Greek Varietals
Taste the history.
Greek Varietals
Taste the history.
Varietal Types
Aidani (Aï-thá-nee)
An ancient Greek grape variety that is mainly grown in the Cyclades. It is an acidic and aromatic grape with flower aromas. Aidani is used in making both dry and sweet wines.
Athiri (Ah-theé-ree)
Distributed in the south Aegean and Halkidiki regions, these grapes have a thin skin with a sweet and fruity juice, with a delicate lemony aroma and rich taste. This grape is blended with Assyrtiko and Aidani to make the popular, “Vinsanto”.
Assyrtiko (Ah-seér-tee-ko)
Indigenous to Santorini where the vines are often over 100 years old. This grape has thick skins, is acidic and complex, making a crisp, mineral, fresh wine when on Santorini, and slightly more fruit-forward with less minerality when grown on the mainland.
Debina (De-beé-nah)
Indigenous to the region of Epirus, famously used for sparkling wines it also makes fresh, white dry wines. Pleasant acidity with citrus fruit notes.
Gaidouria (Gaï-thour-yiá)
A rare indigenous grape to Santorini it is used in blends. A subtle and smooth white grape.
Katsano (Kah-tsa-nó)
By the end of the 19th century almost 50 different grape varieties were cultivated in Santorini. Unfortunately, today, only 5 can be recorded, Katsano being one of them. A rare grape harvested from the Galavas Winery. This grape makes a complex and crisp wine.
Malagousia (Mah-lah-gou-siá)
This ancient Greek varietal produces wine that is well balanced with notes of peach, melon and citrus. It was saved from almost going extinct and makes for a full body, aromatic wine.
Monemvassia (Mōn-nem-vas-yá)
A beautiful and soothing floral wine that is full of subtle undertones of apricots and pears, pineapple and green apple and citrus. Cultivated in the island of Paros, in the Cyclades.
Moschofilero (Mohs-ko-feé-le-rho)
Cultivated in the Mantinia plateau and in the southern Peloponnese. An aromatic white-pink varietal that is balanced with acidity. It is often spicy with lemon zest yet floral with aromas of Muscat, rose, peppermint and lemon.
Roditis (Roh-theé-tees)
A popular white grape varietal of central Greece. It makes pleasant wines that are light with tones of citrus, apple and pear.
Vidiano (Vee-diah-noh)
Indigenous and rare grape of Crete. An aromatic grape that is gaining attention in the wine world. It is a high-quality wine with moderate acidity, and complex aromas reminiscent of apricot, bergamot, chamomile, white flowers and peach. It has very different style according to the altitude it’s cultivated. In high altitudes it has high acidity and minerality so many consider it’s a rival variety to Assyrtiko.
Agiorgitiko (Ah-yor-yeé-ti-ko)
Translates to “St. George’s grape” An aromatic dark red grape varietal- makes big, bold and spicy reds. This grape also produces distinctive and pleasant rosés. A poly-dynamic red varietal.Translates to “St. George’s grape” An aromatic dark red grape varietal- makes big, bold and spicy reds. This grape also produces distinctive and pleasant rosés. A poly-dynamic red varietal.
Aidani Mavro (Ay-dá-ni Má-vro)
Indigenous variety to Paros and Naxos that is a rare form of the Cycladic Aidani varietal which is normally white.
Limnio (Leém-ñio)
One of the oldest varieties on record, this red grape originates from the Greek island of Lemnos. Makes fruit forward red wines with silky tannins and great aging potential.
Mandilaria (Māhn-dee-lar-yá)
A red grape from the Aegean that is usually vinified together with other varieties, in order to tame its difficult character and add finesse to its earth aromas. It offers a smooth and rich wine with hefty tannins and hints of plum, cherry, chocolate and vanilla.
Mavrotragano (Mahv-ro-trá-ga-no)
Indigenous to Santorini, this grape has a low yield and produces a deep red wine, fruity to the nose and tastes full of red currents, spices, opulent fruit and black cherries.
Mavrodaphne (Mahv-ro-daf-nee)
Mavrodaphne is an upcoming grape variety that has two homes, Patra and Cephalonia. It’s a deep colored grape variety famous for the dessert wines it gives. The last 10-15 years many wine makers make dry red wines from Mavrodaphne. These wines have deep color, medium body and high acidity. They also have a distinctive spicy-peppery character and aromas of bay leaf, ink, coffee and black fruits.
Voudomato (Vou–thó-ma-to)
Translates to “the bull’s eye” because of the large rose grapes the vine produces. This is a rare rose varietal from Santorini that makes an excellent rosé.
Xinomavro (Xee-nó-mahv-roh)
A bold and popular Greek grape in the north. The name means black and sour, but it’s wines are amazingly complex and full-bodied with subtle aromas of sundried tomato, olive paste and red fruits.
