Nemea, The 17 Wine Villages

Greece Peloponnese 24 November 2024 3 min read

Nemea, the 17 villages of the wider region, with more than 40 organized wineries, contributed to making the region one of the most important wine destinations in the Balkans.

The 17 villages delimit the 25,000 acres of the viticultural zone of the famous wine variety Agiorgitiko, OPAP Nemea (Designation of Origin of Superior Quality).

The Agiorgitiko vineyards They constitute 80%, out of the 32,000 acres of viticulture in the wider Nemea region, and are cultivated at an altitude of 250 m. - 850 m., mainly between 250 m. - 500 m.

The 17 villages with the vineyards are as follows:

Nemea, Ancient Nemea, Ancient Kleones (altitude 290 m.), Asprokampos (8 km NE of Lake Stymfalia), Nightingales, Milkman, Daphne (430 m.), Kefalari (the highest at 850 m.), Kastraki, Kutsi, Leontio, Bozikas, About, Fish (828 m.), Titan, Nude (altitude 430 m.), Malandreni or Malandreni (the lowest at 270 m, 16 km from Argos).

From the 17 villages, 15 belong to the Prefecture of Corinth and 2 to the Prefecture of Argolida (Malandreni, Gymno).

The city of Nemea, Prefecture of Corinth (formerly Agios Georgios) is 41 km from Corinth (1/2 hour), 120 km from Athens and 40' from Nafplio.

On the Nemea Town Hall Square his statue has been placed Hercules who struggles with "«Nemean lion»", to remind, according to Greek Mythology, the 1^th labor of Hercules who kills the lion.

Among the sights of Nemea is Archaeological Museum of Nemea and the Archaeological Site of Ancient Nemea, with the Temple of Nemean Zeus.

The Polyphegus Castle (13^th century) or Castle of Saint George or Virgin Mary of the Rock of Nemea (17^th) is a small Frankish fortress, nestled in the rock of Mount Polyphegus, at an altitude of 613 m. approximately 3 km W. of Ancient Nemea. The Polyphegus Castle has been restored by the competent antiquities authority, which has placed information signs. Access to the Castle is via many stone steps, so you should wear athletic shoes (a tiring climb, not accessible to disabled people). Inside the Castle you will also see a small church, an old hermitage, with Byzantine frescoes, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15/8), which is identified with old Monastery of Panagia tou Vrachos (access by stairs).

At the wine restaurant "«seventeen villages» you will find a cellar, with wines from wineries in the area and the Peloponnese, with a tasting room.

The restaurant's 17 dishes are named after the 17 villages of the Agiorgitiko wine-growing zone.

The atmosphere is particularly warm, with dark wooden furniture and nice decoration (Dervenakion 12, Nemea, tel.: 27460 23778.

Restaurant "17 villages"«

At the restaurant "«Wise»", you will find special flavors and wines from the winemakers of the region, Dervenakia, tel.: 27460 23070.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Wine-related events:
Great Days of Nemea, end of August to beginning of September, information Municipality of Nemea..
Information about visitable wineries in the area, wine purchases, tastings:
Nemea Winemakers Association PDO Nemea(SON), 30 Dervenakion, Nemea, tel.: 27460 22478.
Nemea Winery Cooperative (AOSN), 130 Papakonstantinou Avenue, Nemea, tel.: 27460 22210.