Thousands of years ago, the Greeks introduced viticulture to much of Europe; today, the world is discovering Greek wines all over again. The Greek wine industry is experiencing an exciting and radical transformation, thanks to international investment and a new generation of winemakers well-versed in the world’s best winemaking practices.
Winemakers who have studied in Bordeaux, Burgundy, California and Australia are leading the changes in the Greek wine industry, not by attempting to make international grape varieties work in Greece’s difficult terrain, but by focusing on the indigenous grapes that have succeeded there for millennia.
Important grape varieties from Greece include Assyrtiko and Moschofilero, which produce elegant and aromatic white wines; Mavrodaphne, source of a luscious, fortified dessert wine; and Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro, red grapes that thrive on Greece’s northern mainland. Naturally, these wines from Greece make excellent pairings with Mediterranean cuisine and simple grilled foods.
