BWW Features: Greek Wines are Getting Attention from Connoisseurs

Greece is widely recognized as the birthplace of Western civilization, but the Greeks don't get the credit they deserve for their contribution to winemaking. Not only does Greece have the longest uninterrupted history of winemaking, but it is also there that the second largest number of indigenous grapes in the world are grown-more than 300 varietals. In modern terms, using these distinctive grapes, Greek wineries are producing some of the most food friendly, elegant and unusual wines, unlike anything you have ever tasted before.

Eklektikon, exclusive importers of Greek wine, have set out to challenge our perceptions-creating a new identity that encapsulates the vast history and influence of Greek wines and bringing a renewed sense of Greek culture to the U.S., while broadening the reach and increasing availability of the wines. Working with four of the top wineries in Greece-Chatzivaritis, Oenogenesis, Pieria Eratini and Dougos-Eklektikon has introduced Modern Greek wines to the U.S. with a fresher image, contemporary graphics, striking bottles and surprising flavors. They currently import a portfolio of 29 distinct wines and have vigorous plans for expansion.

Blink Wines

A new venture located on the volcanic Island of Lemnos in the northern Aegean Sea, they create sparkling wines out of the island's predominate grape, Muscat of Alexandria.

Blink-A standout in both packaging and flavor, Blink is a new, natural demi-sec sparkling wine in an eye-catching metallic purple and white striped bottle. The aroma is bright and floral with notes of almond, yeast and jasmine, with gentle yet persistent effervescence.

Chatzivaritis

This exclusively organic and state-of-the-art winery was launched in 2007 in the town of Goumenissa, in the center of a well-established wine-producing region. The winery uses predominantly Greek indigenous grapes (Xinomavro, Negoska, Roditis, Assyrtiko) from its estate-owned vineyards. Some wines they produce include:

Eurynome Red 2011-Named for the ancient goddess who separated land from water and then danced on the water, now she dances on the bottle in a contemporary line drawing. The award-winning red blends the Xinomavro (acid-black) grape, softened by the pleasantly aromatic Negoska, for a complex wine with notes of spice, tomato, olive and vanilla.

Eurynome White 2013 is made with organic grapes, 100% Roditis, one of the oldest and most renowned Greek grapes. The wine features aromas of basil and ginger, and is light and delicate on the palate with a lingering finish.

Oenogenesis

A perfect blend of French and Greek winemaking, this winery combines the skills of oenologist Bakis Tsalkos, one of the most important personalities in the Greek wine industry, and oenophile Dominique Fontvielle from France. After extensive studies in France, Tsalkos returned to Greece to adapt his expertise to the untapped wealth of indigenous Greek grapes in Adriani, Drama, an area known for its exceptional terroir. To give just a few examples of their wines by label:

Oenosophist-The name plays on the definitive gastronomic Greek work, "Deipnosophistae" or dinner philosophers, to reflect its wine-wise philosophy.White 2009 is the result of careful vinification of grapes from old, low-yielding vines, meticulously aged first in oak barrels for 6 months and then in the bottle for 6 months. It features the sweetly spiced aroma of fruit and a lush taste. This is a wine that evolves with age.

En Oeno-In wine there is truth. En Oeno Rosé 2013 has an explosively aromatic bouquet with wafting notes of wildflower and mandarin; harmonious acidity; and a clean, white-fleshed peach finish. The distinctive color of this warm pink pour glitters with scarlet.

Thyrsus-Dionysus, God of wine, was born on the slopes of Mount Pangeo, where the grapes for this wine originate. The modernist label art portrays the ritualistic symbol, thyrsus, a fennel wrapped in ivy, with a pinecone at its top. Thyrsus White 2012 is a blend that has never occurred before, the formerly extinct Malagousia (60%) blended with Viognier (40%) with a crystal bright color, aromas stemming from both grapes, such as acacia flower, pear, white-flesh peach and violet, with a full body and a long aftertaste.

Pieria Eratini

Created in 2006 in Kolindros, Pieria in Northern Greece, by veteran oenologists Pavlos Argyropoulos and Andreas Pantos, on the foothills of Mount Olympus. Pieria Eratini seeks to create modern expressions of historical Greek wines.

Wishes Eratines-The unforgettable bottle features the seeds of the dandelion dispersed by the breath of a wisher; the wines inside-white, red and sweet-are even more memorable.

Red 2010 is a blend of Xinomavro, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon with full body and a balanced structure, which reveals an austere, unfiltered wine with aging potential.

White 2013 is a clean white wine with a lot of character and personality with a crunchy, youthful and full body. The finish is gentle, refreshing, fruity and slightly spicy.

Sweet 2012 is created using the ancient Byzantine technique of twisting the grapes on the vine to intensify the sugar concentration. Aged in acacia barrels, the result has a caramelized, nutty taste, not too sweet.

Naked King 2011-Unfiltered and chemical-free, this rich and concentrated blend demonstrates a unique and local terroir-driver expression of Syrah, with Kolindrino giving additional tannic structure to the wine and a taste of bitter chocolate. As the wine is poured from the bottle, the writing on the white crown-shape label is exposed, as scarlet droplets of wine fill in the debossed writing.

Dougos

Dougos winery is today one of the most highly respected high-quality wineries of Greece, boasting a PDO status Rapsani (only one of two in the world), an exclusively organic vinification, and numerous awards and distinctions.

Rapsani PDO Red 2011 is one of the greatest expressions of red Greek wine, and with the organic Dougos Rapsani it reaches a new level. Xinomavro's tannins are softened by Krasato, which also gives additional aromas, while Stavroto contributes to the wine's structure. On the palate, Rapsani is fresh, with a medium body, tasty and juicy, with a fine sweetness on the aftertaste.

Rapsani Old Vines Red 2011 comes from selected vineyards that are at least 50-years-old. The color is light red, with a complex aroma of tomato and red fruits, sweet spices and herbs in the mouth, with finesse that lingers on the palate.

These wines are now available at fine restaurants including Molyvos, Oceana and Nerai; hotels; wine bars and wine stores including Sussex, Steel and Oak, and Astor Wines & Spirits. The wines reflect the culture of Greece and will make a lasting impression. Currently distributed in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, they hope to expand to DC and Illinois this summer, and to Florida and California by the end of the year.

For more in-depth descriptions of the wineries and the wines they produce, please visit www.eklektikon.com.