Varietal Types
Aidani (Aï-thá-nee)
An ancient Greek grape variety that is mainly grown in the Cyclades. It is an acidic and aromatic grape with flower aromas. Aidani is used in making both dry and sweet wines.
Athiri (Ah-theé-ree)
Distributed in the south Aegean and Halkidiki regions, these grapes have a thin skin with a sweet and fruity juice, with a delicate lemony aroma and rich taste. This grape is blended with Assyrtiko and Aidani to make the popular, “Vinsanto”.
Assyrtiko (Ah-seér-tee-ko)
Indigenous to Santorini where the vines are often over 100 years old. This grape has thick skins, is acidic and complex, making a crisp, mineral, fresh wine when on Santorini, and slightly more fruit-forward with less minerality when grown on the mainland.
Debina (De-beé-nah)
Indigenous to the region of Epirus, famously used for sparkling wines it also makes fresh, white dry wines. Pleasant acidity with citrus fruit notes.
Gaidouria (Gaï-thour-yiá)
A rare indigenous grape to Santorini it is used in blends. A subtle and smooth white grape.
Katsano (Kah-tsa-nó)
By the end of the 19th century almost 50 different grape varieties were cultivated in Santorini. Unfortunately, today, only 5 can be recorded, Katsano being one of them. A rare grape harvested from the Galavas Winery. This grape makes a complex and crisp wine.
Malagousia (Mah-lah-gou-siá)
This ancient Greek varietal produces wine that is well balanced with notes of peach, melon and citrus. It was saved from almost going extinct and makes for a full body, aromatic wine.
Monemvassia (Mōn-nem-vas-yá)
A beautiful and soothing floral wine that is full of subtle undertones of apricots and pears, pineapple and green apple and citrus. Cultivated in the island of Paros, in the Cyclades.
Moschofilero (Mohs-ko-feé-le-rho)
Cultivated in the Mantinia plateau and in the southern Peloponnese. An aromatic white-pink varietal that is balanced with acidity. It is often spicy with lemon zest yet floral with aromas of Muscat, rose, peppermint and lemon.
Roditis (Roh-theé-tees)
A popular white grape varietal of central Greece. It makes pleasant wines that are light with tones of citrus, apple and pear.
Vidiano (Vee-diah-noh)
Indigenous and rare grape of Crete. An aromatic grape that is gaining attention in the wine world. It is a high-quality wine with moderate acidity, and complex aromas reminiscent of apricot, bergamot, chamomile, white flowers and peach. It has very different style according to the altitude it’s cultivated. In high altitudes it has high acidity and minerality so many consider it’s a rival variety to Assyrtiko.
Agiorgitiko (Ah-yor-yeé-ti-ko)
Translates to “St. George’s grape” An aromatic dark red grape varietal- makes big, bold and spicy reds. This grape also produces distinctive and pleasant rosés. A poly-dynamic red varietal.Translates to “St. George’s grape” An aromatic dark red grape varietal- makes big, bold and spicy reds. This grape also produces distinctive and pleasant rosés. A poly-dynamic red varietal.
Aidani Mavro (Ay-dá-ni Má-vro)
Indigenous variety to Paros and Naxos that is a rare form of the Cycladic Aidani varietal which is normally white.
Limnio (Leém-ñio)
One of the oldest varieties on record, this red grape originates from the Greek island of Lemnos. Makes fruit forward red wines with silky tannins and great aging potential.
Mandilaria (Māhn-dee-lar-yá)
A red grape from the Aegean that is usually vinified together with other varieties, in order to tame its difficult character and add finesse to its earth aromas. It offers a smooth and rich wine with hefty tannins and hints of plum, cherry, chocolate and vanilla.
Mavrotragano (Mahv-ro-trá-ga-no)
Indigenous to Santorini, this grape has a low yield and produces a deep red wine, fruity to the nose and tastes full of red currents, spices, opulent fruit and black cherries.
Mavrodaphne (Mahv-ro-daf-nee)
Mavrodaphne is an upcoming grape variety that has two homes, Patra and Cephalonia. It’s a deep colored grape variety famous for the dessert wines it gives. The last 10-15 years many wine makers make dry red wines from Mavrodaphne. These wines have deep color, medium body and high acidity. They also have a distinctive spicy-peppery character and aromas of bay leaf, ink, coffee and black fruits.
Voudomato (Vou–thó-ma-to)
Translates to “the bull’s eye” because of the large rose grapes the vine produces. This is a rare rose varietal from Santorini that makes an excellent rosé.
Xinomavro (Xee-nó-mahv-roh)
A bold and popular Greek grape in the north. The name means black and sour, but it’s wines are amazingly complex and full-bodied with subtle aromas of sundried tomato, olive paste and red fruits.