Greek to Me

Raphael's famous School of Athens where they thunk deep thoughts, and probably drank some killer Xinomavro

The Greeks are the founders of much of what Western Civilization holds dear these days, mathematical concepts, particularly in Geometry, biology and medicine just to name a few. Their history when it comes to wine production dates back about 6,500 years. The Greeks were among the first to make wine in Europe and probably their obsession with Dionysus and getting good and drunk off wine carried a certain appeal, perhaps the cults of Dionysus were the wine world's "influencers?"

The long tradition and heritage of wine in Greece seemingly belies the current state of wine in Greece, at least as the rest of the world is concerned. Greek wine was long sought by the Roman empire, it was the Greeks who would introduce wine before the Romans throughout Mediterranean Europe. 

Greece is probably best known for two white wines, one based on the grape Assyrtiko and another based on a style of production. The Greek wine known as retsina is a style that dates back 2,000 years and the style developed when in order to keep wine stored in amphora from spoiling, the containers were sealed with pine resin. That resin certainly kept out the oxygen but it imparted a really "piney" character to the wine. The style though, stuck and is still made today.

Greek red wines though are still seeking to make a name for themselves, and while the Greeks have planted well known international varieties, there are also plenty of native Greek red grapes that make for outstanding wines. 

2013 Skouras Megas Oenos $25
From the Peloponnese protected region, one of seven broader regions within Greece comes a blend of  the native Aghiorghitiko (80%) with the remaining wine coming from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Aghiorghitiko originates in the sub-region of Nemea in Greece. It is Greece's most widely planted native red variety. The Aghiorghitiko can be made in a variety of styles and found as rosé or deep dark concentrated, and very tannic red wines. This particular bottling uses ample time in French oak to create a wine that is dense and concentrated but with the structure imparted by the Cabernet it offers silking mouthfeel and finish. Aromas of dark fruit and spice and a palate of ripe berries, smoke and turned earth. 

2015 Alpha Estate Axia Red $20
A blend of equal partx Xinomavro and Syrah from the protected region of Florina. The native Xinomavro which translates as "sour black" is a wine that offers up loads of acidity and is often likened to the Piedmontese grape Nebbiolo. The wine itself is a fantastic blend of bright lively fruits and a meaty Syrah character The aromas offer ample minerality, red fruit with complimentary flavors of dried fig, flint, and espresso bean.

2016 Kir Yianni Paranga Red $15
While I often call a simple red blend like this the perfect, burger, or pizza wine we'll call the Paranga Red the perfect gyro wine, because it's Greek after all. From the Macedonia region in the North we have a blend of Xinomavro, Merlot and Syrah. Lots of red fruit, warm spice and soft mouth feel make me think a bit of Sangiovese or Merlot on its own.