Wine is one of the oldest
products of the Greek earth. The vine is basic to Greece’s agricultural
traditions and it has always flourished in the same geographical area as wheat
and olive trees, making it thus an agricultural trinity whose roots are lost in
time. Currently, the wine industry is vibrant and progressive. The country
produces wines with great regional diversity; that is why island wines are
easily distinct from mainland Greek wines or those deriving from mountainous
regions.
Arguably, the most promising
aspect of the entire Greek wine-making landscape is the country’s singular
range of indigenous grapes. There are more than 300 local grape varieties that
are exclusive to Greece. Most of them have maintained the same name and
reputation since antiquity. These lend to a specific, unique identity to Greek
wines and a point of differentiation, which is their greatest selling point. Nevertheless,
international grape varieties have also adapted well to the Greek growing
environment. Greece offers an excellent range of varietal wines made from
international grapes as well as some beguiling blends with native grapes.
Greek wines are food friendly.
Wine has always been part of the Greek table and an integral part of Greek
gastronomy, due to their aromatic qualities; however, many are also to be drunk
as aperitifs.
The Greek white varieties display
an array of floral and fruity aromas with crisp, clean, mineral flavours. They
have wonderful acidity that goes well with a variety of international cuisines.
Producers largely support the new trend away from the over-oaked whites that
have dominated the international wine scene.
The red varieties show character
and are not overly manipulated. The native red varieties combine fruit and
earthy aromas with firm acidities that lend themselves to the production of
many different styles of wine that range from fresh, pleasing, aromatic reds
and roses to extraordinarily complex, full bodied red wines with long aging
potential.
Greeks have been producing world
class dessert or sweet wines since ancient times and continue to produce
outstanding dessert wines that rival other well known wines from around the
globe. Therefore we can observe that there is something new to be discovered in
the world’s oldest wine-making tradition; it is thus interesting to see that
many supermarkets and restaurants now sell wines which are produced in Greece.
Some of the most famous Greek
wines are: Assyrtiko, Athiri, Roditis, Moschofilero, Aghiorgitiko,
Mavrodaphne.
