The grape harvest period in Greece is in early October. And the Greeks do not only make fantastic wine but use grapes to the fullest to make tsipouro too.
Grape Harvest in Greece: From the Vineyard to the Table
The grape harvest period in Greece is between September and October. The process of traditional wine-making is laborious, and the possibility of hail, rain, and heat may become a threat to the grapes.
But the overall conditions and terrain varieties in different parts of the country give some of the most excellent labels in the world. When you spend the summer in Porto Valitsa, Paliouri, you cannot imagine that some of the locals cater their vineyards only a breath away from you.
And it’s less likely that you know that the time to make wine and tsipouro is almost here.
Early October is the grape harvest period in Greece
Grape harvesting is a tradition in Greece. The uniqueness of the terroir (soil texture, altitude, weather, terrain, and all factors related to the vineyard) and the cultivation give the grape varieties and these in turn give the color and taste of different wines.
Thanks to its fertile land, Greece is known for its great wines. There are some marvelous wines made in Halkidiki too.
Once the summer is over, people gather together to harvest the grapes, place them in baskets and transfer them to the wineries for the pressing. Today, most wineries follow the most advanced methods of wine-making, while the traditional way was foot-stomping.
Grapes are used to the fullest to create wine but also tsipouro
If you have visited Greece for your holiday, you might have tasted tsipouro. What you may not know is that this transparent and strong Greek drink is made from the grape skins, seeds, and stalks.
The tsipouro is also known as tsikoudia and raki and there are variations equally strong all over Greece. Tsipouro is served in tiny glasses along with mezedes while the wine can accompany any dish or stand on its own.
Both the tsipouro and wine varieties are plenty, the aromas and tastes come to suit all gastronomic demands, and some wineries open for the public – that’s if you like to taste a few varieties during your next trip to Halkidiki.