Wine regions: Northern Greece

The regions of Macedonia and Thrace are noted mainly for their red wines, although wines of all hues are made there today. Náoussa, home of red wine from Xinomavro grapes, is on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Vermio, at elevations of between 200 and 500 m (660–1,650 ft), where there is usually no serious lack of rain and winters are cool enough for vine dormancy. Náoussa must be aged for at least a year in oak, traditionally in old wooden casks, but there has been considerable experimentation with new, small barriques. A system of defining the better slopes has resulted in two categories of Náoussa: young wine from the lighter, sandy soil and more age-worthy wine from clay and limestone soils.Náoussa wines can be aged for several decades and maintain an ethereal, Barolo-like personality.