Masters of Wine Greece Trip (15 June – 20 June)
The Masters of Wine trip to Northern Greece marked the second regional MW trip in Greece, following our inaugural MW trip in Peloponnese.
When we first conceived this initiative with the Greek Wine Federation, our intention was to move away from a single Greek wine trip and instead create focused, in-depth experiences that allow for more intimate understanding of each region. From the outset, Northern Greece—rich in heritage, scale, and winemaking influence—was high on our list. In fact, the vision for this trip began to take shape while we were still traveling through the Peloponnese two years prior.
Our program opened in Thessaloniki with a welcome dinner and a walk-around tasting that brought together wines from different areas of Northern Greece – Epirus and Macedonia. The next day, we ventured east to discover the lesser-known yet distinguished regions of Drama and Kavala, where international and indigenous grape varieties coexist. Back in Thessaloniki, we immersed in an in-depth tasting of Retsina, a historical and somewhat polarizing style of wine that has been going through renaissance.
The heart of the trip was devoted to Xinomavro at its origin. We walked the hills of Naoussa, explored the high-altitude vineyards of Amyndeo, and tasted the diverse styles of Xinomavro and some extraordinary old vintages, all through the lens of the local vintners and winemakers. On our final day, en route back to Thessaloniki, we paused at the archaeological site of Aigai in Vergina—home to the Royal Macedonian Tombs and a UNESCO World Heritage site—before concluding our journey with a memorable visit and farewell dinner at Gerovassiliou Winery.
The North Greece MW trip brought together 20 Masters of Wine from 10 countries and over the course of five days, we experienced the diverse landscapes, climates, wines and culture in this storied land. The result was insightful conversations, cross-pollination of ideas and genuine feedback, reflected in the pages that follow.
I would like to thank all our hosts for their amazing generosity and hospitality, the Greek Wine Federation and Enterprise Greece, with the support of Winemakers of North Greece, for inviting us to experience this special corner of the world together. Specifically, I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Sofia Perpera and Cornilia Alexiadou, whose impeccable organization and dedication ensured every detail was well executed.
Members can see the full report here.