Wine Marriages in Santorini

As wine acquisitions are happening rapidly around the world, we are beginning to see this taken place in Greece as well. Methodical changes in Greece's wine industry are marking the start of a new era for wine production in the country. The first major acquisition that took place not too long ago was Kir Yianni Estates taking over the legendary Domaine Sigalas. Now Ktima Alpha, one of Greece's leading wineries and a three-time recipient of the 50 Great Greek Wines award, announced that it has acquired the historic Boutari Winery in Santorini from Premia Properties, which had owned it in recent years. The deal was finalized on September 13, 2024. This acquisition, following extensive negotiations, fulfills Ktima Alpha's long-held goal of establishing a presence in Greece's top wine-producing region. This is the second major acquisition in Santorini.

Greek Wines in a Changing Climate

Foti and Ari of Greek Wine Club discuss what's been happening this summer in Greece. Extreme heat and wildfires have wreaked havoc on Greek vineyards so we discuss how this will affect current and future Greek wine productions.

The Cleaner Path: Organic vs Sustainability

In the world that we live in today, we are more interested in what’s in the product than the fancy labeling and the delightful flavors. The wine industry is making huge strides to take better approaches in producing "cleaner" wines. At one point in time, the term "organic" on wine labels excited consumers, but we’ve found along the way that it needs to be more than just that. The terms "sustainable wines" and "organic wines" both refer to environmentally conscious wine production practices, but they differ in their specific methods, regulations, and focus areas. Below is a quick breakdown in the differences between to two.

A Wine Tour of Greece

Join us as we explore the truly wonderous wine-producing regions of Greece and learn what makes these diverse areas so amazing.

Douloufakis Vidiano Amphora Orange Wine Review

This natural wine has a lot to offer with very little involvement. This wine truly defines the term raw wine. Made from 100% of the white variety, Vidiano. Nothing else goes into this production other than the grapes and it’s natural yeast.

An Intro to Greek Spirits: Ouzo, Tsipouro, Tsikoudia, & Raki

Ari & Foti chat about Greek spirits and explain some of the straight forward questions many people ask about them. Very wonderful products and a very informative segment. Grab a glass and join us!

Mylonas “Naked Truth” Savatiano Review

Ari & Foti from the Greek Wine Club & Greekazon review Mylonas “Naked Truth” Savatiano orange wine. Pour a glass and join us!

Kefalonia Dreaming

Kefalonia, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, is known for its distinctive and interesting wine industry, characterized by unique grape varieties and a rich winemaking tradition. The island's wine industry is primarily focused on three indigenous grape varieties: Robola, Mavrodaphne, and Muscat.

Xinomavro Lite

Xinomavro, a prominent Greek grape variety, is best known for its robust reds, but it also produces distinctive and noteworthy rosés. Originating from regions such as Naoussa, Amyndeon, and Goumenissa in Northern Greece, Xinomavro rosés exhibit unique characteristics influenced by the grape's high acidity and complex flavor profile.

Vineyards in Flux: The Impact of Climate Change

Climate change is reshaping landscapes and livelihoods across the globe, and one industry feeling its effects acutely is winemaking. The traditional rhythms of grape cultivation and wine production are being disrupted by shifting weather patterns, altered growing conditions, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. From changes in grape composition to shifts in growing regions, the wine industry is facing significant challenges in adapting to a warming world.

Discovering the Wines of Tinos

As our journey continues in the quest of finding new and exciting wines from Greece, the tiny island of Tinos, in the Cyclades, has by far raised a lot of interest and curiosity. The unique terroir and ecosystem on the island along with its sandy soil is a winemaker’s ideal playground to explore the potential of the popular grape varieties such as Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Mavrotragano and more.

Discovering Mantinia: A Unique Greek Wine Region of the World

Situated in the heart of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece, Mantinia is a wine region that has gained acclaim for its distinctive wines, particularly those made from the Moschofilero grape. This high-altitude appellation is celebrated for its unique terroir, ancient winemaking traditions, and the aromatic, crisp wines that are unlike any other in Greece or the world.

