Olive oil and olives PDO in Greece: the unassuming cradle of the Mediterranean
PDO olive oil, Greece: 32 designations of origin, including Kalamata, Sitia and Chania… Key figures, exports and growth in a thriving sector
When you think of olive oil, Greece isn’t always the first country that springs to mind… Spain and Italy often steal the limelight. Yet the birthplace of Athena and her thousand-year-old olive trees remains a key player in Europe, with its protected designations that are the envy of many a country.
A small player on the rise
In 2017, Greek oils and fats with a geographical indication (spoiler: it’s almost all olive oil) were worth 54 million euros, accounting for 10 per cent of the European market. Not bad for a country that already exports 44 per cent of its GI-labelled agri-food products abroad!
The 2024 wine classification
By the end of 2024, Greece had 120 products registered under PDO or PGI, 32 of which were olive oil products. Among the stars:
- Kalamata (the oil and black olives that travel further than we do).
- Sitia and Vorios Mylopotamos (Crete in a bottle).
- Kranidi (the Peloponnese in liquid form).
Each designation is a unique blend: climate, Koroneiki olives (the queen of olive groves), and expertise passed down from… well, from a very long time ago.
Did you know?
Feta PDO alone accounted for exports worth 785 million euros in 2024. Proof that even Greek olive oil, delicious as it may be, remains in the shadow of the national cheese. But we’re willing to bet that won’t last, will it?
- 20 olive oils, including Galano Metaggitsiou from Chalkidiki, Apokoronas from Chania, Crete, Arxanes from Heraklion, Crete, Viannos from Heraklion, Crete, Vorios Mylopotamos, Rethymno, Crete; Elaiolado Makris; Exeretiko Partheno Eleolado Trizinia; Exeretiko Partheno Eleolado Thrapsano; Exeretiko Partheno Eleolado Selino, Crete; Kalamata; Kolimvari, Chania, Crete; Kranidi, Argolis; Krokees, Laconia; Lygourio, Asklipio; Messara; Peza, Heraklion, Crete; Petrina, Laconia; Sitia, Lasithi, Crete; Finiki, Laconia; Agoureleo, Chalkidiki (Αγουρέλαιο Χαλκιδικής)
- 12 olives: Elia Kalamatas (Kalamata olives), Konservolia Amfissis (black olives from Amfissa), Konservolia Artas (Black olives from Arta), Konservolia Atalantis (Black olives from Atalanti), Konservolia Rovion (Black olives from Rovies), Konservolia Stylidas (Black olives from Stylida), Throumpa Thassou (Dried olives from Thasos), Throumpa Chiou (Dried olives from Chios), Throumpa Ampadias Rethymnis Kritis (Dried olives from Ampadias, Crete), Konservolia Piliou Volou (Black olives from Pelion, Volos), Prasines Elies Chalkidikis (Green olives from Chalkidiki), Konservolia Kythirion (Black olives from Kythira)