PGI Attiki (ΠΓΕ Αττική)

The PGI Attiki (ΠΓΕ Αττική) has witnessed consistent growth during the last decades and is nowadays considered to be one of the premier wine-regions of Greece. There are so many interesting things that take place both in the vineyards and the wineries that are producing authentic wines that clearly speak of their origins. Savatiano is the key grape variety followed by a number of other exciting grapes responsible for the recent modern, expressive wines with lovely purity and focus. Half an hour drive from the Athens city center you will be amazed to find well preserved old vines that have endured in this historic region. These old Savatiano vineyards are prized not only for their ability to produce excellent wines, but for the deep viticultural traditions they represent.

Terroir

Overall, Attiki has a typical warm Mediterranean climate. In fact, this is one of the hottest and driest regions in Greece. The entire prefecture, with the exception of its west-northwest part, is surrounded by the sea. Cool breezes (Meltemia) blow inland from the sea and mitigate the summer temperatures. Depending on the proximity to the sea and the vineyard altitude, the varied landscapes provide a number of mini terroirs with different microclimates, ideal for viticulture. Thus, there are significant variations in climate within the sub-regions.

The coastal zone of Mesogaia is located in the eastern part of Attiki and has the warmest and driest climate in the entire prefecture. On the other hand, the region of Megara due to its proximity to the Saronic and Corinth gulfs on both sides, is relatively cooler. Further to the northwest, the PGI Slopes of Kithaironas display a more continental influence in its microclimate. However, the northern part of Attiki is the one with the coolest climate. Vineyards are found in the mountains of Parnitha and Penteli and the wine-styles are more distinctive than in other warmer regions of Attiki.

Even though, a significant part of Attiki is mountainous, there are vineyards in semi-mountainous areas as well as near sealevel. The soils consist of sand and gravel with a limestone and rocky bedrock. Training systems are varied, however a large part of the Attiki vineyard is trained in Gobelet, in order to cope with the dry and hot weather conditions that prevail in the region. Certain parts of Attiki such as Mesogaia are characterized by old vines. These low-yielding vineyards are more than 50 years old.

The varieties

Savatiano is by far the most important grape variety in the vineyards of PGI Attiki (ΠΓΕ Αττική). It crafts dry white wines with a lovely purity of fruit and well-integrated acidity levels. Other varieties such as the indigenous Malagousia, Assyrtiko, and Roditis are planted to a lesser extent, but their wines are significant in terms of quality. Attiki is not a traditional red-wine producer, however there are small plantings of indigenous and international grape varieties such as Agiorgitiko, Mandilaria, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.