P.D.O. Limnos (O.P.A.P.) / Λήμνος

The Greek volcanic island (also Lemnos, Limnio) in the northern Aegean Sea covers 480 km² and lies between the Athos peninsula in the north-west and the mainland of Asia Minor, which belongs to Turkey, in the east. According to Greek mythology, the limping Hephaestus (Roman Vulcanus), the Greek god of fire and the forge, lived here. In his work "Iliad", the poet Homer (8th century BC) mentions the island as the source of wine for the Greek army during the siege of Troy and tells how Hephaestus forged new weapons for the hero Achilles. Towards the end of the 19th century, phylloxera destroyed the vineyards with autochthonous vines, which were replanted mainly with Moschato Aspro (Muscat Blanc) and Muscat d'Alexandrie.

The vineyards cover around 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 made from 100% single-varietal 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 indigenous Limnio variety. Well-known producers on Limnos include Limnos Organic Wines and Hatzigeorgiou.

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