Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Juicy lemon, white peach and apricot aromas lead the charge on this blend of indigenous white wine grapes from Greece’s Gaia Wines. Flavors match the promise of the scents, with a pleasantly textured structure and bright, zesty finish. A sophisticated wine that begs for roast chicken and good conversation, this is an impressive example of what often-overlooked native grapes like Roditis can do in the right hands
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Home of Greece’s famous and praise-worthy red variety, Agiorgitiko, Nemea is part of the Peloponnese.