Wine in Macedonia

[akritas]

Macedonia constitutes the northernmost and largest geographic unit of Greece. Vine cultivation and the production and consumption of wine in the region has a long history and toady the wine industry continues to flourish.




Makedonia has produced wine since ancient times. Evidence suggests that the vine was cultivated near Drama some 5000 years ago. Significant pockets of production survived comfortably through Ottoman rule, only to fall victim to political forces during the period in which Greece sought independance from the Turks. An uprising based in Naousa in 1821 provoked harsh reprisals, resulting in loss of life, emmigration and a major setback in wine production. Although winemaking was never dealt a death-blow, phylloxera in the early 1900s, the Balkan wars of 1912-13 and the Second World War took a further toll on wine production in Naousa and other parts of Makedonia.


They propose eight routes, which take you from the majesty of Mount Olympus and Epirus to the Byzantine complexity of Thessaloniki and the enchanting landscapes of Halkidiki, and from Amynteo in the north-western border country to Thrace in the far north-east. Signposts point the way to vineyards and wineries where visitors are conducted through the world of wine and initiated into the secrets of its enjoyment.

Western Macedonia is a predominantly mountainous region, whereas in central Macedonia lies the biggest plain of Greece. Eastern Macedonia is mostly flat. The plains and mountainous regions are crossed by several of the biggest Greek rivers. There is also an ample number of lakes.

The climate in Macedonia is quite different from the rest of Greece with temperatures ranges much wider than the average variation within the Greek territory. Coastal regions, especially Chalkidiki, have a considerably milder climate with Mediterranean characteristics. It is in such regions, as well as regions with year-round sunshine and protected from northern winds, that most vine cultivations and wineries are located.

Greek vineyards lie between 34 and 42 degrees latitude, which positions them amongst the world’s hotter wine-producing regions. Inland and mountainous areas are subject to continental influences of varying degrees, but generally the climate is maritime.

In the below link you can see many Macedonian winemakers and famous like Butaris and the excellent Domain Pavlidis.

Macedonian Winemakers

Also known and famous winemaker is the Tsantalis company. It spreaded in whole Greece , not only in Macedonia. Most famous wine are the Makedoniko and the AgionOritikon.


So what is your favourite Macedonian Wine ?

[edessa]

Makedonikos Tsantalis is my personal fav

[Spartan]

Tsantalis is also found in the U.S.

The son, I believe, lives in Clearwater Fl where there are nearly 20,000 Greeks. I met him at their 1st annual Dionysus Festival back in 2001.