Wines of Greece: Sterea Ellada

As the natural continuation of Epirus and Thessaly, Central Greece (Sterea Ellada) encompasses part of the Pindos Mountain Range. The massifs of the region, mainly in its central part, form one of the most mountainous areas of the country. The plains lie largely to the East in Attica and Boeotia and to the West in Aetolia-Acarnania. There is a wide diversity of soil composition, ranging from very poor to very fertile. The complex topography results in an amazing variety of mesoclimates, thus affecting each region’s style of wines. The western part is quite humid with high rain fall levels; the centre is mainly mountainous and cold, while the eastern region, including Attica, is the warmest and driest.

Vineyards cover an overall area of 21,000 hectares, making up 28% of all Greek vineyards. The largest acreage of vineyard is divided among the prefectures of Boeotia (Viotia), the island of Euboea (Evia) and Attica (Attiki).