Athens wine tasting opens up the world of Greek wine, from crisp Assyrtiko and Savatiano whites to rich Agiorgitiko reds, in stylish wine bars, shops and Attica vineyards. Pair a tasting with skip-the-line sightseeing tickets and tours from My Greece Tours for the perfect blend of culture and Greek wine.
Greek wine is a delicious discovery in the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover Greek wine, the white varieties, the red varieties, where to taste in Athens, wine day trips, food pairing and tips.
What is Greek wine?
Greek wine is among the oldest in the world, with a winemaking tradition stretching back thousands of years and hundreds of native grape varieties found nowhere else. Modern Greek wine has undergone a quality revolution, producing excellent crisp whites, characterful reds and rosés, sweet wines and the resinous retsina. Athens is a great place to discover it through tastings, wine bars and nearby Attica vineyards.
Greece is one of the oldest wine-producing countries on earth, with a winemaking heritage reaching back over four thousand years to antiquity, when wine was central to Greek life, religion and the famous symposia, yet for many visitors its modern wines are a delightful surprise. The great strength of Greek wine lies in its extraordinary wealth of indigenous grape varieties, several hundred native grapes grown nowhere else in the world, which give Greek wines flavours and characters quite distinct from the familiar international styles. In recent decades the Greek wine industry has undergone a remarkable quality revolution, as a new generation of skilled winemakers has transformed humble traditions into world-class production, winning international acclaim for crisp, mineral whites, structured reds, fresh rosés, luscious sweet wines and even the once-derided resinated retsina, now made with new finesse. Athens, surrounded by the historic vineyards of Attica and home to a thriving wine-bar and tasting scene, is an ideal place to explore this exciting world. For curious travellers, discovering Greek wine adds a delicious new dimension to a visit. It pairs naturally with the food covered in the Greek dishes to try guide. The white grapes are a fine place to start.
What are the key Greek white wine varieties?
The key Greek white grapes include Assyrtiko, the crisp, mineral, high-acid star from Santorini and Attica; Savatiano, Attica’s light, citrusy workhorse grape and the base of much retsina; Malagousia, an aromatic, floral variety with peach and citrus notes rescued from near extinction; and Moschofilero, a fragrant, lightly spicy white. These food-friendly whites are highlights of any Greek wine tasting.
Greek white wines are the country’s great calling card, and getting to know a few key varieties transforms any tasting. The undisputed star is Assyrtiko, a rare and classy white grape originating on the volcanic island of Santorini but also grown in Attica around Athens, prized for its bracing crispness, high acidity, citrus and stone-fruit flavours and, above all, its distinctive minerality, qualities that let it age beautifully and rank among the finest whites of the Mediterranean. Closer to home, Savatiano is Attica’s workhorse grape, the most widely planted in Greece, producing light, citrusy, refreshing dry whites when well made and forming the traditional base of much retsina. Malagousia is a wonderful aromatic variety that was almost extinct until it was rescued and revived in the 1970s, now beloved for its floral, peach and citrus notes and rounded texture. Moschofilero, from the Peloponnese, offers a fragrant, lightly spicy, delicately perfumed white with rose and citrus aromas. Together these grapes show the freshness, aromatics and food-friendliness that define modern Greek whites, perfect with the country’s seafood and meze. Tasting them side by side is a revelation. The reds are equally rewarding. The red varieties offer rich contrast.
What are the key Greek red wine varieties?
The key Greek red grapes include Agiorgitiko, the soft, fruity, versatile red of Nemea in the Peloponnese; Xinomavro, the powerful, age-worthy, tannic red of Naoussa in northern Greece, often compared to Nebbiolo; Mavrodaphne, used for rich sweet reds; and Limnio, an ancient variety. These reds range from easy-drinking to complex and structured, completing the picture of Greek wine.
Greece’s red wines are less famous internationally than its whites but every bit as rewarding, offering everything from soft, juicy crowd-pleasers to powerful, age-worthy classics. The most widely planted and approachable red grape is Agiorgitiko, the signature variety of the Nemea region in the Peloponnese, which produces soft, fruity, velvety reds with flavours of red and dark berries and gentle tannins, wonderfully versatile and easy to enjoy with food. At the other end of the spectrum stands Xinomavro, the great noble red of Naoussa and northern Greece, a powerful, tannic, high-acid variety with complex aromas of tomato, olive, spice and dried fruit that ages superbly and is often likened to Italy’s Nebbiolo or even Pinot Noir, the choice for serious red-wine lovers. Mavrodaphne, grown around Patras, is best known for producing rich, sweet, fortified dessert reds, while ancient varieties such as Limnio add further depth to the Greek red palette. Tasting across these grapes reveals the range and quality of modern Greek reds, from easy-drinking to profound. They pair beautifully with grilled meats and hearty dishes. Knowing where to taste them in the city is the next step. Athens offers many excellent venues.
Where can you taste wine in Athens?
You can taste Greek wine in Athens at the city’s many wine bars and wine shops, where staff guide you through varieties by the glass or in flights, and on guided wine-tasting experiences. Notable areas include Psiri, Pangrati, Koukaki and Kolonaki, plus wine bars near the centre. Some shops let you taste small pours as you browse, and dedicated tastings explain the grapes and regions.
