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Epirus

Greece

Epirus

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Greece wine regions

About Epirus

Epirus is the mountainous northwestern region of mainland Greece, with vines climbing to over 1,000 metres on the Zagori plateau and around the Pindus passes. The one PDO, Zitsa, makes whites from the native Debina grape in still, off-dry, and traditional-method sparkling styles. PGI Metsovo, around the namesake mountain village, was pioneered by Katogi-Strofilia in the 1960s as Greece's highest-altitude Cabernet Sauvignon project. PGI Ioannina and PGI Epirus cover the wider region. The cool growing season and high altitudes give Epirus wines a lean, transparent character distinct from the rest of mainland Greece.

PDOs & PGIs

What Epirus produces

PGI Epirus

The region-wide designation for Greece's mountainous northwest, covering alpine Debina whites and cool-climate reds beyond the Zitsa PDO zone.

Climate

MountainousCoolHigh altitudeContinentalHigh rainfall

This is Greece's rainiest corner, where weather fronts off the Ionian pile into the Pindus and drop their water on the mountains. The growing season is short and genuinely cool, with vineyards among the highest in the country and harvests that wait on the late autumn sun. Debina in Zitsa holds its acidity effortlessly here; the challenge is ripeness, not freshness.

Terroir

LimestoneFlyschSteep slopesCalcareous soils

Limestone and flysch, the crumbly sandstone-and-clay rock of the Pindus folds, make up most of the vineyard land, giving calcareous, fast-draining soils on steep mountainside plots. The Zitsa vineyards sit on hilly limestone ground, while around Metsovo the vines climb terraced slopes cut into the mountain itself.

Typical Aromas

Green appleLemon zestWild thymeMountain herbsWhite flowersCrushed stone
Explore the aroma wheel

More in Greece

Aegean Islands

Aegean Islands

Crete

Crete

Ionian Islands

Ionian Islands

Macedonia

Macedonia

Peloponnese

Peloponnese

Sterea Ellada

Sterea Ellada

Thessaly

Thessaly

Thrace

Thrace

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the signature wine of Epirus?▼
Zitsa, made from the native Debina grape, is the region's one PDO. Light, floral and bracingly acidic, it is produced in still, off-dry and traditional-method sparkling styles. The vines climb to over 600 metres on the Zitsa plateau, and the wines feel closer in style to a serious Alsace Riesling than to anything else in Greece.
Why is Metsovo significant in Greek wine history?▼
Metsovo is a mountain village at over 1,000 metres in the Pindus range, and the Katogi-Strofilia estate pioneered Cabernet Sauvignon viticulture here in the 1960s, making it Greece's first high-altitude international-variety project. The cool growing season produces lean, structured Cabernet blends that have nothing in common with hotter southern Greek reds.
Is Epirus all about whites?▼
Mostly, yes. Debina, Vlachiko (a native red), Bekari and Traminer are the signature local varieties, with Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah filling out the modern reds. The cold continental climate at altitude favours bright, mineral whites; reds tend to be cool-climate styles with high natural acidity.
When should I drink Zitsa wines?▼
Within the first 3 to 5 years for the still and sparkling styles, which are at their best when bright and floral. The off-dry versions can hold longer but are also generally meant for early drinking.

Map data: Wines of Greece (ΕΔΟΑΟ, PDO/PGI register) · EU eAmbrosia · Administrative boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)