Ήπειρος (Ipiros)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The topography of Epirus is predominantly mountainous, dominated by the Pindus range — the largest mountain range in Greece — whose highest peak reaches 2,600 metres.
• The climate of the prefecture of Ioannina displays the characteristics of the interior of Epirus: continental, humid, and harsh.
• Climatic conditions are influenced by the relief of the terrain, resulting in low temperatures prevailing in the mountain areas during winter.
• The region is noted for its heavy rainfall, which is considered among the highest recorded in Greece.
• The greater part of Ioannina is surrounded by massive mountains with towering peaks that feed long rivers; between them lie valleys large and small which, together with the vegetation and fauna, compose a landscape of wild beauty.

• Linguistic and historical evidence indicates that the Debina variety was most likely cultivated in the area of Zitsa as early as before 600 AD.
• In 1954 the winegrowers of Zitsa founded a winemaking cooperative with modest facilities, while in 1973 the modern Zitsa winery was established by the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Ioannina.
• In the first half of the 1970s, viticulture was modernised through replanting, the use of phylloxera-resistant rootstocks, and the introduction of trellis training systems.

• The reputation of PGI Epirus wines is owed to the distinctive characteristics of the region — namely its soils, climate, and the influence of winds during summer — in combination with the cultivated varieties and viticultural practices.

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-A1604
• Official trade body site — Wines of Greece (EDOAO)