WINE-PRODUCING REGIONS | ILIA & MESSINIA

ILIA & MESSINIA

A common feature of the vineyards of Ilia and Messinia is the extensive cultivation of foreign grape varieties. In Ilia, the vineyards grow mainly in lowland areas, southeast of the mountainous areas, in fertile soils with abundant water from the rivers Alfeios and Pinios. In contrast, in Messinia the vineyards are located in highlands and benefit from the influence of the Ionian Sea (coastal vineyards), in limestone soils with limited water reserves, with Trifylia standing out as the most important viticultural area. In the western Peloponnese, various international varieties have been successfully cultivated for many decades, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Rouge and Refosco, while at the same time the local varieties Roditis, Mavrodaphne, Fokiano and Avgoustiatis are preserved.