Eat and Drink Like A Greek~OPA!
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For decades wine culture as been oversaturated with French and Italian wines so it’s high time Greece took its well-deserved place among these titans.
We live in a time where attention spans are short and everyone’s always looking for the next best thing. This time Greek wine actually IS the next—best—thing! |
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Greek wine is exploding for good reason. From its northern regions to its southern islands, Greece has been producing wine for thousands of years, so they know what they're doing. Each wine-producing area throughout the country is diverse when it comes to prime winemaking soil and microclimate. The fresh Aegean breezes, warm sun and rich volcanic soil of Santorini…the mountain-lake terrain of Velvento with its clay sand, argillaceous clay and limestone…Drama’s dry climate and alkaline clay…the low-plain region of Attica with its gentle winds, low humidity, non-existent frosts, and the brightest sunlight in Greece—these are just a few examples of what makes Greece a formidable contender, and winner, of numerous awards and nods in the wine industry today.
assyrtiko grape variety
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agiorgitiko grape variety
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a typical Greek wine shelf at Omega Wines & Spirits in Astoria, NY
In our quest to find and recommend a couple of good wines to friends and followers, our research revealed many amazing Greek wines that are not just for entrées but for serving with various meze (appetizer) platters.
For this week’s post we consulted with experts Irene and Tony Gounaris, owners of Omega Wines & Spirits in Astoria, NY, who helped us pair today’s cutting-edge wines with three of our Greek meze menu options (many of which can be found in our Meze and Spreads & Dips cookbooks)—a difficult task given the countless exceptional Greek wines available. Though not included in this post, keep in mind that spirits like ouzo are always great with meze.
This sampling is sure to arouse your palate and entice you to set sail on your own exploration of what has become the hottest buzz!
For this week’s post we consulted with experts Irene and Tony Gounaris, owners of Omega Wines & Spirits in Astoria, NY, who helped us pair today’s cutting-edge wines with three of our Greek meze menu options (many of which can be found in our Meze and Spreads & Dips cookbooks)—a difficult task given the countless exceptional Greek wines available. Though not included in this post, keep in mind that spirits like ouzo are always great with meze.
This sampling is sure to arouse your palate and entice you to set sail on your own exploration of what has become the hottest buzz!
Picture yourself sipping wine on a mountaintop in Olympus or at a seaside tavern overlooking the Aegean in Santorini—the ageri (breeze) caresses your face, the warm sun kisses your shoulders, you hear the crunch of the dry soil beneath your sandals, and as you look up you sense the majesty of the sea surrounding you and you know that you are blessed. You muse that this must be how the ripening grapes in their vineyards must feel too! As you allow yourself to be swept away in this Hellenic utopia, let the following menus paired with the perfect glass (or bottle) of Greek wine take you even further in your quest for paradise.
Each section below starts with a meze menu (from a cold platter, to hot, to a little bit of both), followed by a full description of the menu’s perfect wine pairing. These wines are a natural choice with Greek food (but they also play well with other kinds of cuisines)!
Each section below starts with a meze menu (from a cold platter, to hot, to a little bit of both), followed by a full description of the menu’s perfect wine pairing. These wines are a natural choice with Greek food (but they also play well with other kinds of cuisines)!
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BONUS:
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A Little Meze, A Little Greek Wine
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MEZE 1
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MEZE 2
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MEZE 3
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LAGER NOD: Though our focus for this blog is not on beer, we will say that Mythos (Μύθος), a bright straw-colored lager import from Mythos Brewery in Thessaloniki, is the most popular beer in Greece and is widely distributed here in the States. Mythos is crisp and slightly bitter, with a refreshing citrus taste that makes it a winner with meze, or a grilled main course, on a hot summer day! |
I hope you enjoyed our Greek wine and meze pairing. Join us next Monday when we’ll do entrée pairings!
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.
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.
SPECIAL OFFER!
Can’t find these wines in your area? No worries!
Omega Wines & Spirits will ship within the United States and you can order by phone, 718-726-0056…just tell them Kukla’s Kouzina sent you and you’ll get 10 percent off your wine selections.
Can’t find these wines in your area? No worries!
Omega Wines & Spirits will ship within the United States and you can order by phone, 718-726-0056…just tell them Kukla’s Kouzina sent you and you’ll get 10 percent off your wine selections.
Omega Wines & Spirits is located at 23-18 31st Street in Astoria, NY. 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!
Our glass is lifted to all of you in a traditional Greek toast ~ Stin iyia sou! To your health!
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Thanks for following us and we’ll see you next Monday!
Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
Kelly
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
Copyright © Kukla's Kouzina: A Gourmet Journey~Greek Island Style / The Naked Truth About...Greek Cooking!
Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos
Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos
