Best Greek Wine: 8 award-winning bottles to try

Made since the 7^th century BC, Greek wine is firmly embedded in the country’s culture. Not only does it boast a fascinating array of indigenous grape varieties, giving Greek wine a character all of its own, but it was also responsible for the arrival of vines across the Mediterranean.

Greece has always been rightly proud of its own grape varieties, and has steadfastly refused to fill its vineyards with acre upon acre of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Faith in its local grapes is being rewarded, with drinkers starting to get to grips with the likes of elegant, zesty Assyrtiko from Santorini, full-bodied Agioritiko and powerful, ageworthy Xinomavro.

A host of new wineries appearing all over the country are testament to how far Greece has come along since the financial crisis of the late Noughties that crippled its economy. The majority are focusing on indigenous grapes, which may help explain the public’s new-found fondness for them, but it doesn’t hurt that wine bars in Athens or in some of the most popular island destinations – from Santorini to Crete – are also flying the flag for Greek wine.

This year’s IWSC results are proof that the big medals don’t always go to the usual suspects: Late Release Vinsanto from Estate Argyros was among the top performer, with its notes of chewy treacle, sumptuous raisins, juicy dried dates and aromatic spices. Domaine Sigalas, Barrel Assyrtiko 2022 wowed with its citrus nose, balanced acidity and hint of smoky cool minerals; and with its second appearance on this list Estate Argyros won a gold medal and 95/100 points with its Vinsanto First Release 2015, with the wine displaying notes of ‘plump sultanas, smooth caramel, zesty orange marmalade, quince, and candied almonds’.

Every Greek wine tasted at the 2024 IWSC was organised by style and colour, before being blind-tasted by a panel made up of some of the finest palates in the business.

Greek wine has an identity all of its own, so if you’re yet to experience its charms, there’s no better time. Here is our list of the best Greek wines selected from this year’s IWSC.

How do we judge these wines?

We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.

How do we score these wines?

Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.

More from Club Oenologique

Club O is a premium lifestyle publication for curious and discerning wine and spirits lovers. Renowned for inspiring stories and trusted expertise, we connect people to the joys of the world, through the lens of wine, spirits and other interesting drinks. Based in London, our team of expert writers seek out thoughtful stories that introduce our readers to new people, places, drinking discoveries and insights, as well as exploring fresh perspectives on familiar themes. Membership to The Collection offers exclusive access to leading critics’ tasting reports, scores, tastings and events, especially tailored to collectors and investors. Our flagship Club Oenologique magazine offers even more insights for enthusiasts and collectors.