Greek wine and food – a perfect combination
Greek wine and food is the perfect combination!
Combine greek wine with greek food and enjoy a perfect Mediterranean combination.
Greece is a beautiful country, with a long history and a culture of good wines paired with good foods – in fact, the Greeks will rarely drink without eating.
Greek winemakers enjoy a Mediterranean climate with a long, warm growing season and short winters. White wines are predominant, with about 62 percent of the wines produced being white. Almost 90 percent of the varieties produced are indigenous Greek varieties.
Greek cuisine also flies under the radar, with an amazing array of interesting foods.
In the chill of winter, what better way to remember your Greece vacation (or to dream of a future holiday) than to drink a glass of Greek wine and eat authentic home-cooked Greek food? Here is a list of luscious Greek wine and food pairings.
Red Wines
Xinomavro
Xinomavro wines have a firm tannic structure and crisp acidity that call for fat meats, full of protein, epitomised by lamb. Beyond this classic match, Xinomavro complements any kind of meat stew, grilled beefsteaks, sausages, game, roasted lamb, coq au vin or even wild mushroom risotto with Parmesan flakes, wine-flavoured cheeses, aged gouda or cheddar.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes
This grapes partners quite well with moshari yiouvetsi, an herbed beef and pasta casserole, or arnaki kleftiko (bandit’s lamb), a slow-cooked dish of lamb and tomatoes.
Moschomavro
Moschomavro grape variety is grown only over a small area in western Macedonia and parts of Thessaly, and the name means “the fragrant black”. This wine is dry, yet really soft and fruity, with lots of blackberry flavor and a deep, strong red color.
Moschomavro is just right with good bread, olives and a selection of Greek cheeses.
Krassato and Stavroto
The grapes are grown in the southern slopes of Mount Olympus, the mythical mountain of the gods.
This is a good solid red wine with a bit of fruit and spice, and ideally pairs with moussaka on a cold night.
White Wines
Moschofilero
Moschofilero white grapes are grown especially in the Peloponnese.
It pairs deliciously with kotopoulo souvlaki (grilled chicken on skewers) and a Greek salad.
Chardonnay
This grape is delightful with grilled fresh fish and seafood, such as grilled calamari.
Savatiano and Asyrtiko
This white wine varieties pairs good with keftedes (Greek meatballs) or grilled sardines.
Wine wines are always well accompanied with greek olives; baked feta cheese; beets with red and green onions and feta or fresh zucchini in stewed tomatoes.
