Savatiano is a classic and probably the most important white wine variety in Greece and is present in many growing regions. Its origin remains obscure to this day; the name may be called Saturday - but that is also just a guess. The grape variety, which sprouts very late and only matures after a long period of time, is the most important variety for Greece's special wine specialty, the resinous wine Retsina, in which it is sometimes blended with the Assyrtiko variety. Retsina accounts for about ten percent of Greece's total wine production. The Savatiano is insensitive to drought stress, which makes it particularly suitable for cultivation in warm and dry Greece. It is also fairly resistant to powdery mildew and downy mildew, which distinguishes it positively from many other grape varieties and causes less trouble for the grower. In addition, it also tends to produce high returns. The largest Savatiano vineyards can be found in central Greece and the Peloponnese, but also in Macedonia or on the island of Kefalonia. The grape variety is not known outside of Greece.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Aspro, Cephalone, Dombrena Apri, Domraine Aspri, Doumbraina Aspri, Doympraiina Leyki, Condoura, Dmvrena Aspri, Doumprena Apri, Kontoura Lefki, Doubrena Lefki, Doumpraina Lefki, Koudura Aspri, Kountoura Aspri, Perachorites, Perachoritiko, Perachoritico, Perachoritis, Perahortico, Ntomprena, Tsoumprena Aspre, Sabates, Sabbathiano, Savvathiano, Sabbatiano, Savvatiano, Savvatiano Perachoritiko, Tsoumpraina Lefki, Tsoumprena, Sakeiko, Sakeico, Stamatiano, Ntomprena Safeiko
