Greek vineyards "fading into the past"

The area of ​​vineyards in Greece is shrinking – in the last decade alone, production areas, orchards, have shrunk by 65,000 hectares.

Greek vineyard area has declined significantly in 2021 despite new plantings on 6,300 hectares per year, as indicated in data recently sent to the commission by the Department of Grape Wines and Spirits of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

The area of ​​Greek vineyards currently stands at 636,965 ha, according to regional census data, representing an increase of 0.28%, i.e. 1,759 ha compared to 2020 (635,205 ha). However, the issuance of new “planting licenses” is declining, corresponding to approximately 6,300 hectares per year. Between 2020 and 2021, there is a relative reduction in production agricultural land by about 2000 ha.

In an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Director of the Central Cooperative Union of Winemakers (KEOSOE) Panagiotis Kordopatis emphasized that the main reason for the reduction in the area of ​​Greek vineyards is “the economic indicators of viticulture, given the low prices for grapes, each time the prices are the same as at the beginning 1990s”.

Another reason, he says, is “the large average age of the winegrowers, combined with the succession of vineyard owners, as well as the law of inheritance, due to which the vineyards are divided into small and economically unprofitable plots for production.”

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