Greek Spirits, Dessert Wine & Sweets Pairing ~ Part 2

Get Into the Greek Spirit~Opa 2!

Welcome back for part 2 of our sip-while-you-eat series, the follow up to Greek Wine & Food Pairing, or as we like to call it, Drink Like a Greek, OPA!

Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy life…the Greek way! Kick off your shoes (or flip-flops) and pour yourself a glass of sweet indulgence or get “spiritual” with before-and-after dinner drink picks.

Our Greek wine and spirits experts Irene and Tony Gounaris, owners of Omega Wines & Spirits in Astoria, NY, once again helped us pair today’s cutting-edge dessert wines and spirits with a number of our Greek dessert options (all of which will be in our upcoming cookbook). Join us and find out what the sweetest buzz is all about!

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If you missed part 1, Drink Like A Greek~OPA! 
(featuring meze-and-entrée wine pairing), you can 
easily catch up, just click on the title above—it’s 
also listed in the right column of our blog page 
under categories and in our archives.

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BONUS: A Greek wine-lovers special offer awaits you at the end of this blog!

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Let the Greek Spirit Move You with an Afternoon Delight!

Afternoon never tasted so good! The following spirits will add unparalleled flavor to a laidback intimate gathering or a pre-dinner meze party.

Skinos  Mastiha Spirit (Μαστίχα)  Chios island  $27.99 (750 ml) 
(Gold Medal, 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition)   
The underwater volcanoes, mild climate and limestone soil of the Mediterranean island Chios, along with a deeply rooted ancient tradition of cultivation and harvesting, makes Mastiha unique worldwide with a distinctive taste and exceptional aroma.

Mastiha/masticha is a resin extracted from the mastic tree, indigenous to the island of Chios. It has been used for centuries in its pure form as chewing gum (believed to be the world’s first), has been hailed as a tooth whitener and breath freshener, and is the key ingredient in this spirit.

This characteristic, balanced sweet spirit has pronounced notes of cucumber, pine, anise, and fresh herbs. 

Skinos is great as an aperitif or a digestif. Serve chilled neat, on the rocks, or mixed in an array of different cocktails. 

Mastic tree resin

Masticha - pure, dried form

Isidoros Arvanitis  Ouzo Plomari (Ούζο Πλωμαρίου)  Plomari, Lesvos island  $14.99 (750 ml)   
The aniseed and fennel used in the distillation process are of a high quality and come from the distillery's own fields in Lisvori, Lesvos. Isodoros Arvanitis first created this ouzo in 1894 and it is still the most popular in Greece because of its smoothness, abundant aromas, and flavors of anise, herbs, and sweet spice. 

Ouzo pairs well with meze (appetizers). 
Serve very chilled neat or mixed with water/ice for that iconic milky-white color.

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Greek Dessert Wine & Sweets Pairings

Following are three dessert categories covering the most popular Greek sweets, each paired with its ideal wine match.

Galaktomboureko

Pasta Flora

Commandaria Wine Route, Cyprus

2015: 'Anama's 2011 vintage won a Silver award at the Hong Kong International Wine Challenge and a Bronze award at Decanter WWA London.

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Samos island

Muscat grapes

Dessert 1:
Custards & Cheese

Galaktomboureko 
(lemon-orange custard pie 
with syrup)

Mbougatsa 
(custard-filled fillo packets)

Pasta Flora 
(classic Greek custard torte 
with fruit)

Poungia 
(Carnival spiced cheese crescents with honey)

'ANAMA

​'Anama Concept  'Anama
Cyprus,  Price upon request (500 ml)
‘Anama - a naturally sweet wine made from sundried grapes.  A contemporary concept based on the foundations of the oldest historically recorded wine in the world, “Kyprion Nama,” and its successor, known today as “Commandaria,” thus produced from Cyprus’s indigenous grape varieties Xynisteri (white) & Mavro (red).  The limited scale production is made using modern oenological methods, followed by a 2-year aging period in new oak barrels.  The wine’s "outfit" is custom-designed and made on an annual basis. Every bottle is labeled using precious materials and bares a unique hand-punched number, completing the product’s collectable profile.
​(Purchase information: The 'Anama Concept)

MUSCAT

Kourtaki  Samos Muscat (Κουρτάκη Μοσχάτο)
​Samos island  $10.99 (750ml)  
Bright orange-amber color turning to gold.  A silky dessert wine that has a honey-like sweetness with lush flavors of golden raisin, apricot, pear, orange, and spice, with an extended finish of sweet honey and lemon. 

Pairs well with Greek custard desserts, fruit, and pastries. Serve neat or over ice, or sip very chilled as a summer aperitif.

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Karpathiko Baklava

Skaltsounia

Santorini

Assyrtiko grapes

A fine finish!

Dessert 2: 
Nutty Pastries

Karpathian Baklava 
(rolled homemade pastry dipped in syrup and sprinkled with nuts)

Trigona 
(nut-filled fillo triangles drenched in aromatic syrup)

Skaltsounia 
(citrusy, nut-filled dough-crescents)

AGED SWEET 
WHITE WINE

Estate Argyros Vinsanto 
(4-year barrel aged)
Santorini island  $45.99 (750ml)
This wine gets its name from Santorini (“Vin” [wine] of “Santo” [Santorini]), the island where it comes from, not to be confused with Italy’s Vin Santo wine. 

