🍇 Xinomavro

Xinomavro is a red wine grape from Greece and the backbone of the wines of Macedonia. Wine with the Naoussa appellation is made from it alone, 100 % Xinomavro. The name combines the Greek words for "sour" and "black": the wine has high acidity and plenty of tannin. In 2015 the variety covered about 2,000 ha.

According to DNA markers, one of Xinomavro's parents is the old Gouais Blanc; the other is unknown. Among its 40 synonyms in VIVC are Mavro Naoussis, Niaousta and Popolka. VIVC puts its area in Greece at 1,818 ha (1999) and 2,389 ha (2008); according to the OIV, it shrank by 6 % in 2011–2015.

The Naoussa zone, created in 1971, lies on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Vermio at 150–400 m. According to Wines of Greece, only red wines are made here: dry, off-dry and medium sweet. They are usually light in colour, with high tannins and acidity and aromas of cherry, tomato, olive and sweet spice. Traditional wines have long macerations and oak ageing, and they can develop for more than ten years.

Why it matters to you. The word Naoussa on a label means a red wine made only from Xinomavro. A light colour does not mean a light wine: the tannins and acidity are high, so a young bottle is often better put away for a while. Red wines are served at 15–18 °C and stored lying down, in the dark, at 10–16 °C.