Winemaker Notes
A lovely aromatic wine from Northern Greece, near Mt Olympus. Pale lemon color, and crystal clear, its nose is dominated by rose petals, lemon, and notes of vanilla. Acidity is evident in the palate, while the medium body make this a well defined white wine with nice structure. The medium finish is precise and fruity. Great on its own, but also excellent with green salads, chicken or pork on the grill.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Grown in an organically farmed vineyard of clay and flint soils and vinified in stainless steel, this is a refreshing style of malagousia, combining the variety’s hallmark silky texture with a crisp crunch of barely-ripe peach fruit. It’s less floral than many versions, accenting savory notes of pink peppercorn, chervil and chalk instead—mouthwatering details when there’s fresh fish for dinner.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
A picturesque Mediterranean nation with a rich wine culture dating back to ancient times, Greece has so much more to offer than just retsina. Between the mainland and the country’s many islands, a wealth of Greek wine styles exists, made mostly from Greece’s plentiful indigenous varieties. After centuries of adversity after Ottoman rule, the modern Greek wine industry took off in the late 20th century with an influx of newly trained winemakers and investments in winemaking technology.
The climate—generally hot Mediterranean—can vary a bit with latitude and elevation, and is mostly moderated by cool maritime breezes. Drought can be an issue for Greek wine during the long, dry summers, sometimes necessitating irrigation.
Over 300 indigenous grapes have been identified throughout Greece, and though not all of them are suitable for wine production, future decades will likely see a significant revival and refinement of many of these native Greek wine varieties. Assyrtiko, the crisp, saline Greek wine variety of the island of Santorini, is one of the most important and popular white wine varieties, alongside Roditis, Robola, Moschofilero, and Malagousia. Muscat is also widely grown for both sweet and dry wines. Prominent red wine varieties include full-bodied and fruity Agiorghitiko, native to Nemea; Macedonia’s savory, tannic Xinomavro; and Mavrodaphne, used commonly to produce a Port-like fortified wine in the Peloponnese.