A combination of Assyrtiko (80%), Aidani (10%), and Athiri (10%) sun-dried grapes, Vinsanto is aged for four years, resulting in a wine that is sweet, complex, abundantly flavored, and excellent—a truly rare wine, worthy of all the effort. Copper amber in color with complex aromas of chocolate, honey, roasted coffee grounds, dried fruits, and nuts. It is a full-bodied, buttery, well-structured wine with a harmonious balance of sweetness and acidity. It has a long, fine finish. 

Pairs well with desserts (especially chocolate) and fruit. Serve chilled and sip slowly as an aperitif or a digestif.

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Kserotigana

Loukoumathes me Myzithra

Drama vineyard

Muscat grapes

Dessert 3: 
Cakes & Syrup Desserts

Kserotigana 
(fried pastry ribbons/knots with syrup)

Loukoumadakia me Myzithra
(little cheese puffs drizzled with honey) 

 Vasilopita 
(New Year’s cake or sweet bread with a lucky coin)

Revani 
(farina cake soaked in syrup)

MUSCAT

Domaine Costa Lazaridi 
​Methexis Eau De Vie Muscat (Kώστα Λαζαρίδη Methexis Μοσχάτο)  Drama  $16.99 (500ml)  
(Gold Medal, Challenge International du Vin 2010, France)   
This Eau De Vie is distilled slowly and patiently from specially selected Muscat grapes to preserve their distinguishing aromas. Methexis has hints of roses, lemon, and orange-tree blossom. 

Pairs well with all types of desserts and fruits. Serve chilled or at room temperature and sip slowly as an after-dinner drink 
with coffee, dessert, or as 
a digestif.

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Post-Dinner Libations

Domaine Costa Lazaridi distillery

Domaine Costa Lazaridi

TSIPOURO
(Greek grappa)

Domaine Costa Lazaridi  Idoniko Tsipouro  (Τσíπουρο Ηδωνικó)  Drama  $20.99 (500ml)   
The multiple distillation for this Tsipouro is carried out in copper stills, removing the distasteful elements that result from boiling, at the same time protecting the delicate aroma of the distil. The fruity characteristics of the carefully selected grape varieties over a background of orange-tree blossoms, possibly makes this Tsipouro the most genuine grappa. 

Serve very cold straight up (make sure to try it without the "rocks" to experience its true Greek spirit) and sip as an aperitif.

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Metaxa 5 Star

BRANDY

House of Metaxa  Metaxa (Μεταξά) 5 Star and 7 Star Greece  $26.99 (5 Star-750ml) & $29.99 (7 Star-750ml)   
The dark honey-colored 5-Star brandy is a classic. With a bottle inspired by ancient Greek architecture, its spirit captures the warmth of the sun. Smooth and mellow with an apricot, vanilla aroma and notes of raisin and brioche, with a light oak finish.

The sophisticated 7-Star bottle is inspired by ancient Greek vases, called Amphorae, which were used 
to carry wines and spirits. This brandy is made up of wine distillates aged up to 7 years, giving 7 Star a distinctly rich dark-amber color. This full-bodied brandy features a muscat, ripe peach, herbal-honey aroma with a warm, spicy taste and notes of black raisin.

Serve neat, on the rocks, mixed with tonic, or as a mixer in cocktails.

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Metaxa 7 Star

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I hope you enjoyed the sweet conclusion to our Greek food-and-wine pairing. Again, if you missed part 1 ~ Drink Like A Greek~OPA! ~ it’s not too late to check out our meze and entrée wine pairings! All our blogs are on the right in our archives and in categories. 

The wines and liquors featured in this 2-part series are just a sampling of the countless exceptional Greek wines and spirits available. As you embark on your fruitful tasting journey, may the bountiful Greek spirit continue to fill your sails of discovery.

If you have a different food you’d like to get a pairing for, leave us a comment below and we’ll get back to you with a wine match.

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Can’t find these wines in your area? No worries! Omega Wines & Spirits will ship within the United States and you can order online or by phone, 718-726-0056…just tell them Kukla’s Kouzina sent you and you’ll get 10 percent off your wine selections. To order online, enter the coupon code KUKLA.

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Thanks once more to Irene and Tony Gounaris at Omega Wines & Spirits for their help in putting together this delicious wine menu!

Omega Wines & Spirits is located at 23-18 31st Street in Astoria, NY. Check their website or call for information on in-store special events and wine tastings. Stop by for a visit next time you're in the area and revel in their amazing selections—they'll be happy to recommend a wine for your next occasion! 

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Here's the link in case you missed part 1 of this series: Greek Wine & Food Pairing.

As we close this food-and-wine series, our glass is once again lifted to all of you in a traditional Greek toast ~ 
Stin iyia sou! To your health!

Sign up for our e-newsletter (if you haven’t already) and stay connected on social media for cooking tips and recipes, as well as for all Kukla's Kouzina updates and news.

Thanks for following us and we’ll see you next Monday!

Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!

Kelly

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