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Thessaly

Greece

Thessaly

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Greece wine regions

About Thessaly

Thessaly is the central Greek plain ringed by Mount Olympus to the north, the Pindus to the west, and Mount Pelion and the Aegean coast to the east. Three PDOs sit in the region: Rapsani on the foothills of Olympus, a classic blend of Xinomavro with the local Krassato and Stavroto; Anchialos on the Pelion peninsula, where Roditis grown on metamorphic schist produces saline, mineral whites; and Mesenikola, a tiny inland PDO built on the local Mavro Messenikola grape. PGI Tyrnavos and PGI Meteora cover wider areas. The region rewards the curious: small producers like Tsililis in Meteora, Domaine Karipidis in Tyrnavos, and the Olympus-slope estates of Rapsani are still finding their international audience.

PDOs & PGIs

What Thessaly produces

PGI Thessalia

The plain-wide designation between Olympus and the Pindus mountains, home to the Limniona revival and honest table wines from Greece's agricultural heartland.

Grapes of Thessaly

Xinomavro

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
sour cherrytomato leafdried herbsrose petal

On the slopes of Mount Olympus, blended with local Krassato and Stavroto for the Rapsani PDO

Climate

ContinentalMediterranean influenceAltitude variationCool nights

The plain itself runs hot, so the vines retreat to the edges: the lower slopes of Olympus at Rapsani, the Pelion coast at Anchialos, the foothills around Mesenikola. Up there the continental heat of the day gives way to cool mountain and sea air at night, and the Aegean lends a softening hand along the eastern rim.

Terroir

SchistGraniteSandy loamVolcanicLimestone

Rapsani grows on iron-tinted schist shed from the flanks of Olympus, Anchialos on the metamorphic rock of the Pelion peninsula, and the Tyrnavos plain on deep sandy loam. Granite, limestone and pockets of old volcanic ground fill in the margins, a patchwork befitting a region ringed by mountains on three sides.

Typical Aromas

Sour cherryDried tomatoBay leafWild herbsPomegranateSweet spice
Explore the aroma wheel

More in Greece

Aegean Islands

Aegean Islands

Crete

Crete

Epirus

Epirus

Ionian Islands

Ionian Islands

Macedonia

Macedonia

Peloponnese

Peloponnese

Sterea Ellada

Sterea Ellada

Thrace

Thrace

Frequently Asked Questions

What is special about Rapsani wine?▼
Rapsani is the only Greek PDO that requires a three-grape blend. Xinomavro, Krassato and Stavroto must be co-fermented in roughly equal parts, with the vineyard sites running up the slopes of Mount Olympus to over 600 metres. The result is a structured red with the savoury depth of Naoussa Xinomavro but a riper, more spice-driven character from the additional grapes.
What is Anchialos?▼
Anchialos (sometimes Nea Anchialos) is a small PDO on the Pelion peninsula coast, where Roditis grown on schist soils produces saline, mineral whites with a noticeably maritime character. The PDO requires at least 51% Roditis, often blended with Savatiano.
What grapes are unique to Thessaly?▼
Mavro Messenikola, the local red of the inland Mesenikola PDO, is found almost nowhere else. Krassato and Stavroto appear only in the Rapsani blend. Roditis, Savatiano and Limniona are the workhorses for whites and lighter reds. Limniona in particular has gained a quiet following for its bright cherry and herb character at altitude.
Who are the producers to watch in Thessaly?▼
Tsililis in Meteora (a wide range of PGIs and the renovated Theopetra estate); Domaine Karipidis in Tyrnavos (modern Limniona); the Rapsani slope estates (Tsantalis Reserve, Estate Dougos, Migas); and Hatzigeorgiou on the Pelion coast for Anchialos. The region rewards the curious.

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