Greek wines seen entering new, golden age

From the trendy wine bars of Athens to a surge in new wineries, Greece’s wine scene is entering a new, golden age. Industry experts say Greek wines have achieved a new quality, variety and sophistication that reflects 50 years of development, leaving behind the cruder vintages that marked Greek wines back in the 1970s.

Across Europe and around the world, Greek wines are increasingly commanding higher prices while garnering recognition from leading critics and wine experts. A new generation of wine enthusiasts has led to a renaissance in Greek wine making, and a new wine culture among young Greeks has turned Athens into one of the coolest wine scenes in Europe.

Although Greek winemaking dates back more than six millennia, Greece’s modern wine industry began to develop in earnest in the 1960s and 1970s. During that period, traditional and lower-grade wines predominated, and many foreigners associated Greek winemaking with the Retsina wine produced at that time. Although Retsina is still in production, the quality of Greek wines began to improve significantly in the 1990s and early 2000s, when many vintners also started incorporating international grape varieties into their production.

But in the past two decades, Greek wines have undergone a revolution. A new generation of vintners has entered the industry: by some estimates, the number of Greek wineries has increased fourfold to more than 2,000 over the last twenty years. At the same time, many vintners rediscovered traditional and uniquely Greek grape varieties – such as Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko, Moschofilero, and Xinomavro – of the more than 300 indigenous varieties that have been cultivated since antiquity.

Greece’s wine industry is also behind new initiatives to enhance the sector’s standing on the world stage. One of the country’s leading wine awards – Great Greek Wines – returns this year with a new format designed to highlight quality Greek wines for an international audience. The awards, scheduled to be announced in late May, are based on evaluations conducted by a team of international judges, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and wine critics from around the world.

Greek Wine Shines at ProWein 2025!

The Greek wine has made a strong impression at ProWein 2025, the world’s leading wine and spirits trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. With 68 Greek wineries and distilleries proudly represented at the National Pavilion, organized by Enterprise Greece, the country’s presence has been truly remarkable.

The nine fully booked seminars showcasing indigenous PDO and PGI varieties and the thousand trade visitors, exploring 70+ Greek labels in the free tasting area, showcase Greece’s winemaking progress that has captured global attention.

At Enterprise Greece, we remain committed to fostering Greek companies, helping them expand their reach and establish Greece as a top-tier player in the international wine market. Cheers to Greek wine’s growing success worldwide!