“Today, the appellation of Nemea City is the most important red wine”

The most widespread in all of Greece.

In Greek mythology, King Lycurgus and Queen Eurydice ruled Nemea City. It was famous in Greek myth as the home of the Nemean Lion, whom the hero Hercules killed. The whole world knows it as the place where the infant Opheltes, lying on a bed of parsley, was killed by a serpent while his nurse fetched water for the Seven on their way from Argos to Thebes. The Seven founded the Nemean Games in his memory. For that reason, at the games, the crown of victory was made of parsley and the judges wore black robes as a sign of mourning. Nemean Games took place from 573 BC, or earlier, at The Sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea City.

Three columns of the temple of the 4th century BC have stood since their construction. Also, the archaeologists reconstructed 2 more in 2002.  Archaeologists excavated the site around the temple, including the great altar, bath, and hotel.
An Archaic period temple stands on the site, of which only a foundation wall is still visible. Archaeologists recently discovered the stadium of Nemea City. It is notable for its well-preserved vaulted entrance tunnel, dated to about 320 B.C., with ancient graffiti on the walls.

The Battle of the Nemea River

In 394 BC Sparta and her allies the Achaians, Eleians, Mantineians, and the Tegeates fought against a coalition of Boetians, Euboeans, Athenians, Corinthians, and Argives. Their battle was known as the Battle of Nemea River.

This was to be the last clear-cut victory that Sparta enjoyed. The tactics were similar to all other Greek hoplite battles. Except that when the armies were arranged, with the Spartans having the customary honor of being on the right, the army drifted right as it advanced. It was not good for the Spartan allies, as it exposed the soldiers to a flanking attack, but it allowed the Spartans to use their superior coordination and discipline to roll up the flank of the Athenians, who were stationed on the opposite of them.

The result of the battle was a victory for Sparta, even though her allies on the left suffered significant losses. This willingness to accept losses on the left flank for a flanking position on the right was a dramatic change from typical conservative hoplite military tactics.

Wine region

Located in the Peloponnese next to the new City of Nemea, approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Corinth, it is the region that was first noted for its winemaking by Homer who called it Ampelóessa, “full of vines”. Today, the appellation of Nemea is the most important red wine AOC of southern Greece and arguably of all of Greece. The indigenous Greek Agiorgitiko grape is used. It produces wines famous for their deep red color with violet and blue hues, complex aroma, and long, velvety palate.