Regional District of Drama

The Region of East Macedonia and Thrace is located at the northeastern part of Greece, on the crossroads of East and West, North and South.

Our land, the Regional District of Drama, is situated at the NW edge of the Region, on the Greek- Bulgarian border. Drama is said to be “baptized” by water, its name originating from Dyrama, or Hydrama from the ancient Greek word for water, “hydor”.  In the prehistoric settlements of the area, water is a source of life and provides shelter for humans and animals, domesticated or prey. In the lush vegetation that grows next to it, everyone finds food. Man learned to make wine some 8,000 years ago, as evidenced by the oldest wine-making finds in the world, discovered in Georgia, at an excavation near Tiflis. This knowledge originated in the Caucasus, then travelled to Mesopotamia, whence it arrived to take root permanently on the hillsides of this land, Drama, the land of the Thracian Edones.

Dionysus, God of wine ( Greek Mythology)

Dionysus, God of wine, feasting and joy, liberates people, defining vital energy and momentum. His worship concerns celebrations of vegetation and causes religious ecstasy, which is none other than the “sacred madness” after drinking wine and lovemaking. Ecstasy is the most important aspect of the Dionysus worship. It is a ritualistic behaviour towards a change in the state of consciousness, an initiation into another outlook on life, which brings salvation along with redemption from worries. The worship of the god is attested by a number of finds in the wider area of Drama and by the rituals, the “Dionysian Festivals” that survived through the millennia and are still performed today. At the same time, the art of viticulture and winemaking also spreads.

Drama and Wine 
Drama wine started to flourish in the 1980s and since then it has quickly dominated the Greek market, while exports are made to many countries. The wines are fresh, with rich aromas. They started mainly as white, stood out and soon expanded to rose and red. They won the preferences of the consumers and are distinguished for their quality, purity of taste and distinctive aromas. Drama wines leave a positive impression and an aftertaste that is imprinted in the consumer’s taste memory. The suitable climate and geomorphological conditions have favored the vineyards and have created a unique “terroir”, i.e. the particular characteristics that a wine can derive from the complete natural environment that, together with the passion of the wine producers, contribute to the wines’ recognition. Within a relatively short time the region has been described by experts because of the success of Sauvignon Blanc as the Marlborough of Greece, or as the Greek Bordeaux due to success of the cosmopolitan varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The winemakers of Drama have begun to produce wine with Greek varieties such as Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Agiorgitiko, Limnio and Mavrotragano, which they bottle pure or in blends with foreign ones. There are some other foreign varieties, including Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, and Syrah, as well as Greek ones such as Vidiano, Mavroudi, Limniona, Xinomavro, Mavrodafni, etc. The region now claims a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for its white wines with the combination of Assyrtiko and Sauvignon Blanc varieties, successful for three decades, and the combination of Cabernet, Merlot and Agiorgitiko for its red wines. The fascinating vineyards of Drama, with a total area of around 570 hectares, has the unique advantage of being the only wine region in Greece with a qualitative balance of white and red wines, while at the same time hosting impressive wineries in terms of architecture, with modern technological facilities. Some wineries are large with areas of thousands of square metres, several open to visitors, some are smaller, while year after year new ones appear, all with unique labels and some of the most emblematic Greek wines. Competition works positively, improving quality, so that the Drama wine does not disappoint those who select it.... History, culture, gastronomy, and of course the unique wine make up the Taste of the place. For what is Taste? Taste is Memory, it is Culture.