Over the past 15 years the situation has changed. Greek wines have managed to regain their identity after centuries, following improvements in quality that can be described as a " revolution". To this end, the industry has made sizeable investments in modernization- aided by state subsidies for development - transforming Greek wine production plants into some of the modern and highly automated units in the world. At the same time, producers also begun to promote wines of an Appellation d' Origine Controlee ( AOC ) quality, producing new wines made from their own vineyards in specified areas, whose quality were able to control.

This stategy was gradually adopted by wine- grower cooperatives as well; who despite being less organized than their private counterparts, have made a valuable contribution to the revival of Greek vineyards and their enrichment with some of the old varieties. The new image of Greek wines aided by a new generation of small - scale producers, many of them with degrees in viniculture obtained in France and Germany and quite often with previous experience in wine production. An important role in changing the image of Greek wines internationally has been played, apart from the promotional campaigns of the companies themselves, the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO). With long term promotions in a number of countries including Germany, England, France, the U.S., Japan, Scandinavian countries and Canada HEPO has succeeded in making wine experts aware of the great potential and quality of Greek wines.

As more and more well-known wine writers around the world become aware of the individuality of Greek vineyards, they have come to agree that these unique and original flavors could become highly sought- after in the future. In consequence, wine experts mow recommend that Greek wine is worth saving from admixture with foreign varieties to produce blends.

The remains of ancient shipwrecks include a number of highly ornate Greek wine amphorae that clearly bear the stamp of their place of origin. Modern Greece, however, only begun to adopt the Vins de Qualite Produits dans une Region Determinee system in the start of the 1960s. Since then a number of wine- producing zones have been created, often in areas with a long tradition of wine marking, such as Naousa, Nemea, Mantineia and Zitsa. This process was completed before the country joined the European Union in 1981 but, showing considerable lack of foresight, neither the government nor private enterprise nor cooperatives tried to promote and publicize the Greek areas in the years followed. Instead, the industry became locked in a sterile, competitive battle between the various brands and allowed origin to become a secondary consideration.

Greek wines appear to be winning their own market share, especially in restaurants and have become " fashionable " among more affluent consumers. According to figures given by the development ministry per capita consumption of wine in Greece stood at 37 litters a year, which is roughly on a par with levels in the other EU countries.

White wines now account for 75-80 percent of domestic consumption, chiefly taking the share of rose, which has shrunk to 10 percent, while red wines are holding steady at 15 percent. Forecasts for the next few years predict that domestic consumption will show a stong swing toward white wines.

There are at present 27 wins of controlled origin in Greece. Table wines, on the other hand, are distinguished into local wines, traditional wines and brand name wines. Only local wines have the right to use the terms " Ktima" (estate), " monastiri" (monastery), " ambelonas " (vineyard),"Villa " (villa), or " Arhontiko " (mansion). Finally, Greece is the only country that has introduced legislation allowing the use of the term " Cava " on table wines, depending on maturity.