Xanthi Wines
Although until relatively recently viticulture in the area had declined, the area of Xanthi and especially the area of Avdira has a history that goes back to antiquity. In Byzantine times, Avdira and Maroneia were some of the most famous vineyards of Byzantium, where 'Pamitis Oinos' was produced. During the Ottoman Empire, the French Consul in Constantinople, in a report to Paris, compared the region of Avdira to Bordeaux in France!
The viticulture in the hilly areas of Xanthi is mainly located in the coastal areas of Avdira. As a consequence, the breeze of the Thracian Sea has a favourable effect on the cultivation of vines. Some of the particular characteristics of the area are also the low night temperatures and the frequent rainfall. Several foreign varieties such as Merlot, Cincaut, Sauvignon and Syrah have been successfully acclimatised here. In terms of local varieties, in the Xanthi area, Limnio, Assyrtiko, Zoumiatiko and Pamidi, as well as other indigenous northern Greek varieties thrive.
