My Grandpa’s Meteora Local Wine and Tsipouro

Our region has a long tradition of producing exceptional Meteora local wines. I still vividly remember my grandpa in his small, primitive distillery every October gathering with many other villagers, all close friends, and relatives in Kastraki village to produce his Meteora wine and Tsipouro. The winemaking of the year was considered to be a unique opportunity, especially for men, to socialize, away from home’s troubles and wives’ murmurs; to sit around the big fires underneath the huge cauldrons, boiling and distilling for days the year’s grapes to make Tsipouro.

My grandpa sometimes used to stay up for many nights, caring for the whole process. I remember his small distillery, quite dark, filled with the smoke of the burning wood mixed with the heavy smell of anise and the boiling grapes. It was an excuse for men to drink, sing, joke, and feast.

“Don’t worry, kids, the filthier your feet are, the better wine you make!”

As kids, we had the privilege to participate in the old traditional ways of winemaking, squashing, and crushing the grapes with our bare feet. We were thrown inside some big old oak barrels along with tens of wasps and bees, with the task of crushing the grapes. I can hear my grandpa’s loud laugh as he used to stand aside to proudly watch his ecstatic grandchildren dancing half-sunk in the grapes, like true worshipers of the god Dionysos!

And then he’ll take a serious look on his face to say, “Don’t worry, kids, the filthier your feet become, the better wine I’ll make!” As I look back, I think we were probably the last generation of kids to honor the old gods. Those days are long gone now, or maybe not.

Meteora Local Wines

The area around Meteora is still full of vineyards, and many people carry on the long-held tradition of wine and tsipouro production. For those who don’t know anything about Tsipouro, it is a locally produced liqueur made out of grapes with the addition of anise that gives it a distinctive sweet flavor and a deep white color once you mix it with water or ice. Meteora is located right on the edges of the great plain of Thessaly, Greece’s largest unified lowland area. On the west, the Pindos mountain range and on the east, Ηassia Mountains almost surround the plain of Thessaly, especially Meteora, where extensive vineyards exist today.

The main characteristics of these Thessalian vineyards are that most are located near beautiful natural landscapes and well-known tourist attractions, making wine tourism in Thessaly particularly attractive. The Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) Meteora wines are primarily produced in the northwestern part of Thessaly, in the grape-growing region that is north and around Meteora, Kastraki, and Kalabaka, with Theopetra Cave and its archeological site in the south.

Most local taverns and restaurants serve mostly local wines. Check the wine list and taste a Meteora local wine.

Loudas Winehouse

One of the finest representatives of Meteora’s wine production is the Loudas family and their exquisite wines. “Loudas Winehouse” is an established family winery located on the east slopes of Koziakas Mount, just 3 km west of Meteora at a village called Diava. The winery is run by two young people, Konstantinos Loudas and his wife, Zaharoula, who share their passion and love for a high-quality winery. The family’s pursuit of viniculture started sometime at the beginning of the previous century, by cultivating the first owned acres for private and commercial use.

Keeping up with family traditions, a modern winery and distillery were created in 2006 to highlight the local varieties in a modern winemaking way. You may search for more information on their site, where you will find relevant info for some of the most essential wine varieties they cultivate. Loudas’ family and their winery aren’t oriented towards mass wine production, nor do they ever wish to do so. Instead, they are focusing entirely on a pursuit to produce year after year high-quality wines through the respect for the Greek cultivating methods and the pure enjoyment of the whole winemaking process.

One of our favorite wines, the Loudas family produces the “Kokkino Ampeli”, a red dry table Meteora wine, aged from Xinomavro, Syrah, and Merlot. “Kokkino Ampeli” was the name of the location where the vineyard exists. It’s an intense red with purple hues, aromas of red fruit and tobacco with leather, and an aftertaste of roasted nuts. We love this wine to accompany delicious grilled lamb chops. Another excellent white wine the family produces is the Sauvignon Blanc Dry White, with a shiny yellow-green color, a rich body, a fruity aroma, and a long finish.

The fragrance has the presence of tropical fruits like grapefruit, mango, and actinolite, and together with its distinctive acidity, they compose a superb wine, with a strong aroma and a long aftertaste. It goes well with white meat, and its acidity allows it to go well even with fatty varieties of cheeses and dishes. Loudas Winery is located next to Diava village. Near the central square of the town, there is an area called “Platania”, a place with giant old maple trees. In the thick shade of these massive trees, you’ll find a couple of lovely traditional taverns offering exquisite grilled meat selections! The ideal place for a short getaway, especially on a hot summer day.

Domain Liakou Winery

The winery Domaine Liakou is another fine representative of Meteora’s long wine-making tradition, located at an altitude of 470m. You will find it driving some 24 km north of Meteora on a very scenic road leading from the town of Kalabaka to Gavros village.

The winery makes the best possible use of the grapes grown in both the vineyards of the Domaine and those belonging to their associates in the Meteora region, located no further than 3 km from the Domaine Liakou winery. Our favorite Domaine Liakou wine is called “Iera Monopatia” or “Holy Paths”. This deep red wine is produced from Syrah and Merlot grape varieties, aged 12 months in French oak barrels.

Robust, with rich vanilla and sweet spices aromas, it has a balanced, round body and a long aftertaste. It is an ideal accompaniment to grilled and stewed meat, spicy flavors, yellow cheese, and desserts. Another favorite wine is “The Asproparis”, produced from a Greek grape variety called Malagouzia. This white wine has a soft golden yellow color, delicate aromas of white flesh fruits and lemon blossoms, a fruity mouth, and a well-structured, long finish.

The Liakou winery has a nice area for wine tasting, always accompanied by a selection of delicious local white and yellow cheeses. Undoubtedly, this is definitely one of my favorite Metora wines!

Dare to Go off the Beaten Tourist Paths

If you decide to visit “Domain Liakou winery,” you should not miss the chance to see the chapel of St Nikolas, next to Gavros village. The chapel is made inside a cave on a cliff similar to the rocks of Meteora. If you visit the village of Gavro, you will be amazed to realize that the rock complex of Meteora extends to a much wider area than what is widely known. Park your car in the central square of the picturesque village of Gavros, and from there it’s a short hike of no more than 20 minutes to the chapel of St. Nikolas. The views of the village and the entire surrounding area are just breathtaking!!!

Why not join us for an unforgettable “Food and Wine Tour of Meteora,” where you’ll have the opportunity to taste exquisite wines sourced from the region’s finest vineyards. As you savor each unique flavor, you’ll also enjoy a delightful array of locally produced dishes that highlight the rich culinary heritage of Meteora.

Book our “Food and Wine tour of Meteora” and taste exquisite wines accompanied by locally produced dishes.