P.D.O. Limnos (O.P.A.P.) / Λήμνος

The Greek volcanic island (also Lemnos, Limnio) with 480 km² lies in the northern Aegean Sea between the Athos peninsula in the northwest and the Asia Minor mainland in the east. According to Greek mythology, the limping Hephaistos (Roman Vulcanus), the Greek god of fire and the forge, lived here. In his work "Iliad", the poet Homer (8th century B.C.) names the island as the source of wine for the Greek army at the siege of Troy and tells how Hephaistos forged new weapons for the hero Achilles. Towards the end of the 19th century, phylloxera destroyed the vineyards with autochthonous vines; reconstruction took place mainly with Moschato Aspro (Muscat Blanc) and Muscat d'Alexandrie.

The vineyards cover about 1,200 hectares of vines with two POP appellations. The white wine Limnos is made from Moschato Aspro and Muscat d'Alexandrie and is vinified dry, semi-dry and medium sweet. The sweet dessert wine Muscat from Limnos is produced from 100% pure Muscat d'Alexandrie. It is available in the versions Vin doux naturel, Vin de liqueur (both fortified) and Vin naturellement doux. If the grapes come from particularly old vineyards with low yields, the designation Vin Doux Grand Cru may be used on the label. A non-qualified red wine is produced from the autochthonous Limnio variety. Well-known producers are Limnos Organic Wines and Hatzigeorgiou.

Greece map: By Pitichinaccio - own work, CC BY 3.0, Link
edited by Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer 2/2018