📍 Epirus

Epirus is a mountain region in north-western Greece along the border with Albania, with the city of Ioannina at its centre. The Pindus mountains run through it, winters are cold, and the vineyards lie mostly on slopes. Epirus is part of Greek wine. The region's wine districts are Zitsa and Metsovo; local grapes include the white Debina and the reds Vlachiko and Bekari.

The best-known wine of Epirus is Zitsa. It is made from the white grape Debina and comes still, semi-sparkling and sparkling, and the appellation is protected as a PDO. Zitsa became a centre of winemaking as early as the Ottoman era, and this remains one of its two main occupations, alongside tourism.

Metsovo is known above all for wine from Cabernet Sauvignon and Agiorgitiko. The reds Vlachiko and Bekari are grown in small amounts.

The mountain climate gives cool nights and slow ripening, so the wines come out light and fresh with good acidity. Greek winemaking has a long history: already in the Middle Ages wines from Crete and Monemvasia were exported to northern Europe and sold at high prices. Epirus is one of the regions that complete this picture with its mountain whites.