WINE IN GREECE

“Wine, the benevolent demon”, as it is called by ancient Greeks .The beloved beverage of our ancient ancestors. The complement of our meals ,our companion in joys and grieves.Wine has always been listed among the four primary elements of the Greek diet, together with salt, oil and cereals . It is closely connected to the Greek culture and religion.

WINE IN ANCIENT GREECEGreece, the famous home of Dionysus, god of wine, has the longest history of wine in the world and the richest heritage. In ancient Greece, celebrations in honour of Dionysus were numerous. Greek wine is produced here for over 4000 years. The oldest wine press for wine production was discovered in an area of Crete. The culture of wine consumption as a social event and a refined appreciation, was first developed by the ancient Greeks. .

Ancient Minoan wine press found in Crete

The wine known since prehistoric times, started from Asia. In Greece, according to mythology, Bacchus was brought from India. From Greece the cultivation of the vine spread to the rest of Europe, first in Sicily and the coast of southern Italy by Greek colonists, and then in Spain and southern France, where the national drink was beer from barley and from Roman conquerors in northern France, Germany, Hungary, Britain and elsewhere. .

Performances on ancient Greek pottery related to the wine.

The first inhabitants of Greece did not know the art of winemaking. There is evidence for the consumption of wine, imported from Asia Minor, Babylonia, and Egypt. The import of wine from Asia and Egypt initially, and later wine production in Greece are witnessed by archaeological findings, the references in ancient texts, household utensils, storage and transportation of wine, and performances in vases ,jars and ancient coins. . .

Ancient Greek coin

THE HISTORY OF WINE

Ancient Greek pottery, used to store or serve wine

GRAPE HARVESTHarvest is the picking of the grapes and in many ways the first step in wine production. Grapes are either harvested mechanically or by hand. The decision to harvest grapes is typically made by the winemaker .Grapes are usually harvested from the vineyard in Greece from early September until the beginning of November.

The traditional way to press the grapes and make wine by hand from ancient to modern times.

A MODERN WINERY

MAKING WINE MECHANICALLY IN A MODERN WINERY.

After the harvest, the grapes are taken into a winery and prepared for primary ferment, at this stage red wine making diverges from white wine making. Red wine is made from the must (pulp) of red or black grapes that undergo fermentation together with the grape skins. White wine is made by fermenting juice which is made by pressing crushed grapes to extract a juice; the skins are removed and play no further role. Occasionally white wine is made from red grapes, this is done by extracting their juice with minimal contact with the grapes' skins. Rose wines are made from red grapes where the juice is allowed to stay in contact with the dark skins long enough to pick up a pinkish colour, but little of the tannins contained in the skins.

Vineyards

WINE PRODUCTION

Red wine is sometimes transferred to oak barrels to mature for a period of weeks or months, this practice imparts oak aromas to the wine. The wine must be settled or clarified and adjustments made prior to filtration and bottling.

The time from harvest to drinking can vary from a few months to over twenty years for top wines. However, only about 10% of all red and 5% of white wine will taste better after five years than it will after just one year. Depending on the quality of grape and the target wine style, some of these steps may be combined or omitted to achieve the particular goals of the winemaker. Many wines of comparable quality are produced using similar but distinctly different approaches to their production.

STORAGE AND QUALITY OF WINES

GREEK WINESThe mild Mediterranean climate of Greece, with the cool winters and the sunny summers is differentiated under the influence of the sea or the nearby mountains and obtains a character of a unique micro-climate. Vineyards are situated in privileged places by the sea, islands, mountain slopes, up to an altitude of 1,000 metres. There are very few lowland vineyards. The soil, often of moderate to low fertility, produces grapes of good quality.Many of the indigenous grape varieties, cultivated under the above conditions, are found as early as in ancient Greece. Totally, there are more than 300 valuable indigenous grape varieties in Greece. Of course, in the last three decades, select foreign varieties are also cultivated in Greece, and have adapted to the Greek land with remarkable results.

