📍 Nemea

Nemea is a wine zone in the Peloponnese, in southern mainland Greece, not far from Corinth. The ruins of the Temple of Zeus and an ancient stadium where the Nemean Games were held are here. In myth, Heracles defeated the Nemean lion in this area. Grapes have been grown here since deep antiquity.

The only grape of the zone's red wines is Agiorgitiko (St George). It is one of the main Greek red varieties. It makes wines of all kinds: from light fruity rosés and reds to full-bodied aged wines with notes of red berries, plum and spice. A sweet wine also exists. The denomination of origin (PDO) covers wines from this grape only.

Vineyards lie at various altitudes, from lowlands to slopes at about 900 metres. The higher the plot, the cooler and more elegant the wine; lower down the wines are softer and fuller.

Nemea is part of the Peloponnese and is considered the best-known red wine area of Greece. If you know Greek white wines, Nemea shows the country's red side. Agiorgitiko goes well with roast meat, lamb and Greek dishes such as moussaka. The name Nemea on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.