Retsina reshaped
Retsina is a part of Greece’s heritage. I am using the term heritage, as it refers to “something inherited from the past”. Wine with added resin has been made in Greece for about 2500 years.…
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Nemea, Santorini and Naoussa are acclaimed by wine lovers. The best known Greek wine appellation however is Mavrodaphne of Patras – known to the masses for its fortified, sweet port-style red wines. It is one…
Greek wine history #3
The renaissance of Greek wine came late in the 20th century. The Second World War left a nation immersed in poverty and people started moving to the big cities, trying their luck for a better…
Local Greek wine market
The collapse of the local Greek wine market is picking up in speed. While at first the high end segment was hit hard, prices now erode quickly in the middle section. Greece’s largest supermarket chain,…
The Outcast
Indigenous grape varieties from Greece are unique and authentic. Who needs Greek wines made from international grape varieties? Why bother to highlight those Greek producers that do excel with non-Greek varieties? My recent post “The…
Boutari Iouliatiko 2004
The Boutari Iouliatiko is a sweet wine made from the indigenous Cretan red variety “Liatiko”. It ripens early and matures in July (hence the VII on label, reference to the 7th month of the year).…
Manousakis Winery
If I had to name just one winery from Greece that defines multiculturalism while staying true to its Greek roots, it would have to be the Manousakis winery. Ted Manousakis was born and raised in…
Greek wine history #2
In 146 BC, Greece became part of the Roman Empire and, by the 1st century AD, there was a complete power shift from Athens to Rome, especially as far as trade was concerned. Greek wines…
Greek taverna and wine
Tavernas in Greece offer affordable, delicious and authentic food. Unfortunately the accompanying wines usually share only one, either the “affordable” or the “delicious”, attribute. Mediocre jug wines are the rule (affordable). If one is…
Tough issues
I am currently spending some quality time with my family, but wanted to add my thoughts on some tough issues in regards to current developments within the Greek wine industry in this video.