The Greek Wine Industry
When it comes to wine, it seems as though Greece should be well beyond every other region; after all, it is Greece, a country that is sometimes overheard bragging to Albania and Bulgaria about how its the birthplace of the modern world. However, Greece cant claim to be ahead of the rest of the words vines, at least not anymore.
In the past, Greece had a huge impact on the wine industry, orchestrating wine trades to the lands of Europe (and likely being the first to make grape leaves worn in the hair a fashion statement). The wines of the ancient world have the Greeks to thank, but recent times have found Greece somewhere it has never been before: behind the times.
The instability of the Greek wine industry is a result of the instability of Greece as a nation. After the ancient era and into the middle ages, Greece was governed by the Byzantine Empire and its wine was made by monks. Everything, for the time being, seemed cloaked in grapeness. But, when the Byzantine Empire fell to the Ottoman Empire, the fun, and the grapes, were spoiled.
For the next four hundred years, Greek winemaking drastically suffered. While the Ottoman Empire didnt outright make winemaking illegal, the regulations and taxes they imposed on it made the production of quality wine nearly impossible. When the Ottoman Empire eventually fell, Greece found its winemaking plagued by another kind of intruder: the phylloxera bug. This sap-sucking insect fed on and destroyed grapevines all over Greece and throughout Europe. By the time the insects were sent packing with tiny eviction notices hanging on their nests Greeces wine production was put on hold for more important matters: the Balkan wars and the World Wars.
It wasnt until the mid 1900s that the wines of Greece turned over a new leaf. Improved winemaking and viniculture techniques were implemented, better grapes were used, and more expensive means were utilized. The Greeks also began doing something theyd never done before: aging wine in oak barrels (move over wooden horses, wooden barrels are in the house). The result was a nation where the importance of producing quality wine trumped the importance of quantity.
Today, Greeces main focus is on white wine, though very good red wine is also produced in small amounts. Among whites, Muscat of Patras, Patras, and Santorini are some of the most important. Retsina, another white wine, is of particular importance; it has virtually turned into the countrys national drink. On the red side of things, Archarnes, Naoussa, Rapsani, and Mavrodaphne of Patras, are a few types most often produced.
As demonstrated above, Greece is filled to the brim with a variety of wines. They, in part, have their climate to thank for this. Rainy weather typically doesnt disrupt harvesting and the plethora of sunlight allows for maximum ripening. However, the environment of Greece does have an Achilles heel: much of the land is not suitable for growing. For this reason, Greece is not a land filled with grapevine after grapevine. The parts of the country not taken up by mountains or not divided into islands is where the grapes are grown: this land is typically used to grow both grapevines and olive trees.
For those who hope to visit Greece, the wineries are open on a year round basis, with the exception of holidays and many of the tours are given in English upon request. The Greek wineries are some of the best to visit, if not for the history involved, then for the hospitable manner of the citizens..just try not to mention Constantinople.
Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor at http://www.savoreachglass.com. With a vast knowledge of wine etiquette, she writes articles on everything from how to hold a glass of wine to how to hold your hair back after too many glasses. Ultimately, she writes her articles with the intention that readers will remember wine is fun and each glass of anything fun should always be savored.
Retsina - a Wine to Enjoy?
You are sitting in a restaurant in the US, or round a dinner table in England. Its cloudy and blowy outside. You are waiting for your wine. The waiter, or your host, brings you a bottle of retsina. Its easy to guess what your reaction would be. You would be horrified! And if you were tasting it for the first time, you would no doubt pull a fa...
French Red Wines
Wine is an alcoholic drink made through the fermentation of juices obtained from grapes, honey, flowers and malt or grain. Most countries manufacture wine products for local and global export; some even making a respected and well-trusted brand name in the wine-making industry.Wine and its OriginsEver since man learned to make certain wine from gra...
The French Wine Market
The market for French wine is very large, not only in France, but also in Europe and other parts of the world. French wine has been distinguished by its quality and its unique taste, which is why wine lovers from across the globe have exhibited a clear preference for French wine. Over the years, the market for French wine has grown in large numbers...
To Decant or Not to Decant?
To decant or not to decant? The great wine experts disagree. If you are a wine newbie, who do you listen to?There are two main reasons why we might decant wine. One is to get rid of sediment. The other is to aerate the wine or allow it to breathe, so releasing the aromas that have been trapped in the bottle. (Some would say there is a third rea...
Oenology: A Few Notes
Oenology is the study of wine and its production from the vineyard to the bottle. It is the chemical and microbiological science of wine-making as well as the sensorial science of taste and smell. The word is derived from the Greek words "oinos" (vino) and "logos" (study of).The characteristics of a wine are determined, in large part, by two factor...
The Egyptian Wine Gods
Mythology holds within it tales of gods who once governed the heavens above and the world below. Many people are familiar with mythology, particularly Greek Mythology (Hi, Zeus) or Norse Mythology (Whats up, Thor), but Egyptian Mythology also contains significant importance, particularly when it comes to wine. Never mind walking like an Egyptian, i...
Finding a Great Wine Club
Wine lovers from around the world often form a wine club to discuss their love of wine and learn more about some of their favorites. There are many different notions that can influence what a wine club is, but most often it is simply a place to meet people with similar interests and experience new tastes and flavors. With a wine club, people find t...