Wine-growing area named after the town of the same name (also Metsovon, grch. Metsobo) in the Greek region of Epirus. It lies east of the capital Ioannina near the border to Albania. The area is not classified, the wines are sold under the name Metsovitikos Topikos Oinos (country wines). Viticulture has been practised here since the middle of the 18th century. The vineyards are located between 900 and 1100 meters above sea level, making them the highest in Greece. As a special feature, there is also a very popular ski area. From the 1960s onwards, a new development of viticulture took place and foreign varieties were planted for the first time. The later Greek Foreign and Defence Minister Evangelos Averoff (1910-1990) with his Katogi Averoff winery is considered a pioneer in this respect. The international varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Viognier are grown, as well as many autochthonous varieties such as Agiorgitiko, Bekari, Chlores, Glykopistrovo, Mouchtouri, Roditis and Vlachiko.
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Thomas Götz
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