Pizza Rosés from Northern and Southern Greece

Two rosés, the same idea: Syrah in the lead, a Greek variety alongside, both from the 2025 vintage, both at 13.5% alcohol, both darker than one commonly expects a rosé to be. One comes from the far south of Greek viticulture, from Crete, the other from the far north, from Drama. Pizza rosé is my name for this sort of thing: robust, uncomplicated rosés that can handle tomato, cheese and herbs without immediately buckling.

The Fair Difference

Crete and Drama are the two ends of Greek viticulture; you cannot get much further apart within the country. In fairness, one difference has to be named: the Cretan brings a genuinely autochthonous island variety with Mandilaria. The wine from Drama uses Agiorgitiko, which is grown all over Greece today but originates from the Peloponnese, from the area around Corinth, more precisely from Nemea. In the northern Greek wine, the Greek variety is itself an incomer.

The Prinos Rosé from Crete

The **Prinos Rosé 2025** from Diamantakis Winery consists of 70% Syrah and 30% Mandilaria, bottled as PGI Crete. The family winery was founded in 2007 by three brothers and is based in Kato Asites in the eastern foothills of Psiloritis; the parcels lie at 350 to 550 metres on limestone. “Prinos”, incidentally, is the Greek word for the kermes oak, a drought-resistant tree of the Cretan mountains, and the wine belongs to the estate's entry-level range.

In the glass it is dark, but shades towards orange. On the nose it comes across as decidedly red-fruited and very inviting, with a small touch of caramel. On the palate it is very creamy, almost oily. I miss a little acidity, it is a touch too round, shows slightly oxidative notes, plenty of caramel and a small herbal streak. The white Prinos 2025 from Malvasia di Candia Aromatica and Chardonnay pleased me greatly with 91 points; measured against that, the rosé is somewhat plainer.

The Gennima Psychis Rosé from Drama

The **Gennima Psychis Rosé 2025** from Estate Manolesakis combines 60% Syrah with 40% Agiorgitiko, bottled as PGI Drama. At the European Red & Rosé Wine Contest Strasbourg 2026, the first edition of this competition, it took gold. The estate is based in Adriani near Drama and harvests at night as a matter of principle, so that the grapes arrive cool in the cellar; the rosé spends two months on the fine lees and sees no wood.

Its deep colour is more apparent than in the Prinos. On the nose it is knitted a little cooler, with somewhat more mint, and there is also a small touch of blueberry. On the palate, then, a good, gripping acidity; the tannin is coarsely chalky. The analysis supports the impression: 6.05 grams of acidity per litre here against 4.95 in the Prinos, and that is exactly where I miss it. That the vines stand on clay soil with small embedded limestone fragments fits the picture rather neatly, at the very least.

Verdict, a Question of Style, and Context

The finish is medium-length in both wines, and I would drink both now. I credit the Gennima Psychis with a little more ageing potential; one could also wait another year there. It is a very well-made rosé, simply one with a few rough edges, not quite so polished. For me that is 87 points, the Prinos gets 86. The gap is one point, no more, and it remains a question of style: anyone who prefers readily drinkable, simple elegance may actually enjoy the Prinos more.

For context: in 2025, Crete sits at 7.5, above its long-term median of 6.5, and Drama at 8.0, above its 7.0, so the northern wine comes from the slightly better year. Anyone wanting more rosé from Diamantakis will find it in the house's top rosé, the Diamantopetra Rosé 2025 from pure Liatiko, 89 points from me. At Manolesakis, the Gennima Psychis line sits consistently at this level: the white 2025 from Sauvignon Blanc and Assyrtiko came in at 87, the red 2022 from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Limnio at 86. The rosé is therefore no outlier, but house standard.

In terms of price, too, both stay in uncomplicated territory: the Prinos costs around 8 euros in Greece, the Gennima Psychis around 11 euros in Greece. For wines that one opens now and does not interrogate at length, that is very reasonable.

So these are my two pizza rosés from northern and southern Greece: one that flatters, and one that grips. The pizza may choose whom it would rather have at the table.

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