Drama Wine Region

Drama is a young wine region by Greek standards, planted seriously only from the 1980s, and it took a different path from the rest of the country: the altitude and the cool nights under Mount Falakro suited international varieties, so Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate alongside Greek Assyrtiko and Agiorgitiko. The result is a cluster of ambitious estates within a short drive of each other, several with serious architecture, restaurants and guest rooms, that receive visitors properly rather than grudgingly. Wines from here regularly place at the top of Greek competitions. The setting helps: vineyards on rolling ground with the bare limestone wall of Falakro behind, and the Nestos gorge and Kato Nevrokopi plateau close by.

What you actually see

• The estates - a compact cluster of wineries with tasting rooms.
• The Falakro backdrop - the bare limestone mountain above the vines.
• The international varieties - Bordeaux grapes unusual in Greek plantings.
• The harvest - picking and crushing through September.

When to go

September and October for harvest activity and the best weather; tastings run year-round, though most estates prefer booking. Winter can be cold and grey on this northern plain.

Honest expectations

Visits require a car and therefore a driver who does not taste, and public transport is not practical. Some estates open only by appointment. Drama town itself is pleasant but has few sights.

Nearby

The Aggitis cave river is west; Nestos gorge, Kavala and Philippi lie south and east.