Wine for personal consumption has been hand-made in Greece for the last 6500 years. Throughout history, as the Greek civilization spread along with the worship of Dionysus, god of wine, Greek wines and their native varietals became well-known in the Mediterranean. One might ask that if they have been making wine for this long, why do I never see Greek wine on the shelf?
In the 1960's, increased tourism in Greece created the mass popularity of a particular wine product, "retsina." Retsina is the result of an ancient winemaking technique in which clay pots (amphorae) are sealed with Aleppo pine resin. The wines in question were usually sweeter white or rosé style wines, but in the 1960's a modernized version of the process simply adds a piece of Aleppo pine resin to the must during fermentation. Retsina production became massive as people traveling to Greece drank retsina, understanding it as the local drink. As a result, their delicious artisanal wines took a backseat and production fizzled. Luckily for everyone, the popularity of retsina has died down and winemakers are focusing on producing high-quality, native varietals.
To extend our first ever Greek Wine Club for the month of December, I wanted to feature a premium bottle with some more familiar varietals. The Avantis Estate "Agios Chronos" 2014 (Holy Time) is a blend of 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier, reflecting the tradition in Northern Rhone, France. Blending Viognier into Syrah lifts the heavy red and amplifies the herbaceous and floral notes one can get in a well-made Syrah. The Avantis Estate has an intense bouquet featuring violets, fennel and savory herbs. On the palate, this wine has a huge body with fine, mild tannins and strong fruit notes of red plums, fig, dried apricots. Lingering sweet red fruits, leather, and faint spices create a long and satisfying finish.
Let us know you "Heard it through the Grapevine" to enjoy a taste compliments of the house; then have a glass or benefit from the bottle discount of $10 off the on-premise price. The beautiful labeling makes for a fabulous holiday present!
