Why Greek wines are about to become the next big thing
Greek wines are as intriguing as their popular French and Italian counterparts, and they’re half the price
(Illustration: Jack Dylan)
Pine-scented retsina has left a bitter taste with many wine drinkers, but Greek wine has moved on, and it’s poised to become the next big thing, with more Greek labels making their way into trendy restaurants beyond the Danforth. More than 300 indigenous grapes are grown in the country’s 28 wine-growing appellations, which are home to more than 650 wineries. And the quality and value has only been getting better over the last 10 years. The new Greek wines combine the firm acid and mineral structure of many European wines with the ripe, bright fruitiness often found in hotter New World regions. The country’s core strength is aromatic yet steely whites, like moschofilero and assyrtiko, that will appeal to riesling and gewürztraminer fans. Lighter-weight, complex reds like xinomavro and agiorgitiko are similar to pinot noir and Italian nebbiolo. The LCBO’s selection is still meagre, but Vintages carries some excellent-value bottles, while Kolonaki Group, an Ontario-based Greek wine specialist, offers great buys by the case. Here, nine bottles worth trying, even if you’re not serving souvlaki.
$11.95 | Mantinia | 86 points Mantinia on the Peloponnese is the homeland of the aromatic moschofilero grape. With scents of lavender and apricot fruit and a soft, rich, almost oily texture, it’s similar to gewürztraminer, but with a black pepper spiciness and lemon on the finish. Try it with spicy seafood dishes. LCBO 172387
$16.95 | Naoussa | 88 points The xinomavro grape grown in northwestern Macedonia produces pale-coloured, savoury, tart and tannic reds similar to Italy’s nebbiolo (the Barolo grape). This is a maturing example with dried sour-cherry fruit and dusty, earthy notes from 24 months in the barrel. The length is excellent. Best with savoury red meats. Vintages LCBO 140111
$19.95 | Epanomi | 89 points Domaine Gerovassiliou, a champion of indigenous grapes, has regenerated the all-but-extinct malagousia variety, which is blended here with crisp assyrtiko. It pours yellow with intriguing scents of dried tropical fruit, apricot and anise. It’s mid-weight, soft and dry with a spicy, herbal finish. Similar to France’s viognier. Vintages LCBO 999714
$50 | Imathia | 90 points This unorthodox and expensive collector’s red is a cutting-edge blend of 87 per cent native xinomavro and 13 per cent syrah. It’s modern and sinewy, with rich aromas of chocolate truffle, sour cherry–plum fruit and pencil lead. It has finesse but tannin grittiness as well. Plays in the big leagues. Cellar it for three years. www.kolonakigroup.com
$14.95 | Samos | 92 points An unbelievably low-priced dessert wine, this sweet muscat hails from an eastern Aegean island known for growing muscat. It has very lifted, fine, fragrant aromas of dried apricot, mango, lychee, ginger and chai. It’s full-bodied, smooth and wonderfully balanced. Pairs sublimely with chocolate. Vintages 938407
$20 | Nemea | 89 points This maturing red with an old fashioned label will appeal to fans of traditional northern Italian reds. It’s medium-bodied, sinewy and savoury, with complex leather, sour red fruit, woodsy and herbal notes. It’s well-balanced, but not heavy, with the intensity to match red meats and pastas. www.kolonakigroup.com
$24.95 | Santorini | 90 points This substantial and spicy white is made from the tart, dry yet floral assyrtiko grown on old vines on the windswept volcanic island of Santorini, a favourite stop on the Aegean cruise circuit. It’s peppery with guava and grapefruit flavours that are surprisingly powerful. A salty, stony tang on the finish. Made for calamari. www.kolonakigroup.com
$9.95 | Crete | 86 points This light, savoury red blends native kotsifali and syrah in equal parts. It doesn’t have dynamic or distinctive aromas (red plum, tobacco, spice), but it’s nicely balanced, with some fruity sweetness, moderate alcohol and a dry, spicy, slightly tarry, peppery finish that syrah fans will enjoy. www.kolonakigroup.com
Pine-scented retsina has left a bitter taste with many wine drinkers, but Greek wine has moved on, and it’s poised to become the next big thing, with more Greek labels making their way into trendy restaurants beyond the Danforth. More than 300 indigenous grapes are grown in the country’s 28 wine-growing appellations, which are home to more than 650 wineries. And the quality and value has only been getting better over the last 10 years. The new Greek wines combine the firm acid and mineral structure of many European wines with the ripe, bright fruitiness often found in hotter New World regions. The country’s core strength is aromatic yet steely whites, like moschofilero and assyrtiko, that will appeal to riesling and gewürztraminer fans. Lighter-weight, complex reds like xinomavro and agiorgitiko are similar to pinot noir and Italian nebbiolo. The LCBO’s selection is still meagre, but Vintages carries some excellent-value bottles, while Kolonaki Group, an Ontario-based Greek wine specialist, offers great buys by the case. Here, nine bottles worth trying, even if you’re not serving souvlaki.
