The Grapes of Greece: 5 Facts About Greek Wine

Despite the country’s truly ancient history of winemaking, Greek wine is often overlooked in favor of its European counterparts. Keep reading below to learn more about what makes Greek wine so unique. 

A Proud History

Greek wine dates back to 4000 BC when the first vines were domesticated. Various communities throughout Greece perfected the techniques and soon became the center of wine. Greek wine almost went out of existence during the Ottoman Empire’s ruling. The Turks discouraged both the process of winemaking and consumption. Due to this, winemakers were forced to abandon their vineyards and because of this, Greece lost its status as a winemaking power. 

The Nectar of the Gods

In Ancient Greece, wine was offered as a sacrifice to the Gods in times of celebration. Dionysus is the god of grape harvest, winemaking, and wine. It was he that the winemakers would worship to ensure a good harvest.

Unique Varietals & Perfect Conditions

Did you know that Greece has over 200 indigenous grapes? This includes Xinomavro, Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko, and Savino – some of the most common varieties as seen on our wine list. As Greece is the only country with these, they produce wines that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. In addition to this, Greece has the perfect conditions for vineyards. The terroir is rich, with sprawls of mountains, lush valleys, and mineral-rich islands. The soil is fertile and regularly watered, there is plenty of sun in the summer and fall for the ideal ripening.

Variety and Dynamism

Unlike many famous European vineyards, winemakers in Greece are dynamic, all about looking for new ways to improve their methods. Increasingly, we are also seeing organic vineyards producing even better-quality wines, unique to these regions. Only good quality wine ages well and many of the country’s red wines show good potential for aging.

Award-Winning

Lastly, and most importantly, Greek wines are always winning international awards for our delicious wine varieties. Last year’s Decanter World Wine Awards gave Greek wines 1 Platinum-Best in Show, 2 Platinums, and 9 Golds. Visit Committee in Boston, MA to try some award-winning wines right here in the city – you won’t even have to travel to Greece! 

Visit Committee in Boston, MA

Visit us in Boston, MA to try our variety of Greek award-winning wines! See what you like best, and figure out what matches your palate. We can help you! Make reservations online or come on in.