blog

Tasting the Northern Terroir: Why Xinomavro is the Ultimate Grape of the Gods

From the great Mount Athos in the Chalkidiki peninsula to the far eastern regions of Pythio and Ormenio, Northern Greece is a vibrant, thrilling wine region, growing an impressive array of incredible, sometimes rare and indigenous grape varieties.

Read on to learn more about the Greek regions where the Xinomavro grape is grown and the reasons why this incredible variety is the ultimate grape of the gods.

The indigenous Xinomavro grape is one of Northern Greece’s most prestigious grape varieties which perfectly captures the herbal, perfumed, plum, olive, and dried tomato characteristics of quintessential Greece. It’s exactly why we chose this noble grape to create Aphrodise Sparkling Rosé.

Xinomavro Grapes

Xinomavro, translating to “sour black”, is a highly accomplished black grape, capable of producing juicy, tannin-filled reds, smooth and creamy whites, and crisp, appetizing sparkling rosés. If you are familiar with Italy’s Nebbiolo or Burgundy’s Pinot Noir, the characteristics of Greece’s prized Xinomavro grape follow a very similar vein.

The high altitude and diurnal temperature variations of Northern Greece create the perfect, cool climate for the Xinomavro grape to thrive. The grapes are typically harvested at full maturity in October once their vibrant acidity and full-bodied tannins have finished developing.

Whether enjoyed young or aged, Xinomavro wines are a celebration of the Greek terroir, possessing an unparalleled ability to intrigue and enchant wine enthusiasts with their fascinating flavor profiles and unique characteristics.

Thessaloniki

The Xinomavro grape is Thessaloniki’s most prevalent legacy. With a rich history as a Roman capital and a Byzantine center, this ancient city was once home to great Macedonian kings and, by extension, was frequented by Greek gods, primarily for the enjoyment of its great vineyards producing “sour and astringent wine”, a description which closely matches the wine of today’s Xinomavro variety.

Despite once being the most multicultural city in Europe, today’s Thessaloniki is shaped by the Great Fire of 1917 which wiped out that rich past; its elegant, French-style boulevards were introduced later when the city was rebuilt. Modern day vineyards can now be found in the more rural locations of Macedonia.

Naoussa and Amyndeon

Today, Xinomavro grapes are predominantly grown in the Naoussa and Amyndeon regions of Northern Greece, primarily due to their amiable soil types: Naoussa with its clay-rich soil and Amyndeon with its sandy soil. Northern Greece, in general, has a cooler climate than Athens and its southern islands, lending itself well to growing and nurturing the noble Xinomavro grape.

Naoussa is particularly renowned for producing red wines made exclusively from the Xinomavro grape, aged over time in oak barrels to give the wines an incredible and harmonious complexity and tobacco-like flavor profile. On the other hand, Amyndeon’s Xinomavro red wines are known for their multifaceted flavor profile of small red berries, leather, pepper, clove, and vanilla spice.

Greece agricultural landscape in summer, near Naousa, Imathia, Makedonia Thraki.

Kilkis skyline from St. George Hill at evening time and sunset

Goumenissa, Kilkis

In the stunning, gently rolling hills just north of cosmopolitan Thessaloniki, the Goumenissa region in Kilkis has been producing wine for over two hundred years across almost four hundred hectares of planted vineyards.

Recently, a fascinating terroir for Xinomavro has emerged, with heavier soils and a cool, mountainous terrain. However, the Xinomavro vines in Goumenissa do tend to have a lower yield compared to other areas of Northern Greece.

Siatista

In the Kozani region of Western Macedonia, the town of Siatista has been increasingly investing in growing Xinomavro grapes, having formerly focused on growing and producing sweeter wines. Intriguingly, the combination of the Xinomavro grapes with the delicately scented local variety, Moschomavro, can create wines with a thrilling contrast of tannin-rich, leathery flavors and fruity, floral notes.

Our Xinomavro

Our grapes are sourced from a single appellation in Northern Greece’s most elevated vineyards, and they bring a unique depth to our sparkling rosé wine.

The journey to using this variety of grape began with a simple discovery whilst exploring grape varietals when we opened our restaurant in Mykonos. We came across the dark red Xinomavro grape known for its rich, robust qualities in still wines. Intrigued by the work of innovative vintners experimenting with a lighter, blonder version of the grape variety, we saw its potential for sparkling wine. With a bit of fine-tuning, we created Aphrodise Sparkling Rosé, a wine that beautifully balances the grape’s inherent complexity with a touch of sweetness.