The rise, fall, and stunning resurgence one of the world’s oldest winemaking traditions!
1. Greece has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world – dating back 6,500 years – and the world’s oldest evidence of crushed grapes.
2. The ancient Greeks were so enthusiastic about their wine they actually had a god, Dionysus, dedicated to wine and the grape harvest
3. The ancient Greeks also celebrated wine during various festivals throughout the year, marking annual events such as the harvesting of grapes in the fall, and a celebration each February of the opening of wine jars from the previous autumn’s harvest.
4. The Greeks were some of the first to recognize the potential health benefits of wine – Hippocrates was prescribing wine as medicine as early as the 5th century, B.C.
Dionysus, the Greek god of wine
5. The early Greeks also introduced winemaking to other regions throughout Europe and beyond; during the 300s B.C., Alexander the Great brought the art of winemaking as far as the Asian continent.
6. The Greeks were early to understand the importance of place in defining the characteristics of wine, and created the first system of Appellations of Origin, imposing penalties on winemakers who violated laws regarding a wine’s place of origin.
7. Vin Santo, the much-beloved wine produced in Italy, is in fact Greek in origin! It was brought to Italy by Venetians during the Byzantine era from the Greek island of Santorini, from which the wine gets its name.
8. During the Ottoman occupation of Greece, for a period of 400 years, winemaking was discouraged, and heavy taxes were levied on winemakers, leading to a decline in Greek winemaking that left its mark long after the Greeks declared independence in 1821.
9. The Balkan Wars as well as World Wars I and II, along with various grape diseases kept Greek winemaking at a low point through much of the 20th century, when the focus was generally necessarily on table wines of low quality.
Wine regions of Greece
10. In the past couple decades, Greek wine has seen an incredible resurgence, and a return to the great tradition of one of the world’s first winemaking regions, receiving international awards and recognition, once again. They’re also becoming much easier to find: for many years, finding Greek wine meant scouring wine shops in Greek immigrant neighborhoods – these days, most retailers carry a number of Greek wines, and that number continues to increase.
Bonus! 7 Greek Grapes to Know – Some of Greece’s Top Indigenous Varietals
White:
Assyrtiko [A seer’ tee ko] – One of Greece’s finest white grapes, producing a very dry wine win citrus aromas. Originally produced only on the volcanic island of Santorini (where it yields a mineral aftertaste), Assyrtiko’s popularity has lead to its planting throughout Greece.
Athiri [Ah thee’ ree] – Athiri also finds its origins on the island of Santorini, and is one of Greece’s most ancient grapes. Athiri is a thin-skinned grape that produces sweet and fruity wines.
Lagorthi [La gor’ thee] – Lagorthi is an indigenous Greek varietal that has seen a tremendous revival in recent years, and is cultivated primarily on the slopes of Aegialia. The grapes’s malic acid content leads to wines of considerable acidity, along with citrus and mineral flavors.
Savatiano [Sa va tya no’] – Savatiano thrives in dry, summer weather, and thus is well suited to the climate of the region of Attica, where it is the predominant grape, producing elegant wines with aromas of citrus and flowers.
White Muscat – The basis of many excellent dessert wines, as well as some dry whites, Muscat has won fans the world over and is cultivated throughout Greece.
Red:
Agiorghitiko [Ah yor yee’ ti ko] – Meaning “St. George’s,” Agiorghitiko is noble Greek grape, grown primarily in the Nemea AOC. It produces wines reknowned for their complexity, with soft tannins and balanced acidity.
Xinomavro [Ksee no’ ma vro] — Wines produced from Xinomavro, the predominant grape of Macedonia, are known for their rich tannins, which lend them well to aging, and their aromas of red fruits, olives, and spices.
The post It’s Greek To Me! 10 Things You Need to Know About Greek Wine appeared first on Wine and Spirit!.