Greek grape varieties.

Today I got a mail from a Greek wine estate wondering if this would be interesting for us to work with. I work for an importer specialising in Bordeaux, and Bordeaux only, so no, it wouldn't.

But I'm not casting it all over board for that reason, because personally I find Greek wine and grape varieties extremelly interesting. Some varieties like Agiorgitiko, Mavrodaphne and Assyrtiko can make some really interesting wines, with a lot of personality and typicity. The mail of today had some new varieties that is not of those I can taste when I read their names. That makes me very curious......

A red variety, Kotsifali, cultivated to a great extent around Heraklion on Crete, often mixed with other varieties because of low acidity and unstable colour.

The next out was Vilana, the most "famous" of the white varieties of Crete, ripens mid September with high acidity and moderate artic richness. Growing around Rethymnon and Chania, I find this curious, it's so hot there, and still it manages to attain high acidity.

Then came Dafni, something for Broadbent's wife maybe? Grown around Heraklion and the plains of Lassithi, it's of moderate acidity and fruity flavours and ripens in September.

Mandilari, the richest in colour of the Aegean varieties, ripening late September, with medium to low alcohol, moderate acidity and rich in tannins.

Now Plyto, white variety, lively and susceptible to botrytis and matures in early September with moderate acidity.

I have heard of some of them, but they haven't really attached to my mind. But I have to say, they would be interesting to taste. What are their potential? I hope the financial situation in Greece does not put on to big a break for the wine industry of the country, because there are some treasures to still be found, i'm shure. Go explore on your next holliday trip, and spend some money, not just buy the house wine for 3€ at the local restaurant, it clearly won't be that exciting, or any good at all. But explore, be curious! I remember having a good waitor at a restaurant just outside Chania ones, who made me pay 30€ for Gaia Estate Agiorgitiko. This was about six to seven years ago, and I thought, wait, I can find a good Bordeaux for that kind of money, and this is Greek!

But the wine was of real class, and I have never looked back, and many more positive surprises have been tasted since.