Ancient Greeks considered that wine was a gift from the gods and worshiped Dionysus, the son of Zeus and Semeli, as god of wine. It is believed that wine (oinos) was introduced in Greece around 4000 BC and has been cultivated ever since. As is the case with all the nations situated in the Mediterranean basin, the moderate climate in combination with the fertile land offered the country the ideal conditions for viticulture.

Vineyards, grapes and wine drinking festivities are depicted on hundreds of ancient Greek artifacts and oinos was always present during ancient Greeks’ philosophical gatherings, the “symposia”.

In recent years there's been a huge push to increase the quality of Greek wines for international consumption and today there are even Greek Wine Roads where you can take off and see the vines and sample some exquisite wines when travelling to the Greek countryside.

This relatively new form of tourism proposes routes through the most pittoresque areas of Greece’s viniculture zones combined with a visit of traditional villages, gustation of the regions specialties as well as strolling through cultural treasures and archaeological sites.

Greek Wine Roads: from northern Greece to Crete

Wine Roads of Northern Greece is the oldest wine makers’ union in Greece that traces down the routes of wine in Northern Greece (especially in the area around Thessaloniki), and offers different itineraries around more than 40 vineries and vineyards from Epirus to Thrace.

Located in the southernmost section of continental Greece, only three hours drive form Athens, the vineyards of the Peloponnese are from every aspect among the most important Greek viticultural regions. Wine touring around the city of Nemea is especially worth mentioning as this is where, according to archaeological excavations, wine was first produced there almost 3500 years ago.

The Aegean islands and Crete have an important winemaking tradition that dates back to the Neolithic age. Having developed a strong shipping network, our Aegean ancestors traded their wines throughout the known ancient world. The moderate Mediterranean climate of the Aegean combined with the rocky, volcanic soil, plentiful sunshine and constant sea breezes provide excellent conditions for the cultivation of grapes.

Last but not least, the viniculture in Attica draws on its abundant history, its varied vineyards with native and foreign grape varieties, with the traditional Greek varieties Savatiano and Roditis, prevailing as they capture 80% of Attica's vineyards.