The Greeks are, concerning viniculture, one of the most important peoples of the world. Especially the Retsina, which tastes of sap, is known way beyong the borders. Today all types of wine are produced.
Around the same time as Egypt was established the area around the Aegean Sea was populated by agricultural people. Phoenician Sailors probably brought the vines to Greece. This was the beginning for Greece's development as the first great wine country in history. Greek wines were exported all the way to Gallia. The Greeks taught the Romans everything about growing wine and they then wrote their knowledge down
The poor soils of Greece's peninsulas are ideal for viniculture. The extreme coastal climate makes sure the vineyards stay the right temperature. The winters are mild, frost is only seldomely a threat. The grounds are as variable as the climate. On the mainland there is mostly limestone, on the islands volcanic rock. The vineyards were established on the flat coastal stretches, in river valleys and the mountain slopes.
Greece's historic wines were known for their sweetness, which was probably reached by the same production method that today's Commandaria or the strawwines are made with. Today the Retsina, a white wine spiced with the sap of pine trees is a synonym for Greek wines. But all other types of wine are made as well. In the country's north full red wines dominate, while fruity white wines are made on the islands.
Greece's wine laws go back to Antiquity. Even then wines were called after their place of origin. After it entered the EU, its standards were slightly changed. Now the two quality classes O.P.A.P (equal to France's AOC) and O.P.E (class for sweet white wines) are valid.
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