The grape harvest has gotten underway in many parts of Greece these days, and for the first time in years, it is at the time best suited to most varieties. Yet many winemakers are heading into the new season with their tanks still full, as consumers are drinking less, both at home and abroad.
“There’s a chance that we won’t see the first white wines of the 2026 vintage coming out in November, as has been the custom in recent years, but in January instead, so that we can take advantage of the increase in consumption over the holidays to reduce existing stocks,” Stellios Boutaris, a winemaker and president of the Greek Wine Federation (SEO), tells Kathimerini.
This delay bodes well for the new releases, since wine that spends longer maturing in tanks – under the right conditions – improves, even though in recent years the trend has been to release new-vintage whites quickly.
With the exception of Mantineia, Nemea, Tyrnavos and areas of northern Greece that suffered extensive hail damage on May 1 – resulting in production losses of up to 70% – wine grapes are in excellent condition in the rest of the country. Relatively low summer temperatures, coupled with adequate rainfall, have allowed vines to develop without the stresses of extreme heat and drought.
