Forty wineries in a high basin of vines between 260 and 800 metres, growing the dark Agiorgitiko grape in red clay and limestone soils — the largest PDO zone in Greece.
Nemea is a high agricultural valley between Corinth and Argos, ringed by mountains, planted almost entirely with vines. It is the largest PDO wine zone in Greece.
The valley grows Agiorgitiko — Greece’s premium native red, dark, soft-tannined, comparable in profile to Merlot or younger Cabernet Franc but with a Mediterranean spice. Forty wineries are scattered across three sub-zones: the lower valley around Nemea town (richer, riper), the high upper valley around Asprokampos (cooler, more elegant), and the chalky middle slopes around Koutsi (the most prized vineyards). Most wineries accept visits with prior booking; several of the larger ones (Gaia, Skouras, Lafkiotis, Palivou, Semeli) have proper tasting rooms with English-speaking hosts. Plan two or three winery visits a day with a long lunch in between — at Sofos in Nemea town or at the Semeli bistro at Koutsi. Combine with the ancient Nemea site (the Zeus sanctuary and the Olympic-era stadium) for a perfect single-day cultural-and-wine programme. Best months are May–June (vines green, weather perfect), September–early October (harvest, energy in the valley). Avoid August (hot, busy, cellar doors close midweek). Stay one or two nights in the valley; longer stays use Nafplio (40 min) as a base.
A two-night Nemea stay.
At Koutsi, open all year by appointment.
Two hours at Sofos (Kir-Athena) on Iroon Square — the serious wine list in town.
At Malandreni, twenty-five minutes south over the Argolid line. Second tasting, lighter.
Stadium, sanctuary, small museum.
Smaller and family-run — Lafkiotis at Ancient Kleonai, or Palivou at Ancient Nemea, whose wine bar is an old railway carriage at the top of the vineyard.
Within forty minutes.
Five minutes from the wineries — Zeus sanctuary and stadium. Detail on the Ancient Nemea page.
Thirty minutes south — Bronze-Age citadel.
Forty minutes north-east — the great fortress. Detail on the Acrocorinth page.
Forty-five minutes south — Venetian harbour town.
Tell us a little about the trip you want — pace, who's coming, how you'd like to spend your mornings. We'll build the days.
