, Xynomavro Naousis, Mavro Naoussis and Mavro Naoustino, plus four more.

Keep going: the A to Z grape index, or the wine regions of Greece.

Grapes in the app

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