Välsignad med ett idealiskt klimat för druvodling och känd som en av de viktigaste grekiska vinodlingsregionerna, har ön Rhodos fostrat en tradition för vinproduktion sedan antiken. Även om Rhodos hade exporterat viner sedan så tidigt som 700-talet f.Kr., var det odlingen av malvasiska druvor under medeltiden som verkligen satte ön på kartan och blev snabbt en av de viktigaste medelhavsvinerna.
I dag har Rhodos cirka 7500 hektar vingårdar och det största vinproduktionshuset är Cair, som ligger nära Rhodos stad. Många av de andra framstående vingårdarna finns längre söderut, grupperade runt de traditionella byarna Emponas och Siana - de familjedrivna vingårdarna Emery, Kounaki och Alexandris är populära val, alla erbjuder vinprovning och vingårdsturer. De mest kända regionala sorterna inkluderar ett antal torra röda viner gjorda av de rikligt odlade Mandilariá-druvorna och de torra, aromatiska vita vinerna, producerade av Athiri-druvor, samt ett litet antal firade söta muskater.
Today, Rhodes has around 7,500 acres of vineyards with two appellations (Rhodes and Muscat of Rhodes) producing a range of varietals, including native Aegean grapes like Athiri, Moschato Aspro, and Mandilaria. Many of the island’s wineries welcome visitors for tours and tastings, and guided excursions typically include stops at several traditional wineries in a single outing. It’s also possible to combine a winery tour and tasting with a visit to the island’s spectacular Butterfly Valley nature reserve or a hike to the ruined Monolithos Castle.
Wineries on Rhodes are scattered across the island. CAIR, the largest wine producer, is near the town of Rhodes, while many other prominent wineries are further south, near the villages of Embonas and Siana. The towns of Emery, Kounaki, and Alexandris are known for their smaller family-run wineries.
The best time to visit Rhodes wine country is during the fall harvest season, when wineries are at their most active and the village streets are filled with baskets of raisins soaking up the sun. Many wineries also host traditional dance performers during the summer high season.
Many wineries on Rhodes make a traditional drink, called souma, from their grapes. After the grapes are pressed, their pulp is fermented in large barrels with sea water, then boiled and distilled into a strong spirit, often with more than 40 percent alcohol by volume. Many Greek taverns serve souma as a complimentary digestif.
