P.D.O. Paros (O.P.A.P.) / Πάρος

The Greek island in the Aegean Sea to the west of Naxos covers 200 square kilometres and is part of the Cyclades. Wine was already being grown here in ancient times. In his famous work "De re rustica", the Roman author Lucius J. M. Columella (1st century BC) mentions an important wine export to Rome, which took place via the transhipment centre or port of Monemvasia on the Peloponnese peninsula. There was never a phylloxera infestation on Paros.

The vines are trained (as on the neighbouring island of Santorini) in the vine training Kouloura with bird's nest-like wreaths to protect the grapes growing inside from the strong, sandy winds, and there is an origin-protected POP wine in red and white. The red wine is blended from the Mandilaria (red) and Monemvasia (white) varieties. It is the only POP red wine in Greece in which a white wine variety may be used. The white wine is made from a single variety of Monemvasia. Two well-known producers are Moraïtis and the Paros winegrowers' co-operative. There is also wine production on the neighbouring island of Antiparos.

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