Boutari 2010 Moschofilero
$11.95 | Mantinia | 86 points Mantinia on the Peloponnese is the homeland of the aromatic moschofilero grape. With scents of lavender and apricot fruit and a soft, rich, almost oily texture, it’s similar to gewürztraminer, but with a black pepper spiciness and lemon on the finish. Try it with spicy seafood dishes. LCBO 172387
Boutari 2004 Grande Reserve
$16.95 | Naoussa | 88 points The xinomavro grape grown in northwestern Macedonia produces pale-coloured, savoury, tart and tannic reds similar to Italy’s nebbiolo (the Barolo grape). This is a maturing example with dried sour-cherry fruit and dusty, earthy notes from 24 months in the barrel. The length is excellent. Best with savoury red meats. Vintages LCBO 140111
Domaine Gerovassiliou 2009
$19.95 | Epanomi | 89 points Domaine Gerovassiliou, a champion of indigenous grapes, has regenerated the all-but-extinct malagousia variety, which is blended here with crisp assyrtiko. It pours yellow with intriguing scents of dried tropical fruit, apricot and anise. It’s mid-weight, soft and dry with a spicy, herbal finish. Similar to France’s viognier. Vintages LCBO 999714
Kir Yianni 2007 Diaporos
$50 | Imathia | 90 points This unorthodox and expensive collector’s red is a cutting-edge blend of 87 per cent native xinomavro and 13 per cent syrah. It’s modern and sinewy, with rich aromas of chocolate truffle, sour cherry–plum fruit and pencil lead. It has finesse but tannin grittiness as well. Plays in the big leagues. Cellar it for three years. www.kolonakigroup.com
Kourtaki Muscat
$14.95 | Samos | 92 points An unbelievably low-priced dessert wine, this sweet muscat hails from an eastern Aegean island known for growing muscat. It has very lifted, fine, fragrant aromas of dried apricot, mango, lychee, ginger and chai. It’s full-bodied, smooth and wonderfully balanced. Pairs sublimely with chocolate. Vintages 938407
Estate Papaioannou 2006 Agiorgitiko
$20 | Nemea | 89 points This maturing red with an old fashioned label will appeal to fans of traditional northern Italian reds. It’s medium-bodied, sinewy and savoury, with complex leather, sour red fruit, woodsy and herbal notes. It’s well-balanced, but not heavy, with the intensity to match red meats and pastas. www.kolonakigroup.com
Skouras 2010 Zoë Rosé $11.95 | Peloponnese | 87 points A bright, sunset-hued rosé that’s a blend of 70 per cent red agiorgitiko and 30 per cent white moschofilero, which lends lilac notes to the pomegranate-cherry fruit aroma. It’s medium-weight with a hint of sweetness that gives way to a bracing, slightly bitter minerality. Serve chilled. Vintages LCBO 225045
Sigalas 2010 Santorini
$24.95 | Santorini | 90 points This substantial and spicy white is made from the tart, dry yet floral assyrtiko grown on old vines on the windswept volcanic island of Santorini, a favourite stop on the Aegean cruise circuit. It’s peppery with guava and grapefruit flavours that are surprisingly powerful. A salty, stony tang on the finish. Made for calamari. www.kolonakigroup.com
Thalia 2009 Mediterra Red
$9.95 | Crete | 86 points This light, savoury red blends native kotsifali and syrah in equal parts. It doesn’t have dynamic or distinctive aromas (red plum, tobacco, spice), but it’s nicely balanced, with some fruity sweetness, moderate alcohol and a dry, spicy, slightly tarry, peppery finish that syrah fans will enjoy. www.kolonakigroup.com
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I’ll drink to that! I loved this Greek rose recently released in the LCBO:
http://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks/wine/2010-skouras-zoe-rose/99026
Here’s to making summer last a little longer!
Cheers,
Natalie
Joe Mancinelli is glad to see the Greek wines getting a good mention finally. There are many very good Greek wines and it is unfortunate they have not been recognized as of yet.
I most certainly will drink to that!! In fact I have been raving about greek wines since I attended a tasting in June 2010. Check out what I had to say back then and I continue to promote greek wines and the Kolonaki Group. David Lawrason is so right on the money. Value and quality!!
http://www.notesonavine.blogspot.com — It’s all Greek to me!
Cheers!
Some have been awarded to the recent Berliner Wein Trophy.
http://www.greekfoodshop.com/en/greek-wines.html
There are approximately 350 unique Greek varietals. Mainly defined by its tangy, juicy and refreshing characteristics, Greek wines pairs extremely well with food at an ALC of 13.5%.
Soon, you will be able to enjoy a truly unique Greek wine made with Greek and Californian grapes in Sonoma, CA. We will be exporting this wine to Canada.
This article lists some very good wines. I tried most of them here and more. They really spoke to me. Outstanding wines at great value. I wound up writing an article called “The Renaissance in Greek wines is for good cause … http://wineandleisure.tumblr.com/post/91255858103/the-renaissance-in-greek-wines-is-for-good-cause