Attica
Hot Mediterranean
The dry plain east of Athens, home of Savatiano, the grape behind retsina, and a growing group of quality-minded estates.
Overview
About Attica
Attica surrounds Athens, and its main wine district is the Mesogeia plain to the east of the city, around Markopoulo, only about 30 kilometres from the Acropolis. The grape is Savatiano, Greece's most widely planted white, which was long used for the resin-flavoured wine retsina and for simple everyday whites. In the last few decades a group of estates has shown that old Savatiano vines can make dry white wines of real character that age well.
The region also grows Roditis and Malagousia among the whites, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Its appeal to visitors is that the wineries can be reached in less than an hour from central Athens, so wine can be combined with a visit to the city.
Attica is marked on the map.
Greece
Shaded: Attiki. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Hot Mediterranean
Hot, dry summers with very little rain, and mild winters. Sea breezes from the Aegean help cool the plain, and vines are often low, unirrigated bush vines that tolerate drought.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Calcareous clay and limestone with some schist and sand. The soils are poor and dry, which suits old Savatiano bush vines.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Attica's wines are sold as protected geographical indications, with a separate traditional designation for retsina.
Attiki and Markopoulo PGI
Regional wines from Attica, usually white wines from Savatiano.
Retsina (traditional designation)
White wine made with pine resin, a Greek tradition and an officially protected category.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.