P.D.O. Patra (O.P.A.P.) / Πάτρα

Appellation on the north coast of the Greek Peloponnese peninsula. It is named after the harbour town of the same name (Greek: Patra) and capital of the region of western Greece on the Gulf of Patras in the Ionian Sea. In the 19th century, currants (sultanas) in particular were exported to Great Britain and France via Patras. While buying currants, the German Gustav Clauss (1825-1908) came to the area and founded Achaia Clauss in 1872, one of the largest and still existing wine trading companies in Greece.

Vineyards & grape varieties

The vineyards cover around 4,000 hectares of vineyards in the Achaia district, making Patras the largest Greek POP area. Most of it forms one continuous unit, but there are also many small vineyard islands. The autochthonous grape varieties Mavrodaphne, Roditis, Sideritis and Korinthiaki, as well as Moschato Aspro (Muscat Blanc) are mainly cultivated here. There are four POP appellations in total. Patras covers the entire area, the other three appellations are each more narrowly defined areas or enclaves.

Wines & producers

The white wine Patras is produced from a single variety of Roditis and is vinified dry, semi-dry and medium sweet. The sweet white wines Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras (Rio is a municipality) are made from a single variety of Moschato Aspro and produced as Vin doux naturel (fortified) or Vin naturellement doux.

The sweet red wine Mavrodaphne from Patras is made from Mavrodaphne and Korinthiaki in the port wine style. It must mature for at least one year in wooden barrels. After two years in the barrel and one year in the bottle, it can be called Reserve, and after seven years (at least three in the barrel and three in the bottle) Grand Reserve. Well-known producers include Achaia Clauss, Antonopoulos, Katogi Averoff, Kourtakis, Parparoussis and Tetramythos.

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