This summer I had a chance to go on a wine tour in Northern Greece and was blown away by the high-quality of the wines, the delicious foods and the beautiful mountainous scenary sloping down the sea. One of the wine regions I visited is called “Drama,” and is the birthplace of the wine good, Dionysus (also called Bacchus by the Italians). Read more about my experience below.
Dramatic Mountain and See Views In Drama Wine Region of Greece
We were all very excited to experience the wines of the Drama region of Northern Greece for three reasons: 1) they are known to craft some high-quality wines, especially unique blends of native and international grapes; 2) the region is the home of the Temple of Dionysus, the wine god; and 3) the name ‘Drama’ is exciting in itself – we felt we were traveling to a region of ‘great drama.’
The tasting experience was held at the Ktima Nico Lazaridi Winery, perched high on a hilltop with outstanding 360 view of the surrounding vineyards and mountains. Located about one hour north of the Aegean sea, it has a mix of Continental and Mediterranean climate conditions, because it is protected by the large snow-covered mountains to the north, but still receives some of the cooling breezes from the sea.
Before the tasting, we enjoyed a tour of the gardens with many beautiful sculptures, the vineyards, and the cellars. After the wine tasting, we were treated to a delicious buffet lunch of Greek cuisine, served in a charming outdoor patio near the vineyards.
An Overview of the Drama Wine Region of Greece
Wine has been produced in the Drama region since 3000 B.C.. In both the Macedonian and Byzantine periods it was a vital wine producing region, but grape production began to dwindle during the end of the Ottoman period. Further set-backs occurred during both world wars, and Drama grape growers didn’t start up serious production again until the late 1980s and 1990’s.
The soil of the region is a mix of clay and limestone with some sand, and growers have been able to successfully produce both white and reds grapes. Major grape varieties include Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay for the white grapes, and Agiorgitiko, Limnio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah dominate for red grapes.
Drama is especially known as the first Greek wine region to start the trend of blending indigenous and international grapes together. Surprisingly Greece produces much more white wines than red wines.
Tasting 21 Wines from the Drama Wine Region of Greece
We were treated to a line-up of 21 different wines from Drama produced by five wineries: Ktima Nico Lazaridi, Ktima Wine Art Estate, Domaine Costa Lazaridi, Ktima Pavlidis, and Manoleskis Estate. We tasted them in order of the lightest to heavy bodied whites, and then medium to full-bodied reds, with a few roses in the middle.
Highlights of the Tasting
All of the wines were well-made with no flaws. The white wines, in particular, stood out – especially the Sauvignon Blanc – Assyrtiko white blends. When asked to explain the philosophy of the white blends, we were told that sauvignon blanc of their region illustrated more stone fruit (rather than the traditional grass and gooseberry notes) and has a lower acidity. Therefore, the higher acid mineral-driven assyrtiko was a great compliment in the blend.
I would have to agree, because I enjoyed all the white blends in the tasting. The resulting wines expressed white peach, citrus, minerality, and when Malagousia was added, a floral note. They were all delightful. The fact that they are lower in alcohol and include the very trendy sauvignon blanc grape would make them popular in many export markets.
100% Assyrtiko was another star of the tasting, but they were crafted in different styles – some fermented in stainless steel and others with a touch of oak. In addition, some were very linear with clear minerality (similar to Santorini in style), whereas others were more fruit forward with pear and peach notes. When oak was added and skin contact, the wines took on notes of hay and oatmeal. Though all were enjoyable, this wide range of styles could confuse the consumer. What is the style of Assyrtiko in Drama?
The 100% Malagousia were fresh, floral and consumer friendly, with a slight touch of minerality to provide some added complexity. Definitely a crowd pleaser and perfect for a hot day.
The roses were in two distinctive styles – one light, floral and delicate, whereas the other was more fuller-bodied with ripe melon and texture. The first one I would enjoy as an aperitif on its own or with appetizers. The second was big enough to stand up to heavier food.
The red wines of the region were interesting and varied. We tried two Agiorgitiko’s, a Limniona, Xinomavro, and four blends. The Xinomavro with its tomato leaf and pastrami notes was the biggest hit, but all of the reds were more challenging for the average consumer. With high acid and tannins, and being quite young, they needed time to age. The last two red blends, with 24 months oak aging, were more approachable, but still need time. On a positive note, they were all quite fascinating to taste for wine connoisseurs.