What goes better with Greek food than Greek wine?

 Ancient Greeks held that wine, introduced to them around 4000 BC, was a gift from the gods. They worshiped Dionysus, the god of wine, by holding festivals in his honour, celebrated by performing arts and wine drinking. To this day, in keeping with that tradition, there is a wine festival held every year during winter months in every region of Greece.  Folklore says that Achilles, the great warrior, was given wine as an infant with his meals and that Ulysses, during his quest to return home, used wine in his escape plan to overcome Polyphemus, (the one-eyed Cyclops in Homer’s, The Odyssey,) by getting him drunk, then gouging out his eye.  (Ouch.)

Wine cultivation is a significant part of Greece's agriculture. As in many European countries, it is regarded as a very healthful beverage and in many homes, is partaken of at every afternoon and evening meal, even by the children. Greece’s wines have yet to be truly discovered by the rest of the world. It was only when the Olympics of 2004 were held in Greece, that foreign journalists began reporting back home on the surprising variety and delicious taste sensations Greek wines have to offer. If you have not yet had the pleasure of sampling Greek wine, may I offer the following suggestions to try?

These go very well with several of the recipes that willbe listed here in the coming months:

1. Chateau Semeli Dry Red- Domaine George Kokotos, Attica-Stamata:
This dry red, which is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, has, according to the producer, “a complex bouquet of wild cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and vanilla, good tannic structure with well balanced acidity.”  Best served at 18 ° C  (64 ° F) I like serving this wine with the ‘Mother-in-law’s Moussaka.’  (Also goes well with lamb and other roasted meats, apart from poultry.)

2. Chateau Lazaridi Dry White-Chateau Lazaridis, Macedonia-Drama:
This dry white is a combination of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Ugni Blanc and  Roditis.  Its producer hails it as, “intense bright colour with a bouquet of fresh green seasonal fruit, its high acidity interacting uniquely with its alcohol content.”  This wine is best served at 8°-10 ° C ( 46 °-50 ° F) with fish, shellfish and white meats. I have served it with lasagna,and it's al;so great with Greek cinnamon-based meat sauce, even though many wine purists would insist on a red wine for this dish, due to its beef content. Yet, the tartness of this white wine, to my palate, seems to contrast nicely with the cheese, cinnamon and olive oil tastes.

3. Retsina Boutari-Boutaris Winery, Central Greece:
Retsina is an acquired taste, as it is very sharp. It is named so because the resin in the wooden barrels in which it is stored permeates the flavour of the wine.  It is also a very bright yellow colour. Retsina is so comparatively inexpensive to other white wines, that those who are used to a good bottle of wine being costly, may hesitate to give it a try.  But this wine is excellent with all Greek dishes and seafood,  particularly refreshing with some of the more “oily” appetizers favoured in  Greek cuisine.  I serve this wine with, “The Shrimp Scampi to Stay Married For,” but the Chateau Lazaridi, or, I’ve since discovered, any good California Chardonney, such as Wente or Robert Mondavi, works wonderfully well with this dish, too. 
Serve at  8°-10 ° C ( 46 °-50 ° F)

4. Ambelohora Mavrodaphne- Antonopoulos Winery, Peloponessos- Patra:
Mavrodaphne is a ruby red, sweet wine.   The producer suggests it be served with, “white meats, poultry, pastas with light red sauces, pies and fruits.”  But again, to my personal palate, this is a true dessert wine, which I enjoy serving with “Thio Sotiri’s’ Rizogalo, ” or just by itself when I’m in the mood for an after-dinner wine. (My American husband drinks this occasionally, in place of his nightly glass of sherry.) Serve at 14 °-16° C  (57°-61° F )

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The above is only a very small sampling of Greece’s expansive array of wines.  I suggest these because they are four of my favourites and because they are offered in many wine shops outside of Greece. If you find yourself impressed and would like to try others, there are some websites listed near the end of this "About Greece" section, where you can learn more about Greek wine and order them to be delivered to you, too. And if you click on the map of Greece below, it will direct you to a very comprehensive site on Greek wines.

 Click on the logo by Michelle Shannon above to go to

"Books About Greece" Page

http://www.thegreekwine.com/