Aegean Sea Islands

Ancient Greeks called the Aegean sea “Oinopion sea”, because of the colour it takes, reminiscent of the wine, when it gets “angry”. The countless archaeological findings prove that the wine history of this region is too long. Nowadays, on the islands of the archipelago, are produced the P.D.O. (Protected Designation of Origin) wines: Samos, Limnos, Rhodes, Paros and Santorini, as well as the P.G.I. (Protected Geographical Indication) wines: Aegean, Dodecanese, Slopes of Ampelo, Thapsana and Ikaria. The multifarious vineyard of the Aegean sea is favored particularly by the bright sunshine, while high winds restrict productivity by maintaining low yields and thus higher quality grapes. Predominant role in this area play the white grape varieties: Assyrtiko and Monemvasia in the south part of the Aegean sea and Muscat white in the northern part. The red varieties Mandilaria (or else Amorgiano), Fokianos, Limnio and Mavrotragano, as well as the white ones Athiri, Aidani, Malagouzia, Begleri, Muscat of Alexandria, Roditis, Savatiano play a secondary role. (According to Greek mythology the king of island of Chios, Oinopionas, hosted Oriona, the son of Poseidona God and famous hunter. However, Orionas fell in love with the daughter of the king and then Oinopionas revenged him, offering him his best quality wine in order to get him drunk, blind him and throw him to a sea shore of Chios)