This post was originally published on the blog Elloinos (a great resource for anyone interested in Greek wines) and republished with permission.
by Markus Stolz
The Peloponnese is one of the very first places on earth where wine was made: Viticulture has existed for at least 4000 years, perhaps even for as long as 7000 years. The area itself is one of utter and bewildering beauty, marked by a great number of mountainous zones. The climate is overall Mediterranean with short winters and hot summers, but with marked differences in rainfall and humidity. In general, soil conditions are poor; vines struggle and send their roots deep down in order to survive. Often they are the only crop that can grow at all.
The Peninsula covers an area of approximately 21550 square kilometers (8320 square miles), roughly the size of the state of Hessen in Germany, or New Jersey in the US. The Peloponnese constitutes the southernmost part of mainland Greece. It is divided into seven prefectures, each one having significant vine plantations.
In terms of indigenous grape varieties, the Peloponnese is a real treasure chamber. Apart from the flagship varieties like Agiorgitiko and Moschofilero, well known ones like Roditis and Mavrodaphne, there are dozens of other captivating varieties. Some of them are indigenous only to a single village; others are nearly unheard of in other sub-regions. It is impossible to become bored with the sheer diversity of flavors that the wines offer.
Given the importance of the Peloponnese as one of the major wine regions in Greece, I have created an info graphic that is mostly based on official current statistics. You will find detailed breakdowns of prefectures, grape varieties, PDO and PGI regions, plantings, number of wineries, and more. In other words, facts that might take you by surprise! In order to present the info visually in a stimulating way, I have enlisted the help of my talented friends at Ideologio.