The Case for Chilling Red Wine - Including Top Greek Picks

Cool Reds: The Case for Chilling Red Wine — Including Top Greek Picks

The Rise of Greek Wines: Quality, Terroir, & Today’s Rising Stars

In recent years, Greek wine has moved from niche curiosity to a rising force on the global stage. Once overlooked in favor of more established European wine-producing countries like France or Italy, Greece is now earning serious recognition for its quality, indigenous grape varieties, and unique terroirs. With a winemaking history that dates back over 6,500 years, Greece is not so much rediscovering its winemaking roots as it is reinventing them with a modern, quality-driven focus.

Stray Dog Wild Gin: A Greek Spirit with a Wild Heart

In the heart of Greece’s untamed landscapes, where wild herbs flourish under the Mediterranean sun, a unique gin was born—Stray Dog Wild Gin. This spirit captures the essence of Greece, blending tradition, innovation, and a commitment to animal welfare.

An Alpha World of Finesse

Nestled in the heart of the Amyndeon region in northwestern Greece, Alpha Estate stands as a beacon of innovation and quality in the world of winemaking. Established in 1997 by viticulturist Makis Mavridis and chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis, the estate has become synonymous with the revival and global recognition of Greek wines.

The Drier the Better

Most of us today are trying to limit the amount of sugars we consume on a daily basis and it’s definitely challenging. Unfortunately, it seems that almost everything we drink or eat has some levels of sugars. When looking to enjoy wines, specifically Greek with the least amount of sugar, you should focus on dry wines, as they undergo full fermentation, converting most of the grape sugars into alcohol. Believe it or not, drier style wines have very little sugars (natural), compared to other beverages. For example, a bottle of dry white or red wine has less than 5 grams of sugar per liter compared to a 12 ounce can of cola that has over 50 grams of sugar. That’s a significant difference in sugar levels.

A Drinking Drought: A look into the drastic change in drinking

Have you ever been more confused than the times we are in as we are being bombarded with studies, research, and overwhelming amounts of information when it comes to health and wellness?

Ekho Wines: Reviving Greece’s Historical Vineyards

The Ekho Wines project is a groundbreaking venture focused on reviving old vines from areas of historical significance. “It’s a journey into the past, reflected in the present,” says Lefteris Anagnostou, oenologist and co-founder of Ekho Wines. With extensive experience in Santorini wines, Anagnostou reveals that this idea had been on his mind for years before laying its foundation in 2020.

The Gift of Greek Wine

As we cruise past Thanksgiving and begin to adjust gears for the upcoming Christmas holiday, a lot of us are embarking on some of the biggest challenges to end the year. And that is - what do I get for gifts? It seems that every year we run out of ideas or just feel that we have covered most of the basis. But the one gift that ‘keeps on giving’ in our opinion is wine! And not just any wine, but wine from the wonderful regions of Greece. Yes, today’s wines of Greece, make a wonderful gift with meaning and value to just about any wine lover or someone that has visited or is about to visit Greece.

Greek Wines We Are Thankful For

Thanksgiving is a holiday full of rich, diverse flavors, especially at a Greek household, where the offerings range from roasted turkey to savory stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, and tart cranberry sauce, to roasted lamb, moussaka, dolmades, feta, and spanakopita. The variety of dishes on the menu is a feast of complex tastes and textures. Picking the right Greek wine to complement these flavors can enhance the meal and bring out the best in each dish.

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.