TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Greek White Wine Types
Malagousia is an ancient, white-skinned Greek grape that was saved from extinction by Vangelis Gerovassiliou, who brought it back from obscurity in the 1970s. The grape produces aromatic dry wines, which are usually of excellent quality.
It is also used to make dense and perfumed dessert styles. On the nose, the wines display intense aromas often reminiscent of peaches, pears, and tropical fruit, usually with citrusy, herbal, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, they are full-bodied, rich, and round, and the best examples manage to remain lively and fresh.
Nectar is a wine style that hails from Samos. The wine is produced from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, which is locally known as Moschato Aspro. The style is made with late-harvested and sun-dried grapes, and the wines have to be oak-aged for at least three years.
Nectar has an appealing light amber color. It is a complex and rich wine with an aroma reminiscent of honey, raisins, dried fruits, and nuts. On the palate, they display a good balance of acidity and sweetness, with typical dried fruit, toffee, spicy, and herbal notes.
Roditis is a pink-skinned variety from Greece that is cultivated throughout the mainland. It is the second most planted grape in Greece, used both in varietals and blends. The grape was mostly used for bland, inexpensive bulk wines, but the recent shift to quality has slightly improved its reputation.
Roditis is terroir-driven, and the grape is multi-clonal (at least three confirmed clones), creating wines with somewhat different characters and features. The best expressions come from old vines and high altitudes, resulting in subtly aromatic wines with a medium body and high acidity, such as those from Aigialia Slopes in the Peloponnese.
This Greek white grape variety is indigenous to the island of Santorini, but it can also be found on other Aegean island such as Paros. The soil of the island, which is rich in volcanic ash, seems to enable the grapes to retain their acidity regardless of how long they ripen, which gives these wines a long aging potential.
Its popularity has grown recently due to its unusual character, which does not reflect the hot climate it comes from. Assyrtiko wines are dry, full-bodied white wines with citrus aromas and a pleasant minerality. This wine can also be blended with two other local varieties, Aidani and Athiri, during the production of the sweet wine Vinsanto.
THE BEST Assyrtiko Wine Varieties
Moschofilero is a Greek grape that hails from Peloponnese. It is an aromatic and late-ripening variety that delivers high yields, but it is sometimes sensitive and finicky to grow. Despite its common presence, Moschofilero was only popularized in the 1970s and ’80s, primarily by the producers from PDO Mantinia, the most important wine region for Moschofilero.
Varietal Moschofilero wines can be incredibly versatile. They will usually have bright and crisp acidity, which highlights their clean and fresh character. The wines from lower altitudes will usually have more freshness, and those from higher vineyards tend to have a more prominent floral character.
THE BEST Moschofilero Wine Varieties
Vilana is a white grape variety native to Crete that produces fresh and light white wines. It is a very productive and resistant grape that was mainly used as a workhorse variety that often created unimpressive bland wines. However, it was proven that with a careful approach, good terroir, and controlled yields, Vilana can make exciting and aromatic wines.
Vilana-based wines will usually have a refreshing character with citrus and green apple aroma and some floral nuances.
The wines will sometimes have subtle spice-like notes. The grape is used in varietals (Peza appellation) and blends, and though it is rarely aged, some producers experiment with oak aging, creating more complex Vilana examples. The approachable and easy-drinking Vilana wines would pair well with lighter local dishes.
Mantinia is a Greek designation that produces light and aromatic white wines from Moschofilero—an indigenous pink-skinned Greek grape. The region is located on the eastern side of the Peloponnese, an area characterized by its cool microclimate.
Mantinia wines are typically light-bodied, lively, and fresh with bright acidity and aromas reminiscent of rose petals, citrus fruit, and citrus flowers. The wines are best enjoyed young and can make a great aperitif, but they also perfectly match light and heavier seafood dishes, poultry, and sheep or goat cheese.
Robola is a white-skinned Greek grape that is grown in central Greece and the Ionian islands, but it is mainly associated with Cephalonia (Kefalonia), which is the home of the only Robola appellation. In the past, Robola was often mistakenly related to Ribolla Gialla, but research has shown no correlation between the two varieties.
Robola wines are usually of excellent quality. The grape produces wines with a bright and refreshing character, good acidity, and medium body. The aromas are reminiscent of citrus fruit, white flowers, and white-fleshed fruit. The best examples, typically coming from higher altitudes, will have a mineral, flinty note.
Samos Vin Doux is the most popular wine from Samos. It is produced from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, which is locally known as Moschato Aspro. Apart from this style, the appellation also includes dry wines and the renowned Samos Nectar made from dried grapes.
As it is evident from the name, this wine is produced as a vin doux style. This technique involves adding grape spirit before fermentation is completed. The result is a wine that retains its natural sweetness and typically has higher alcohol content.
Located on the eponymous Greek island, Muscat of Limnos is a Greek appellation that produces sweet dessert wines exclusively from white Muscat of Alexandria grapes. The wines can be fortified or naturally sweet—when they are classified as vin naturellement doux.
Muscat of Limnos wines are aromatic, light, bright, and fresh, with a rich body and typical notes of apricots and mint. They usually have well-balanced acidity and a long finish. These wines should always be served well-chilled, and though they can be enjoyed on their own, they are also a good match to blue or aged cheese and desserts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Greek White Wine Producers
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2024

International Wine Challenge - IWC Champion White Wine 2021
2021
BEST Domaine Sigalas Wines
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2020
BEST United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos Wines
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2019
BEST Dourakis Andreas Wines
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2021
BEST Karamperidou Chrysoula Wines
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2023, 2020

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2022, 2021, 2020
BEST Estate Argyros Wines
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2024, 2019

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2021, 2017
BEST Ktima Gerovassiliou Wines
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Greek White Wines
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2018
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2020
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2023
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024
AWARDS

International Wine Challenge - IWC Champion White Wine 2021
2021
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2019
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2020
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2022
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2019
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2020
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