When you think of Greece ’s contributions to civilization , you might reckon of commonwealth and philosophy , literature and computer architecture – but credibly not vino . Yetwineis deeply rooted in Hellenic culture . Ancient Greeks weigh it a gift from the god Dionysus ( who , judging from the festivals held in his honor , never heard the phrase " salute responsibly " ) . Wine even facilitate the learned debates of the famed Greek symposia , where it was diluted to raise stirring without inebriation .
Wine was an economic force for Greece as well , exported throughout the Mediterranean . By 400 B.C. , the Greeks had developed appellations of origin , a readiness of measure that define unlike varieties of wine , to protect the quality of the product and the industry ’s integrity .
So what materialize ? War . Conquest . Insurrection . Christianity naturalise the more epicurean practices involve wine-coloured . Yet it was Christian monks who sustained the winemaking tradition for 400 year under the Ottoman Empire , when Moslem rulers would have permit the artistry die on the vine or tax it to death ( drinking alcohol violates Muslim law ) . In the first one-half of the 20th C , two world wars and Greece ’s own civil war confine winemaking to small vineyards bring forth countrified wines for local markets .
Today Greek wine-coloured are enjoying a resurgence at family and growing interest afield . Department of State - of - the - fine art wine maker utilise forward-looking techniques of viniculture learned from wine maker in Bordeaux and scientists at University of California - Davis . Greece , together with the European Union , has resurrected the appellation of origin , now cry saved Geographical Status . Only wines from native grape restrict . Criteria include the ALT of the vinery , maximum payoff per hectare , maturate clip and winery location , and dessert wines are further defined by the process used to dulcorate them . As Greece ’s economical crisis wither domesticated sales , vintners are making a concerted cause to introduce Americans to their honorable bottlings via retail merchant and restaurants .
So if you ’re unfamiliar with Greek wines , now is the meter to get acquainted . To help you get started , we ’ll commence at the scholarly roots of the subject : the geography and ground scientific discipline of Greece , and how they determine the country ’s main wine - producing region .
Greek Wine-Producing Regions
Agriculturally , Greece is no Garden of Eden . Its geography is mountainous and its growing time of year myopic . Yet vino grapeshot prosper there . The rocky stain drain well . Overall coolheaded temperatures keep grapes small . The resulting cutis - to - pulp proportion produces in high spirits levels of tannins , which age into refreshing tartness . Cabernet Sauvignon and other external variety are sometimes total to smooth the native grapes ' jumpy edges .
vinery cut up from the versant are of necessity thick . They produce distinctive vintage due to the microclimates found at different altitudes and in different regions . For instance , a vinery in the fundamental district of Nemea located at 1,000 feet ( 300 beat ) may get milder winters and produce more mellow grapes than a neighboring vineyard at 1,500 substructure ( 450 meters ) .
We set out on our survey of some of Greece ’s master vino - producing regions in the North with Macedonia . This landlocked area experiences comfortably warm summers and decidedly cold winters . The grunge of okay clay and limestone grow two dominant grape vine varieties : the dour , tannin - rich xynomavro ( zee - NO - mahv - ro ) and its sweet cousin , negoska .
further in the south is the central region of the Peloponnese . The filth here is mostly rocky , although fine , sandy alluviation collect in the valleys . The more moderate Peloponnese climate produces more tempered grapes . agiorgitiko ( ah - yor - YEE - ti - kayo ) is honored among Hellenic oenophiles , phone " Leo ’s parentage " for its recondite red colour . It appears in many a dry wine . In line , the light flush moschofilero ( mos - co - FEE - lupus erythematosus - ro ) is favored for dry white wines . Meanwhile , the red malagousia and blanched rhoditis are more citrusy , but still not angelical .
Sprawled across the Mediterranean are the Hellenic islands , including Crete , Rhodes , Samos and Santorini . The grime here is volcanic , fertile in ash and slightly heavy than that of the mainland . It holds piss best , maintain the vines in this ironic clime . The islands ' mild winter and hot summers produce sweet-scented grapeshot . They are prime producer of muscat , a grape used to make raisins . However , their prevailing grape , assyrtiko ( ah - SEER - te - knockout ) , is widely conceive the fine Greek variety for making dry white wine .
With so many region and varieties , how can you get hold the best Greek wine-coloured for you and your ally to test ? Check the next page for tips on choosing a Hellenic wine .
Types of Greek Wines
Knowing about the democratic varieties of Grecian grape will help you opt the type of wine-coloured to try . It helps to compare them to more familiar external counterparts . For instance , if a Burgundy is your hearty Red River of choice , try a xinomavro . lovesome of merlot ? You might be interested in an agiorgitiko . On the other helping hand , if you desire a light white wine like a riesling , an assyrtiko from Santorini might disport . You might get down with wines that blend Greek and outside grape to help oneself you learn the finical tone of the Greek varieties .
Also learn to recognize the label names of the most respected winemakers and their vineyards . For example , the Boutari family is one of the founding families of mod Greek viticulture . They ’ve become something of an empire , the Boutari Group , with six winery . Their labels bear their own name or that of Kir - Yianni , one of their smaller belongings . The equally august Mercouri Estates was base in 1860 . Its signature tune time of origin still uses the Italian cultivar imported in 1870 .
Newer faces on the scene include Evangelos Gerovalliou and George Skouras . Both vintners are hump for their impertinent overture to using Greek - develop , French - origin varieties . Look for labels carry their name . vino from Carras Estate wines also show Gerovalliou ’s influence : He was its chief vintner until 1999 .
vino are usually chosen to go with sure foods , of course . you could serve Greek wines with any type of food for thought , applying the general rule of pairing lighter wines with lighter - flavored foods and more self-asserting vintages with stronger - flavored mantrap . However , Hellenic wines are a natural married person for Greek culinary art . A dry whitened moscofilero Libra oil colour - fertile appetizers like calamari and baked feta cheeseflower . A more complex independent dish aerial , like the intriguing mixture of Allium cepa , garlic , Solanum melongena , lamb , cinnamon and bechamel sauce in a traditional moussaka , calls for a full - corporate red like a xynomavro . Pair a vinsanto or other dessert wine-coloured with a Grecian spicery bar .
Greek Wines: Lots More Information
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