WINE-PRODUCING REGIONS | LARISSA

LARISSA

In the Larissa region, Rapsani is the most important Designation of Origin of Thessaly. The Rapsani vineyard covers approximately 1,500 hectares and extends at an altitude of 150-750 m., on the eastern slopes of Olympus (semi-mountainous and mountainous vineyards). There, the Xinomavro variety is cultivated in combination with the local varieties Krasato and Stavroto. The highest quality grapes come from the mountainous parts, where the vines are planted densely in cups, with approximately 1,000 plants per hectare. The area also favors the cultivation of international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay, thanks to the altitude and the cool mountain winds, which maintain low night temperatures and promote early ripening. The village of Krania, on the eastern slopes of Mount Olympus, although initially included in the Rapsani PDO zone, was exempted in 2001 to allow the production of white and red PGI wines from international varieties. Tyrnavos is another important wine-producing area of ​​Larissa, although it is better known for the production of tsipouro. The varieties Muscat Hamburg and Roditis dominate here. Muscat Hamburg produces aromatic wines with a simple structure, while Roditis (also known as Roditis Damasi) produces wines with high acidity and rich extract. The local variety Limniona has shown particularly impressive results in recent years, offering new dynamics to the area.