The wine of Naxos

Naxos has always been a wine producing island. In fact the island is one of the alleged birthplaces of Dionysus, the ancient god of wine and revelry. Because of his love of the island, he used his powers to make the island fertile and, due to its wine production, a happy place.

The wine produced on Naxos is excellent and a tipple or two of the local varieties will easily confirm this. You will need to be careful of the quantity though because if you are visiting in the summer, the heat and wine combination can be devastating. I suppose that is why the Greeks always serve a “meze” which means “little meal” along with their alcohol. Good practice I say.

Should you come across an older local wine producer, give his produce a try. The unbottled wine is usually much stronger in alcohol and a bit sweeter than its bottled rival.

The vineyards are just about everywhere on Naxos. You will find them in the island’s lush valleys or by the steep slopes of the Naxos mountain ranges alongside the villages of Naxos. The locals respect their wine and it is the most widely preferred drink among the islanders. Lately, Naxos wine has gained followers from various European countries to which it is exported. Tourist exhibitions have greatly contributed to this fact. Famous or not, the wine of Naxos will gain a place in your heart, so, give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.