Athens has embraced its wine renaissance, and the city now offers wonderful opportunities to taste Greek wine, from casual glasses to structured guided tastings. The most accessible option is the city’s growing scene of stylish wine bars, found across the central neighbourhoods, where knowledgeable staff and sommeliers can introduce you to a wide range of Greek varieties by the glass or in tasting flights, often paired with meze, so you can compare an Assyrtiko, a Malagousia and an Agiorgitiko in one sitting. Districts such as bohemian Psiri, artsy Pangrati, cool Koukaki and chic Kolonaki are particularly rich in good wine bars. Several specialist wine shops, or cavas, also offer tasting, with some operating a clever system that lets you buy small pours or glasses to sample as you browse the shelves, a relaxed way to explore. For a more structured and educational experience, dedicated guided wine tastings and Greek-wine experiences walk you through the country’s key grapes, regions and styles with expert commentary, sometimes combined with food. Whether you want a casual glass or an in-depth lesson, Athens makes discovering Greek wine easy and enjoyable. The neighbourhoods themselves reward exploring, as in the Pangrati guide. Beyond the city, the vineyards beckon.
What about wine day trips from Athens?
Athens is surrounded by the historic vineyards of Attica, and several wineries within an hour or so of the city welcome visitors for tours and tastings, especially in the Mesogeia plain and around Markopoulo. Further afield, the famous Nemea wine region in the Peloponnese makes a rewarding day trip. Most wineries require booking ahead, and spring and autumn, especially the September harvest, are the best times.
For wine enthusiasts who want to go to the source, the area around Athens offers excellent opportunities to visit working vineyards and wineries on a day trip. The capital is ringed by the historic wine country of Attica, where vines have been cultivated since antiquity, and a number of quality wineries lie within about an hour of the city, particularly across the fertile Mesogeia plain to the east and around the town of Markopoulo, many of which welcome visitors for cellar tours and tastings of their Savatiano, Assyrtiko and other wines. Further afield but still doable in a day, the renowned Nemea wine region in the Peloponnese, the heartland of the Agiorgitiko grape, is one of Greece’s most important and scenic wine areas and a wonderful destination for a wine-focused excursion, often combined with the ancient sites nearby. An important practical point is that most Greek wineries are not casual walk-in operations, so it is essential to call or email two or three days in advance to arrange a visit and tasting. The best times to go are spring and autumn, with the September grape harvest being especially atmospheric. A vineyard visit deepens any wine lover’s trip. The Peloponnese sites are covered in the Ancient Corinth day trip guide. A few tips help you taste like a pro.
What food pairing and tips help with Greek wine?
Pair crisp Greek whites like Assyrtiko with seafood, meze and grilled fish; aromatic whites with salads and vegetables; soft Agiorgitiko reds with grilled meats and tomato dishes; and powerful Xinomavro with rich, slow-cooked meat. Tips: try native varieties you cannot find at home, taste in flights to compare, book winery visits ahead, and ask staff for recommendations to guide your discovery.
Getting the most from Greek wine is partly about pairing it well with the country’s superb food and partly about approaching tastings with curiosity. When it comes to food, Greek wines are made to accompany the local cuisine: crisp, mineral whites such as Assyrtiko are a dream with fresh seafood, grilled fish, oysters and tangy meze, cutting through richness with their acidity, while aromatic whites like Malagousia and Moschofilero suit salads, vegetable dishes and lighter fare. Among the reds, soft, fruity Agiorgitiko pairs beautifully with grilled meats, souvlaki and tomato-based dishes, whereas the powerful, structured Xinomavro is the perfect match for rich, slow-cooked lamb, stews and game. As for tasting tips, make a point of trying the indigenous Greek varieties you cannot easily find at home, since they are the real treasure; taste several wines in a flight to compare styles side by side; remember to book winery visits a few days ahead; and never hesitate to ask wine-bar staff or sommeliers for recommendations, as they are usually passionate and happy to guide you. With an open mind and these pointers, Greek wine becomes a joyful discovery. The food pairings shine alongside the best restaurants in Athens. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous Greek wine?
The most famous Greek wine is Assyrtiko, the crisp, mineral, high-acid white grape originally from Santorini and also grown in Attica around Athens. Other notable wines include the soft red Agiorgitiko from Nemea, the powerful red Xinomavro from Naoussa, the aromatic white Malagousia, and the traditional resinated white, retsina.
Where can you do wine tasting in Athens?
You can taste Greek wine in Athens at the city’s many wine bars and specialist wine shops, where staff offer wines by the glass or in flights, and on guided wine-tasting experiences. Neighbourhoods like Psiri, Pangrati, Koukaki and Kolonaki are full of good wine bars, and Attica and Nemea vineyards offer day-trip tastings.
What Greek wine should beginners try?
Beginners should try a crisp Assyrtiko or aromatic Malagousia white, and a soft, fruity Agiorgitiko red, all approachable and food-friendly native Greek varieties. Tasting these alongside a Savatiano or Moschofilero white and a bolder Xinomavro red gives a great introduction to the range and quality of modern Greek wine.