Fascinating Facts About Greek Wine

Greek wine has been produced in Greece for over 4000 years, making the country one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. The ancient Greeks were pioneers of viticulture and oenology, and they also were the ones who spread the art of winemaking to many parts of Europe.

Advancing to Ahead of the Glass

A glimpse into Greece’s wine regulation and classification system

Cretan Winter Delight

Rakomelo is a traditional Greek alcoholic beverage made by combining raki (a grape-based pomace brandy) with honey, various spices like cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes other ingredients such as orange peel. It's typically served warm and is known for its sweet and aromatic flavor profile. Rakomelo is popular, especially during the colder months, as it's considered a soothing drink and is often enjoyed as a digestif.

Wine Adventures for the New Year

We leave 2023 with an array of ups and downs in the wine industry. We have been subject to many new concepts, changes, and trends, which all have had some sort of an impact on how and what we drink today. There has been a strong push on producing cleaner wine and from eco-friendly practices. Having said that this is what 2024 will be looking like for us:

Chilling with Greek Red Wines

Summer is in full effect and the desire for chilled wines is growing. The sales numbers for whites and rosés rise drastically, but what about those of us that still enjoy red wine all year round? Well, I have great news for you. Most Greek red wines can also be enjoyed with a chill on them.

Amongst The Great

As the quality and variety of Greek wines continues to grow, so does the interest to try them amongst consumers. Throughout the last decades Greek wines have struggled to break the barrier of being accepted into the mainstream of offerings. They have often been placed at the back of wine shops in undesirable sections labeled as ‘others’ collecting dust and were almost non-existent in restaurants, unless it was a Greek taverna. They would rarely get rated amongst the wine media authorities such as Wine Spectator or Wine Advocate. And when they did make a rare appearance, their ratings were not favorable.

Drink Healthier Skins

We’ve all heard the recommendation of drinking a glass of red wine can contribute to bettering your health. But what does that really mean? Most of us have jumped on the wine-wagon to partake in more red wine consumption cause it’s supposed to be good for us. Well that is a yes and no situation. Multiple studies have found that wine production from a variety of different red grapes developed high levels of antioxidants. Here is a breakdown of those compounds.

Discovering Vidiano

As the world continues to discover amazing selections from Greece produced by native grape varieties, Vidiano from Crete is making an emerging presence. At one point, this thought-to-be-extinct Cretan variety was accidentally discovered by local farmers almost twenty five years ago. This white grape was growing in abundance during the 13th century when the Venetians occupied Crete. They began transporting wines made from Vidiano throughout Europe by boatloads. But over the centuries this popular variety mysteriously disappeared.

Protecting the Fruits of Our Labor

Greece has come a long way in the modern world of wine making (post WWII), from bulk production of mainly retsina and mavrodaphne to high quality small production wines. In order to achieve quality of global recognition Greece had to indoctrinate a system of regulations and laws to maintain quality and consistency. They decided to mirror the French appellations laws and apply them to their wine culture.

Who Put the Rosé Away?

It seems like it was yesterday when the term, “Rosé All Day’ was a thing in the wine industry. About four years ago or pre-Covid, the interest and consumption of rosé wine was on steady rise. Restaurants were featuring multiple options, retails shops were stacking cases of it, and someone at home was sipping it on their patio. Fast forward to today as we reflect, we have been subject to so much change in the wine and beverage industry that I think we are overwhelmed by our choices.

Greek Spirit from Mastiha

KLEOS Mastiha Spirit is Greece’s first luxury spirit brand, the world’s first super-premium mastiha liqueur.

Drinking Vegan

Vegan wines are wines that are produced without the use of any animal-derived ingredients or processes. Traditional winemaking often involves the use of animal-derived fining agents, such as egg whites, gelatin, or isinglass (made from fish bladder), to clarify and stabilize the wine. However, in the production of vegan wines, these animal products are avoided.