The ancient Greeks celebrated wine so much that it was represented in religious icons and it was included often in the writing of famous Greek philosophers.
Some people think of Santorini and the Greek islands when they bring to mind Greek wines. Others might know only retsina, the pine-infused variety that was mass-produced in the mid-20th century. However, Greece’s wines are making a comeback. there is a lot of diversity in wine-growing regions in Greece, and among these varieties are red wines that you definitely need to taste.
Agiorgitiko
Agiorgitiko is native to the Peloponnese in southern Greece, and the name literally means “having to do with Saint George.” It is a red varietal with flavors of berry and nutmeg, and bitter herbs. The best pairing for Agiorgitiko is red meat, stews, lamb, and hearty pasta dishes. One of the best places for Dutch expats in Greece to order Agiorgitiko is pontiki.nl.
Xinomavro
Xinomavro is a noble red grape that comes from northern Greece. The name is 2 words together – “xino” meaning “acidic” and “mavro”, meaning “black”. The grape is often compared to the Italian Nebbiolo and is made into dry red wines with good personality and acidity. Naousa is famous for its Xinomavro wines, which gain complexity when they age. The best pairing is meat stews and tomato-based sauces.
Vinsanto
Vinsanto is a dessert wine that is from Santorini. The grapes used in Vinsanto are Assyrtiko and Aidani grapes. Take note that this wine has no related to the Win Santo from Tuscany. The grapes are first sun-dried before being fermented. The wine is then oak-aged for 2 years, and the result is a sweet and dense wine with rich aromas. The flavor is honeyed and full-bodied. One popular pairing is Kopanisti.
Moschomavro
The name “Moschomavro” is a compound of 2 Greek words. Moschos means muscat and mavro means black. The grape can be made into a red wine or a rosé. It is rare to find compared to other wines in Greece and its home is in the central and northwest areas of Greece. Moschomavro is dry, fruity, and has a lot of blackberry flavor. The best pairings are a meze of Greek olives and cheeses.
Mavrodaphne
Mavrodaphne translates to “black laurel” and is grown in the Peloponnese and in Kephalonia. It is very sweet and has high tannins, so some people compare it to a port wine, and they might pair it with a dessert. At the same time, for those who don’t like sweet wines, some dry varieties of Mavrodaphne are not on the market. An ideal pairing for dryer Mavrodaphne wines is game, lamb, tomato-based sauces, and mushrooms.
Looking for a crash course in Greek wines? We recommend Dutch author Frederiek Lommens’ ‘Druiven en droesem, een reis langs Griekse wijngaarden’ (2011). The book is the author’s personal journey that takes her from the very north, near the border of Turkey, to the southern island of Crete. She goes to the smallest villages and highest mountains in Greece to taste wines from all over the country. Lommens’ travel blog shares what she learned about the political, cultural, and physical landscape of Greece as it relates to wines.
