Anhialos (Anchialos) is an appellation in southern Thessalonia, 100 miles (160km) north of Athens. The coastal terroir on the edge of the Pagasetic Gulf is one of Greece's most low-lying wine regions. Fresh, aromatic white wines are made here from the native Greek Roditis grape variety, with a smaller proportion of Savatiano in the blend.
Wine-growing traditions in Anhialos date back to the early 20th Century, when refugees from the Bulgarian region of Anchialos fled their homeland to escape persecution during the Balkan War. These settlers planted vineyards along the low, rolling hills of their new home, many of which are still planted to vines today. Viticulture has not been continuous in the region, however – an outbreak of phylloxera in the years following the First World War proved devastating to vineyards in most of mainland Greece.
The viticultural zone of Anhialos is centered on the town of Nea Anhialos and also encompasses the nearby villages of Mikrothives, Aidinio and Krokio. Vineyards lie on land that reaches no higher than 650ft (200m) above sea level, where coastal influences from the Aegean Sea contribute to the warm Mediterranean climate. The sandy clay soils offer some drainage, but are slightly more fertile than is optimum for premium viticulture.
Since Anhialos is so flat and close to sea level, a number of appellation restrictions are imposed to ensure the quality of the wine. Bottles bearing Anhialos on the label must be made from Roditis and Savatiano, with the latter making up no more than 20% of the final blend. The style is intended to be crisp and dry, and oak treatment is discouraged. Although Rotitis is a pink-red grape variety, no skin contact is permitted after pressing. The final restriction is the use of grape must from cordon-trained vines, as overcropping can occur on the fertile plains.
In 1971, Anhialos became one of the first areas in Greece to be delimited as an official appellation. Since then, only a handful of wineries have been producing Anhialos wine, which is not often seen outside of Greece.
