Top 5 Greek Wines
Ancient Greeks were one of the foremost producers of wine in their day and, along with the Romans, responsible for spreading vines to much of Europe. While the modern Greek wine industry was tainted by bad retsina for a long time, today Greek wines, and at least one Greek varietal grown locally, are starting to become popular. Here are some Greek wines to look out for.
Assyrtiko
Assyrtiko is one of Greece’s most popular white grapes, planted all over the country though the best is said to come from its home island, Santorini. It’s lean and minerally, like a good Chablis, often with a hint of citrus or tropical fruit. The best has a slight salty bitterness on the finish, which I love. Jim Barry Wines make a great version in the Clare Valley.
Malagousia
Malagousia is a white grape that was thought to be extinct until the 1970s when it was resurrected by a winery in northern Greece. It’s aromatic with a complex, viognier-like, flavour of stone fruit and citrus blossom bound into a vibrant finish.
Xinomavro
Xinomavro is sometimes called the ‘Barolo of Greece’, for its similarity to nebbiolo with notes of dark cherry, liquorice, spice and dried tomato. Its high-tannin and good acidity (the name means acid-black in Greek) means that, like a Barolo, it also ages well.
Muscat of Samos
Muscat with its perfumed grapey notes is used for some of Greece’s best dessert wines, especially on the island of Samos. Samos Vin Doux is made from muscat blanc à petits grains (called moschato aspro, white muscat, locally), that’s fortified with muscat spirit before the fermentation’s finished to give deliciously complex marmalade, lychee, and Turkish delight flavours.
Retsina
So what is this drink that gave Greek wine such a bad name? A specialty of Central Greece, retsina is a white or rosé wine, made from a range of different grapes, infused with pine sap. The aromas of linseed oil and lime peel are loved by some and loathed by others, as are the typical apple and rose flavours and slightly piney, salty finish. It’s believed to have originated from the ancient practice of sealing wine amphorae with pine sap.
FAQ
What is retsina?
A specialty of Central Greece, its white or rosé wine (which can be made from a variety of grapes) infused with pine sap. The aromas of linseed oil and lime peel are loved by some and loathed by others, as are the typical apple and rose flavours and slightly piney, salty finish.
How did Retsina originate?
Retsina is believed to have originated from the ancient practice of sealing wine amphorae with pine sap.
What does retsina taste like?
Retsina has aromas of linseed oil and lime peel that are loved by some and loathed by others, as are its typical apple and rose flavours and slightly piney, salty finish.
Are any Greek grapes grown in Australia?
Jim Barry Wines has plantings of assyrtiko n the Clare Valley, from which they produce a very well-regarded wine.
What’s the most famous Greek dessert wine?
Muscat with its perfumed grapey notes is used for some of Greece’s best dessert wines, especially on the island of Samos. Samos Vin Doux is made from muscat blanc à petits grains (called moschato aspro, white muscat, locally), that’s fortified with muscat spirit before the fermentation’s finished to give deliciously complex marmalade, lychee, and Turkish delight flavours.
