PDO Wines of Peloponnese

Peloponnesian PDO wines (Protected Designation Of Origin) comply with national and European legislation and are closely linked to authentic Greek terroirs of which Peloponnese is, wine-wise, proud. The long history of these wine-producing zones, in many cases going back to antiquity, proves that Peloponnese is a lively and active wine-producing location celebrated in Greece and worldwide.

Peloponnesian PDO wines, just like all the other Greek PDO wines, are in accordance with the tradition of the old European wine world claiming that some wines obtain fame and prestige because of their origin (Designation of Origin). In fact the Designation of Origin system was established due to the Greek wines of antiquity and this way, authenticity, that is originality and formality, is ensured and is often related to high quality. In the course of history, the best example of Designation of Origin was Malvasia, the most famous wine in the Middle Ages, that originated from Peloponnese. And this is why it revived there, through PDO Monemvasia-Malvasia.

There are seven Peloponnesian PDO wines in total, which is approximately 25% of PDO wines in Greece. They are produced exclusively from native grape varieties with ultimate commitment and compliance to the relevant regulations and are the following: PDO Mantinia, PDO Nemea, PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras, PDO Patras, PDO Muscat Patras, PDO Muscat of Rio Patras and PDO Monemvasia-Malvasia.

PDO Mantinia

The wine zone PDO Mantinia stretched over the Arcadia plateau at an altitude of over 650 meters, where grapes mature slowly and late on the slopes of the plateau. The name of this PDO wine comes from Ancient Mantinia.
Grape Varieties: Moschofilero (at least 85%), Asproudes
Wine Type: Dry white

PDO Nemea

PDO Nemea zone is the only one in Greece that extends into two regional parts: mainly in the south-central part of Corinthia and the northwestern part of Argolis. This wine is known as the “Fliasios oenos” of the Ancient Greek and is linked to the myth of Hercules who was worshipped in the area and had his own sanctuary; traditionally PDO Nemea means “Hercules’s blood”. Agiorgitiko, a variety of PDO Nemea wine may have been named by Nemea’s old name, Agios Georgios.
Grape Variety: Agiorgitiko 100%
Wine types: Dry, semi-sweet and sweet red

PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras

The zone for the sweet wines (vin de liqueur) PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras, which are the most popular in Greece, stretches in the central-north of Achaia. These wines mature for at least one year in oak barrels with a capacity of up to 1000 liters. After two years of maturation they can be labeled as Reserve, and after at least three years in barrels and seven years in barrels and bottles in total, they are labeled as Grand Reserve.
Grape Varieties: Mavrodaphne, Black Corinth
Wine Type: Sweet red

PDO Patras

The wine producing zone of PDO Patras (the largest PDO Greek wine zone) is situated on semi-mountainous and mountainous areas of northeastern and central Achaia. The Aigialia highlands is probably the most beautiful and beneficial area for viticulture, where the variety Rhoditis thrives.
Grape Variety: Rhoditis 100%
Wine Types: Dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet white

PDO Muscat of Patras

The wine zone PDO Muscat of Patras is in Achaia. It is only related to sweet wines and is smaller than PDO Patras. These wines can be sweet (vin naturellement doux) and natural sweet (vin doux naturel-vin de liqueur). The Grand cru indication on the label shows that grapes are exclusively from privately-owned vineyards of a lower yield.
Grape Variety:  Muscat White 100%
Wine Type:  Sweet white

PDO Muscat of Rio Patras

The small wine zone of PDO Muscat of Rio Patras is situated east of Patras and Rio, in Achaia and produces some of the best sweet wines in Greece, many of which are world-class. These wines are sweet (vin naturellement doux and vin doux naturel-vin de liqueur). The indication Grand cru on the label shows that grapes come exclusively from privately-owned vineyards of a lower yield.
Grape Variety: White Muscat 100%
Wine Type: Sweet white

PDO Monemvassia-Malvasia

PDO Monemvassia-Malvasia zone is in the southeast of Laconia (peninsula Epidaurus Limiras and Cape Maleas) and revives the most popular wine of the middle Ages, Malvasia wine. It matures in barrels to oxidize for at least two years, or for four years or any number which is a multiple of four.
Grape Varieties: Monemvassia (at least 51%), Assyrtiko, Asproudes, Kydonitsa
Wine type: Sweet white, from sun-dried grapes (sun-dried, vin liastos/vin de raisin passerile), liqueur wine from sun-dried grapes (liastos, vin de liqueur de raisin passerile).