GREEK VARIETIES OF WINES

AGIORGITIKOKing of red grapes in Peloponnese, Agiorgitiko(meaning St.George's) grown in Nemea. It produces wines of deep red colour with intense flavour of black currant and blackberry and a rich, smooth, delicious texture. Soft new crops Agiorgitiko accompanying fruit and pleasantly drunk while still young. However, there is the potential for long term storage (5-10years).

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ASSYRTIKO

The Assyrtiko is the variety that exists in Santorini, but has migrated successfully in many places all over Greece. Maintains high acidity even at full maturity stage. With crisp acidity and great minerality, the wine is rich and refreshing with aromas of lemon blossom, orange peel and grapefruit.In Santorini, the vines are cultivated on a land covered with lava holystone, rust and ash from the eruptions of the volcano. They also have to face serious droughts and the fierce northern winds. However, the blessed night fog coming from the caldera offers the vines humidity while the vintners prune them low and make baskets to protect the grapes from the winds. The only "coils" of

Santorini, the vines that shaped basket, which lazily touching the soil, to protect the precious fruit of the winds

ATHIRIAnother white grape, that one finds on the islands of the southern Aegean and Halkidiki, in eastern Macedonia. Its wines are characterized by the wonderful aromas of flowers and appetizing effect that awakens the palate.

KOTSIFALICretan red grape, produces wines Kotsifali known for its wonderful taste juicy, bright red colour and good effect on the palate. Usually mixed with another island red grape, Mantilaria.

LIATIKO

Exclusive Cretan grape, Liatiko regarded as one of the oldest Greek varieties. It ripens in July, which takes its name, an abbreviation of "Iouliatiko." The Liatiko a variety with high potential alcoholic, whose exquisite features highlight the best possible way as ripen sufficiently .

LIMNIOLimnio is an ancient red grape variety from the island of Lemnos.

VINSANTO

In the Cycladic area to produce sweet wines from sun-dried grapes was the main traditional winemaking technique. Particularly in Santorini because of the various wealth of the vine, and the high quality of raw material, the technique reached its high peak with the extremely sun-dried sweet wines Vinsanto. The Vinsanto is produced by 80% Assyrtiko, 10% Aidani 10% Athiri and it is a dessert wine.

MOSCHOFILERO

A distinct aromatic grape from within the region of Mantinia, in Peloponnese. The Moschofilero grapes have a grey coloured skin and therefore produce a dry white wine. Its crisp character and beautiful floral aroma of roses and violets with hints of spices can be drunk as an aperitif or with food.

MAVRODAPHNEMavrodaphne or "black laurel", is a colourful variety of Greek wine grown in north-western Peloponnese and some Ionian islands . Mavrodaphne is a dark red sweet wine and a purple-brown transmitted colour. It presents aromas and flavours of caramel, chocolate, coffee, raisins and plums.

WINEMAKING REGIONS OF GREECE

THE BENEFITS OF WINE

  Modern research has shown wine to have many health benefits, mainly for the heart and circulatory system. It contains powerful antioxidants that disperse blood clots and protect against free radicals and the formation of cholesterol deposits and arterial plaque.  Because red wine is fermented with the skins, it's richer in these antioxidants. Wine is known to help maintain good heart health, to lower risk for diabetes, strokes and cataracts and most importantly to lengthen life. With all of the health benefits it is no wonder that drinking wine will help you live longer. Wine has been shown to help slow down the ageing of the brain and therefore allow better brain function longer. .

"The wine comforts the sad, revives the old people, inspires young people, makes the weary forget the toil."

( Lord Byron )

Wine fills the heart with courage. ( Plato )

Wine is the feast of reason and the flow of soul. ( Alexander Pope )

The discovery of wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.

( Benjamin Franklin )

FAMOUS SAYINGS ABOUT WINE

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2nd epal of alexandroupolis - greece