Why this wine matters
More than a famous label.
Xinomavro is naturally high in acidity and tannin and can age in a way that often reminds drinkers of Nebbiolo, making it a valuable reference point in the 366.
Markovitis Winery · Naoussa, Macedonia
Xinomavro
Xinomavro · sour cherry · tomato leaf · herbs · high acid · firm tannin
Markovitis Xinomavro is a traditional Naoussa benchmark for one of Greece’s most distinctive red grapes.
Country
Greece
Region
Naoussa, Macedonia
Appellation
Naoussa PDO
Grapes
Xinomavro
Style
Red
Realistic spend
£25–£30
Budget band: £20–£35
Best moments
birthdaydinner partysunday lunchgifttasting night
A savoury Naoussa benchmark for tasting nights, winter food and adventurous birthdays.
How it is made
The decisions behind the style.
The estate works traditionally, with long maceration and maturation designed to preserve the grape’s savoury character rather than soften it into a generic ripe red.
What does it taste like?
The shape of the wine.
Sour cherry and red fruit meet dried herbs, tomato leaf and earthy spice, with firm tannin and a long savoury finish.
Body4/5
Acidity5/5
Tannin5/5
Sweetness0/5
Oak influence2/5
Freshness5/5
Aroma5/5
Serve it well
Serve around 16°C and decant younger bottles.
If this wine were human…
The old soul
If Xinomavro were human, it would be patient, layered and suspicious of anything described as “instant”.
substantialsharp-mindedstrong-willedunfussy
Does any of this sound suspiciously familiar?
Patient, layered and suspicious of anything described as “instant”. You are capable of appearing very relaxed while maintaining several quite exact standards.
At dinner, you know when the table needs another bottle and when it needs coffee instead. Secretly, you enjoy being underestimated until the second half of the evening.
In short: patient, layered and suspicious of anything described as “instant”. xinomavro energy, translated into a person.
Purely for fun — this is the wine’s fictional personality, not a psychological reading of yours.
What to eat with it
And the cheese?
No dead ends.
Start with this wine and move straight into cheese, or build a whole tasting around it.
Keep exploring
There are 365 more wines where this came from.
Research sources
This profile is researched against producer or similarly authoritative material. Vintage-specific details are kept separate from the permanent wine identity.