The Four Pillars of Greek Wine

More than 300 indigenous varieties, arsenic good arsenic galore planetary grapes, are utilized to make the pantheon of Greek wines. Public Domain

Greece is 1 of the oldest wine-producing regions successful the world.  It has been location to winemaking for much than 6,500 years—ample clip to refine and alteration this past ‘elixir’ into a increasing favourite of sommeliers and vino drinkers worldwide.

By Susan Kostrzewa

The worship of Dionysus, the ancient Greek deity of wine, was wide passim the country, portion Hippocrates appreciated its medicinal qualities and often prescribed it.
At first, vino was produced connected a household oregon communal basis. Still, now, much than 300 indigenous varieties arsenic good arsenic galore planetary grapes, are utilized to make the pantheon of Greek wines. A immense diverseness of styles and flavors tin beryllium recovered from northbound to south, from upland to sea.

Well-structured reddish wines, whites boasting aromatic delicacy and dessert wines with exotic spice and terroir-driven quality — they are each represented successful Greece.

While determination is nary question that delicious varieties similar Malagousia and Savatiano warrant exploration, wines from 4 large grapes exemplify the champion qualities of Greek vino and are readily disposable successful the United States. Versatile and distinctive, immoderate of them volition beryllium an fantabulous prime for your table.

The 4 pillars of Greek wine

Assyrtiko (Ah-seer-tee-ko)

Greece’s astir fashionable vino successful the US, Assyrtiko appeals to fans of dry, focused whites, with its fresh, mineral-driven quality and sea-salt finish.

Assyrtiko was primitively grown successful the volcanic ungraded of the Aegean land of Santorini.

The land is not the lone portion of Greece successful which the assortment is successfully grown. Assyrtiko besides thrives successful mainland areas similar Macedonia (in the north) and Attica (around Athens), wherever the wines are fruitier and softer than their Santorini brethren.

Assyrtiko is versatile successful spirit and tin beryllium utilized for the accumulation of Vinsanto, the unsocial and people saccharine wines that originated from Byzantine times.

Moschofilero (Mos-ko-feel-er-o)

Moschofilero is an exotic, intensely aromatic, achromatic vino with rosé and violet undertones, and fresh, balancing acidity. Though its grapes are pinkish and purple-skinned, the vino is made into a floral, fruity white, which is precise fashionable successful Greece.

Moschofilero’s accepted location is successful north-central Peloponnese, connected the precocious plateau of Mantinia, but it’s wide planted crossed Greece. Most commonly a inactive wine, it besides makes delicious rosé, sparkling and dessert wines that are fantabulous erstwhile enjoyed unsocial oregon paired with seafood oregon Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines.

Even arsenic a inactive array wine, Moschofilero’s expressions vary. Fresh, refined versions travel chiefly from Mantinia, but the assortment has besides gained traction erstwhile made passim the state successful sweeter, lusher styles.

The illustration —low successful alcohol, balanced— means it matches precise good with international, vegetarian and tapas cuisine.

Agiorgitiko (Ay-ee-or-yee-tee-ko)

As a reddish vino variety, Agiorgitiko is simply a chameleon of sorts. Gentle and refined by nature, it lends itself to myriad expressions and styles.

At its simplest, Agiorgitiko is astir apt Greece’s astir approachable reddish and pairs with astir each dish. At its best, it’s a collectible and terroir-driven determination with world-class appeal.

Also known arsenic St. George, Agiorgitiko is typically grown successful Nemea, successful the northeastern Peloponnese. Grown successful six valleys with varying ungraded compositions and microclimates, the “king of the Peloponnese” is favored for its rich, reddish fruit, sour cherry and anisette flavors. It’s sometimes compared to Sangiovese successful style.

Nemea’s clime is hot, but the portion is hilly, truthful grapes payment from higher altitude vineyards and chill nights, lending Agiorgitiko its food-friendly acerb balance. The grape’s popularity has inspired producers to works extracurricular of Nemea, and bully Agiorgitiko is present being grown successful Macedonia, Attica, arsenic good arsenic different parts of the Peloponnese.

Light rosés, fruity, Beaujolais-style reds and “Super Nemean” blends —often with Syrah— entreaty to astir palates. Bolder styles of Agiorgitiko brace good with dishes similar grilled lamb and game, portion much subtle expressions complement delicate dishes similar grilled vegetables and salads (think beets and lentils).

Xinomavro (Ex-seen-o-mahv-ro)

Xinomavro is Greece’s astir classic, cellar-worthy red, and the country’s main play connected the planetary collectible stage.
Like its coveted comparisons, Xinomavro tin beryllium hard to cultivate.

The vino is astir palmy successful the 4 Appellation of Origin of Superior Quality regions of Naoussa, Amyntaion, Rapsani and Goumenissa, but the grape is grown passim Greece.

Xinomavro is truthful unsocial that apical enologists successful the state are processing circumstantial winemaking practices, but the affirmative results are raising eyebrows among adjacent the astir accepted captious circles.

Winemakers negociate the variety’s perchance angular tannins done cautious clonal selection, due vineyard absorption and mean cropping to output multifaceted, robust wines featuring olive, dried-fruit and exotic spice flavors.

Styles alteration from thin and acid-driven to much generous, oak-influenced and extracted.
The assortment is being utilized successful Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet and indigenous grape blends arsenic good arsenic rosés. Xinomavro ages beautifully successful the cellar and it’s not antithetic to find 30-plus-year-old vintages inactive delivering vibrant fruit.

Related: The Cretan Who Made Greek Wines Famous successful Florida