Greek squad
 

Greece is an ancient wine-growing country steeped in deeply rooted cultural and viticultural traditions. With vineyards planted in mountainous regions, coastal areas and on several islands, Greece has diverse terroirs producing a wide range of food-friendly wines that will delight at the dinner table and make stunning gifts. Yia mas!

Greece’s nine wine regions and 32 sub-regions house nearly 300 ancient and indigenous varieties and are part of a winemaking legacy that spans more than 4,000 years. The historical home of Greece’s famous Retsina wines (and where legend says Dionysus first shared the secrets of winemaking with humans), the Attica region is now known for the premium character of its ultra-modern wines. The mountainous Peloponnese region supports a wide range of indigenous and international grapes including Agiorgitiko, Mavrodaphne, Assyrtiko, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Drama region’s rugged topography produces top-flight wines from Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Assyrtiko and Robola.

Two of the most important red grapes in Greece are Agiorgitiko (ah-yohr-YEE-tee-koh) and Xinomavro (ksee-NOH-mah-vroh). The former produces spicy, fruity wines and often appears in blends featuring international grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Agiorgitiko is wonderful with exotically spiced Middle Eastern foods or with roasted meats. Xinomavro possesses notable acidity, red fruit, spice and earthy notes. Pair it with mushroom risotto or hearty beef stews. (Although Xinomavro isn’t featured in this release, you can find many examples of it on LCBO.com.) The white grape Assyrtiko (ahs-SEER-tee-koh) produces fresh yet powerful, mineral-driven, full-bodied, fruity wines. Assyrtiko is ideal for grilled octopus or sushi. All three of the wines featured here will pair with lamb.