Greek Macedonia (Makedonia) is an expansive region in northern Greece, bordered by the Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria to the north and the Aegean Sea in the south. The semi-mountainous vineyards in the region are extensively planted to Xynomavro, along with Roditis, Limnio and the more-international Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. Macedonian red wines are noted for their firm tannins and big flavors, and the best examples are among Greece's most-sought-after reds.
Grapes have been grown in the ancient region of Macedonia for thousands of years, as evidenced by ancient grape pips discovered in eastern Macedonia. Coins and ceramics from the 5th Century BC denote wine production in the classical period, and Macedonian amphorae have been found across Europe, suggesting that the wines were exported around the Mediterranean. Macedonian wine production continued into the Byzantine era, particularly on the Halkidiki Peninsula, where the monks of Mount Athos were cultivating extensive vineyards.
Unfortunately, Macedonian wine production slowed considerably during the period of Ottoman rule in Greece, and once wine production began to pick up again in the late 19th Century, a plague of phylloxera wiped out many of the vineyards in Macedonia. The two World Wars of the 20th Century also slowed viticulture, which finally began to grow again in the 1970s, pioneered by the Tsantali and Boutari wine producers. Since then, Macedonia has developed into one of Greece's most extensive and highly regarded wine regions.
Macedonia is perhaps slightly more Balkan than Mediterranean in terms of landscape, and the Mediterranean climate here has a lot of continental influence, with hot summers and colder winters. This is exacerbated by the usually-mountainous locations of the vineyards, concentrated largely in the western part of the region on the border of Epirus. Here, the appellations Amyndaio, Goumenissa and Naousa produce some of Greece's most popular reds made of Xynomavro. Further south on the Halkidiki Peninsula, wines bearing the Playes Melitona appellation are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Limnio.
As Macedonia is a large region, it is perhaps not surprising that there is a huge range of soil types across the landscape. Generally speaking, vines do well on the region's rocky mountain soils, where low fertility and good natural drainage provide an excellent environment for the plants. However, there are areas within the region where alluvial soils on low, rolling landscapes are more fertile and vigorous, particularly in the eastern parts of Greek Macedonia.
There are several PGI-level regional appellations in Macedonia alongside the PDO titles, including Drama, Kavala, Sithonia, Mount Athos and Thessaloniki. A large range of both native and international grape varieties are found in wines bearing these appellations.
