Έβρος (Evros)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The viticultural zone of the Evros PGI lies at an altitude of more than 20 metres and is characterised as a semi-mountainous viticultural zone, with most vineyards extending across hillside slopes.
• The vineyard soils are of medium mechanical composition, characterised as sandy loam or clay sandy loam, have a neutral pH, and contain low levels of calcium carbonate.
• The climate of the region is characterised as similar to maritime, with pronounced continental tendencies and cold winters, and a mean summer temperature of 26.3 degrees Celsius.
• Mean annual rainfall in the region is around 620 mm, with increased precipitation from October through April, a distribution typical of Mediterranean climates.
• The prevailing winds in the region, particularly in winter, are strong north-easterlies, while in spring and summer they are of low to moderate intensity.

• The Kikones, an ancient Thracian tribe, were the first to engage with wine in the land of Thrace, with the earliest references to their celebrated wine found in Homer's two epics.
• The Kikones growers linked the harvest to the constellation of Orion, as its midnight rising in late summer marked the beginning of the festive harvest season.
• Before the phylloxera that struck the region in the early 20th century, the extent of the vineyards around Soufli was approximately 7,000 stremma, whereas today it does not exceed 2,500 to 3,000 stremma.
• After 1920, the vineyards in Soufli were replanted on phylloxera-resistant rootstocks, with studies examining their suitability and variety-specific compatibility across each micro-zone.
• Red and white liqueur wines have been produced traditionally in the region for many decades, when winemakers would make, alongside their dry wines, a quantity for family use at celebrations and festivals.

• The high temperatures towards the end of summer, combined with abundant sunshine, contribute to the achievement of high sugar concentrations in the grapes and to the production of liqueur wines.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Greece

Sources

• National product specification (PDF) — ypaat
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PGI-GR-A1045
• Official trade body site — Wines of Greece (EDOAO)