Curated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier
Rhodes has beaches, medieval walls and almost ridiculous amounts of sunshine, but climb toward Mount Attavyros and you’ll find old Athiri vines, deeply colored Amorgiano, fragrant Muscat and a sparkling-wine tradition that deserves way more attention.
At a glance
Wine snapshot
Athiri here can smell like lemon peel, white peach, herbs, pear skin and warm stone, with the mountain-grown versions carrying much more freshness than you’d expect from such a sunny island. Amorgiano moves darker with blackberry, sour cherry, dried herbs and firm tannin, while Muscat brings orange blossom, honey and ripe apricot into the picture.
Also worth a sip
Souma is Rhodes’ traditional grape distillate, produced especially around Embonas, and I kind of love it because it feels like the vineyard refusing to waste anything. Grapes become wine, the remaining material heads toward the still, and suddenly there’s one more thing being poured at the table.
Try it at a winery or distillery in the mountains and ask who made it. The fun versions are the ones attached to an actual family, vineyard or village, especially when somebody starts telling you how their grandfather made his batch and suddenly you’ve been standing there listening for twenty minutes.
Common questions
- What wine is Rhodes known for?
- Athiri here can smell like lemon peel, white peach, herbs, pear skin and warm stone, with the mountain-grown versions carrying much more freshness than you’d expect from such a sunny island. Amorgiano moves darker with blackberry, sour cherry, dried herbs and firm tannin, while Muscat brings orange blossom, honey and ripe apricot into the picture.
- What grapes are grown around Rhodes?
- Athiri, Amorgiano, Muscat White, Muscat di Trani, Mavrothiriko, Assyrtiko.
- Why is Rhodes a notable wine stop?
- Rhodes gives you something fairly rare in the Aegean, old mountain vines, a dedicated PDO for both Athiri and Amorgiano, a separate PDO for sweet Muscat and a real history of sparkling wine production. That’s a lot happening on one island, especially when some of the most interesting vineyards are still tucked into tiny mountain parcels around Attavyros.
- Is Rhodes a wine destination?
- Souma is Rhodes’ traditional grape distillate, produced especially around Embonas, and I kind of love it because it feels like the vineyard refusing to waste anything. Grapes become wine, the remaining material heads toward the still, and suddenly there’s one more thing being poured at the table.
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Nearby winery
C.A.I.R. Rhodes S.A.
Local label terms, decoded
Inside the Rhodes guide
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