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Thessaly

Greece

Thessaly

ThraceThraceMacedoniaMacedoniaEpirusEpirusSterea ElladaSterea ElladaPeloponnesePeloponneseIonian IslandsIonian IslandsAegean IslandsAegean IslandsCreteCreteThessalyThessaly

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.

Vintages

12 · 2014–2025

Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Red

Outstanding Thessaly Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2025

Almost ready
93Excellent

A standout year: deep, aromatic, finely structured reds.

2027Peak 2029–20332035

2022

At peak
92Excellent

Deeply colored, well-structured reds from pristine fruit.

2024Peak 2026–20302032

2021

At peak
90Excellent

Dense, warm-year reds that kept mountain freshness.

2023Peak 2025–20282030

2020

At peak
91Excellent

Polished, structured Rapsani with fine balance.

2022Peak 2024–20282030

2019

At peak
92Excellent

Complete, balanced reds: ripe tannins, deep color, fresh acidity.

2021Peak 2023–20282031

2017

At peak
93Excellent

A powerful, concentrated Rapsani year with real aging capacity.

2019Peak 2023–20292032

2015

At peak
91Excellent

Ripe, structured Rapsani with warm, dark fruit.

2017Peak 2019–20262028

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.

Similar styles

Lands in the same glass.

Brunello di Montalcino

Tuscany, Italy

Moon Mountain District

Sonoma Coast, United States

Mount Veeder

Napa Valley, United States

Boca

Piedmont, Italy

Naoussa

Macedonia, Greece

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

What it tastes like

Body

Full

Acidity

Zippy

Tannin

Drying

Oak

Some oak

Ripeness

Fresh

Concentration

Medium

Full-bodied and zippy, with drying tannin and some oak; red fruit, black fruit and a herbal edge, built to age.

red fruit · black fruit · herbal · floral · savoury

Cork's estimate.

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)