Investigation of the Combined Impact of Location and Processing on the Quality Characteristics of Commercial Malagousia Wines from Northern Greece

Malagousia represents one of the most promising white native Greek grapevine varieties, producing wines of excellent quality. This study aimed to explore the quality characteristics of Malagousia wines from Northern Greece (Macedonia and Thessaly regions) and evaluate the impact of location and processing. We hypothesized that processing can exceed the terroir effect on most compositional traits. To verify this hypothesis, 28 commercial single-varietal Malagousia wines were chosen, varying in location, processing, and vintage. Wines were examined for alcohol content, pH, color, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, elemental composition, and sensory attributes. There was a significant variation in the parameters measured among the wine samples depending on the processing applied, such as skin contact, lees aging, and barrel maturation. While aging on lees affected antioxidant activity and aroma complexity, wines aged in oak or acacia barrels displayed higher phenolic content. Common sensory descriptors included citrus (such as lemon and lime), chamomile, and peach, with some wines exhibiting unique notes like caramel or peppermint. Cluster and Principal Component analyses showed distinct clusters based on winemaking methods and, to a lesser degree, place of origin. The results highlight Malagousia’s varietal potential and the significance of carefully managed processing in expressing stylistic and terroir-driven complexity.