Mantinia
Mantinia (or Mantineia), situated on a high altitude plateau in the heart of the Peloponnese, was founded by the oldest of Greek tribes, the Arcades. The region is bursting with history from its roads and landscapes to its archaeological monuments.
Mantinia has been identified as one of the most important wine-growing areas in Greece. It encompasses 1,010 hectares of high altitude vineyards which form the Mantinia PDO. Under this appellation a dry, floral, aromatic, crispy and cool-climate “blanc de gris” wine from the local Moschofilero grape variety is produced.
A key element of Mantinia is the morphology of its mountain ranges. Surrounded by five mountains, nature remains wild, unspoiled and harmonious while rainfall is attracted even during summer. The climate is rather continental than Mediterranean, despite the close proximity to the Aegean Sea. In fact, this is one of the coldest wine-growing regions in Greece. Cool temperatures during summer allow slow ripening for the grapes so as to retain a crispy acidity. Harvest can sometimes come as late as October resulting in a wine with a more exotic character.
The vineyards extend from an altitude of 600m upwards in sedimentary, clay and clay-limestone soils.