RETSINA - A UNIQUE TRADITIONAL GREEK WINE

RETSINA

Retsina  is a traditional white - or sometimes rosé -  wine that has been made in Greece for at least 2000 years. Its unique & distinctive flavor is said to have its  origins from the ancient practice of sealing the wine vessels (amphorae), with  pine resin to avoid destroying them  by being in contact with  oxygen. The pine resin was keeping the air out of the vessel, while at the same time was "infusing" the wine with its distinctive aromas and taste. Later on,  the Romans started to use barrels for the fermentation & maturation of the wines removing any need of sealing the vessels with resin, yet the flavor of Retsina itself became so popular among the nations in the  Mediterranean Basin, making it a beloved type of wine and a traditional Greek product  well known all over the world, even today!

Retsina is usually made of various local grape varieties but the best is considered that of Savatiano, as well as of Roditis grapes.

Retsina was - and still is -  one of the top selling wines within Greece and one of the top exported Greek wines - despite the "ruthless war" against it mostly by some "late" fans of  "imported traditions" - and it is no coincidence that people from around the world enjoy it not only when in Greece for holidays, but also at home or in the numerous Greek restaurants.

Enjoy Retsina, wherever you find it, always chilled and  in small glasses, accompanied by any kind of appetizers (tapas or mezedes)!!

Yamas!! (Cheers)

For any further info, please feel free to write at : dseitanidis@gmail.com

A real Greek recipe for our Dutch friends who asked for it...the notorious STIFADO

STIFADO is one of the "Classic" Greek dishes not only in most of the Greek restaurants around the world but also is one of the beloved every day meals of the Greek families;

Enjoy it in its Dutch version accompanied by an excellent dry red wine from the slopes of Mount Olympus, Rapsani Chrisohoou 2008.

Prowein 2011 @ the gates (Dusseldorf, March 27-29)

We are pleased to inform you that – as every year - we will be present at the forthcoming PROWEIN 2011 which will take place at the DUSSELDORF MESSE on March 27 – 29.

It would be our pleasure to receive you to our stands at HALL 3 where you will have the chance to taste the complete range of our wines available for exports, as follows:

LAFAZANIS WINERY – STAND E 40

CHATEAU NICO LAZARIDI – STAND E 40

DOUGOS WINERY – STAND F 38

RAPSANI CHRISOHOOU WINERY – STAND F 38

For any further information, please contact us at: dseitanidis@gmail.com & +30 69 48 188 797 (Dimitris Seitanidis)

BLACK SHEEP by NICO LAZARIDI

The Black Sheep is a beautifully vinified Syrah, dressed up in an "eye -catching" label, a "sarcastic" brand name and signed by Greece's leading estate producer Nico Lazaridi; along with its "alter ego" - the Black Sheep Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc - are made to accompany all your happy moments...

Cheers!!

For more info on the BLACK SHEEP duo, please contact us at : dseitanidis@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION - THESSALONIKI 2011

Excellent news on our collaborating producers at the recent International Wine competition in Thessaloniki, Greece 2011, where Estate Chrisohoou awarded a GOLD MEDAL for SYRAH CHRISOHOOU & a SILVER MEDAL for PETRITIS CHRISOHOOU.

Moreover, Lafazanis Winery awarded a SILVER MEDAL for his lovely PROROGOS RETSINA, the traditional appellation white wine of Greece.

 

SYRAH CHRISOHOOU / GOLD MEDAL

PETRITIS CHRISOHOOU / SILVER MEDAL

INFO ON THE NEW GREEK WINE LEGISLATION

The Greek wine legislation, along with those of the other EU countries, is changing. The European Union has introduced a unified system for all its members. The implementation was phased and will be concluded by the end of this year. It is important to note that for the time being, both terms, from the old and the new framework, can be used on the wine label.

The new framework is called the Protected Geographical Status (PGS). It consists of geographical indications that are defined by EU law to protect the names and reputations of regional foods.

The PGS consists of the following 3 geographical indications:

1. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

In Greek this is called Προστατευόμενης Ονομασίας Προέλευσης (Π.Ο.Π.). It replaces the OPAP and OPE categories from the former legislation.

2. Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

In Greek it is the Προστατευόμενης Γεωγραφικής Ένδειξης (Π.Γ.Ε.) and replaces most of the TO’s from the former legislation.

3. Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)

In Greece these are the "Varietal wines" that will replace the former OKP’s.

All other wines that do not meet the requirements of the PGS framework will be marketed as Table Wines. In Greece, the term "table wine" (EO) remains.

 

Please look here for the former Greek wine legislation and its terms.

Greek PDO Wines by regions:

• Macedonia: Naoussa, Goumenissa, Amyndeo and Plagies Meliton
• Thessaly: Rapsani, Anhialos and Messenikola
• Epirus: Zitsa
• Peloponnese: Nemea, Mantinia, Patras, Muscat of Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras, Mavrodaphne of Patras
• Aegean Islands: Limnos, Muscat of Limnos, Santorini, Paros, Rodos, Muscat of Rodos, Samos
• Ionian Islands: Robola of Cephalonia, Muscat of Cephalonia and Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia
• Crete: Peza, Archanes, Sitia and Dafnes

DETROP - OENOS 2011 - THE FOOD & WINE EVENT OF THE YEAR IN GREECE