Rhodes has a long history of wine production dating back to ancient times, when the island exported significant quantities to other city-states. The good climatic conditions have always favored the cultivation of vines, while the island’s high water reserves are an important ally.
The warm and often hot climate of Rhodes does not negatively affect the vineyards located at high altitude as it does on other islands with high rates of viticulture. The island is also famous for its sparkling wines.
Rhodes’ vineyards stretch to around 6,000 hectares of land in two Designation of Origin zones. The first is RODOS OPE (Controlled Designation of Origin) which includes the areas where the white Muscat grape is cultivated. The other is Rhodos OPAP (Designation of Origin (Protected Designation of Origin), which includes the area of the white Athiri grape and the zone of the red Amorgiano variety.
This zone includes the municipalities of Kritinia, Siano, Monolithos, Agios Isidoros, Apollonon, Empona, Salakos, Mandriko, Kalavardes, Fano, Soroni, Theologos, Damatria and Maritses). The varieties grown here are the white Muscat, Athiri, Mandilaria (Amorgiano), Muscat Trani, Muscat Assyrtiko and Muscat White (for the production of sweet wine).
Some Wineries on Rhodes
Piperis Winery
The Piperis family, with a passion for producing and a love of good wine, established a traditional winery on the island of Rhodes in the village of Apollona, surrounded by picturesque vineyards. The winery features state-of-the-art machinery and is dedicated to producing high-quality wines that showcase the unique character of Greek grape varieties from the island. During a tour of the facilities, visitors will learn about the winery’s history, the grape varieties used, and the production process. Guided tours are offered and conclude with a tasting of six different wines, paired with traditional Greek cheeses, homemade olive paste, and local olive oil. Visitors can also purchase wines from the on-site retail shop before departing.
Alexandris Winery
Alexandris Winery, rests on the slopes of Mount Ataviros in Embona, Rhodes. The Alexandris family dedicates themselves to their 14 acres of vineyards with care and passion. They seamlessly integrate new technology with traditional methods to craft high-quality wines that embody the unique ecosystem of Mount Ataviros. Their objective is to create expressive wines, made from grapes grown exclusively on their privately-owned vineyard, highlighting the specific microclimate and terroir of region.
CAIR S.A
CAIR S.A is a winery that was founded in 1928 by a group of Italian investors and continues to be one of the largest in Greece. The company’s full name is Compagnia Agricola Industriale Rodi, and the acronym CAIR was created from that name. The winery’s main focus is on producing and promoting high-quality wines from Rhodes. The island’s vineyards are located in the central and western mountainous areas, where the altitude, soil, and orientation, along with the island’s microclimate, are favorable for growing excellent grapes. The vineyards of Rhodes are primarily dedicated to producing white wines using White Muscat, Athiri, and Malagouzia varieties. The red varieties of Syrah, Mandilaria (also known as Amorgiano), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, are grown in the northern part of of Attavyros.
Korkidas Estate
This winery is located in Salakos, at the base of Mount Profitis Elias, in the center of the island. It spans 13 acres, with most cultivation and care done manually, including pruning, defoliation, and harvesting. Since 2015, weeds have been removed only through mechanical means to avoid the use of chemical pesticides. The grapes grown include Amorgiano (also known as Mandilaria) and Muscat Trani, as well as 20% of other Muscat clones such as Muscat of Samos, Muscat of Alexandria, and White Muscat. The grapevines are planted in rows and have a “double cord” (Royat) formation. They are 20 years old and have their original roots.
Apart from wine, Rhodes also produces Souma, a distillate of the grape must that’s similar to raki. Souma is mainly produced in the mountain villages of Epona and Siana.
