Whilst in Naoussa, we visited the Paros Wine Fair in May 2026. This is an annual wine exhibition that brings together Greek and international wine producers to the tiny fishing village of Naoussa, to the north of the Greek, Cycladic, island of Paros. The event provided the opportunity for tasting of native Greek varietals produced from across the mainland of Greece as well as from different Greek Islands. There were a number of indigenous Greek grape varieties available for tasting including Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, and Malagouzia along with Paros island’s own native varieties of Monemvasia and Mandilaria. There are three Greek Protected Designation of Origins (PDO) on the Cycladic island of Paros in Greece. It is also the only appellation in Greece that allows the blending of white grapes into a red PDO blend. Paros produces distinctive wines grown from ungrafted vines on marble-rich soils.
PDO Paros Red: is made with a co-fermentation of a minimum of 35% Mandilaria grapes blended with up to 65% of the white Monemvasia grape. The Monemvasia helps to soften the robust tannins and acidity of the Mandilaria.
PDO Paros White: must be made from 100% Monemvasia grapes from the island of Paros. The style is dry, with crisp citrus.
PDO Malvasia: established in 2011, is a sweet white wine made of usually 100% Malvasia grapes, however, up to 15% of Assyrtiko can be blended in.
Moriatis Winery, Naoussa, Paros
Whenever we are in Naoussa, at the north of the island of Paros, we always love going to Moriatis Winery and trying their latest releases whilst enjoying the local delicacies over a long, lazy lunch.
Paros Farming Community Co-Op
We visited the Paros Farming Community on the outskirts of the port town of Parikia for a wine tasting, where each wine was paired perfectly with a local artisanal cheese, also made at the Paros farming co-operative.
A wine that stood out was their PFC Pet Nat White as it was really interesting to taste and a little unusual. The wine had been bottled before fermentation had finished, thus creating the Pet Nat bubbles, and was unfiltered. This provided a really interesting tasting experience. Rather than the anticipated ‘light’ sweet, sparkling wine style, this wine displayed more flavour, intensity and body than what we were expecting from a sparkling wine.
