The wines of Greece are foundational; they provide the underpinnings of all wine, just as the Greeks built Western culture itself. But how many have you tasted? Join our beverage boss, Doug Frost, for a feast and tasting exploring some of his favorite wines on the planet, which happen to be from Greece.
FIRST
Roasted Chesapeake Bay Oysters
pickled apple, ginger and preserved lemon,
french baguette crumb, lemon agrumato
Canava Chrissou Tselepos Vieilles Vignes Assyrtiko 2020, Santorini
Assyrtiko is Greece’s signature white grape from its most famed island.
SECOND
Chickpea Pea-Fried Sardines
pickled watermelon rind, shaved fennel, blistered shishitos,
meyer lemon aïoli, chermoula
Boutari Kretikos Vidiano/Vilana 2018, Crete
Most of Crete’s grapes are unknowns, but Vidiano and Vilana deserve acknowledging.
THIRD
Brown Butter Spaghetti Squash and Shrimp
feta cheese, iberico ham, opal basil, hazelnuts, dried apricot
Skouras Moscofilero Salto Wild Yeast 2019, Mantinia
Greece’s other signature white grape, Moscofilero, is not a member of the Muscat family but smells very much like Dry Muscat, floral and bone dry.
FOURTH
Pappardelle and Lamb Shoulder
turkish eggplant, dried plum, purple onion confit,
crispy moroccan olive gremolata
Skouras Saint George Agiorgitiko 2020, Nemea
One of the two most popular red grapes, Agiorgitoko (also known as St. George) is
raspberry-rich with red fruits and just enough tannin to give it weight.
Parparoussis Oenofilos Agiorgitiko/Mavrodaphne 2016 Achaia, Peloponnese
If Skouras epitomizes modern Greek winemaking, Parparoussis's version gives us a view into more traditional practices with red wines.
FIFTH
Roast Veal Stuffed with Morel Mushrooms
brown butter baby carrots, potato gnocchi, cipollini
Alpha Estate Ecosystem Xinomavro Reserve Vieilles Vignes Single Block
''Barba Yannis'' 2018, Amyndeon
Alpha is one of the modern stars of Greek wine and their Xinomavro fleshes out this driest, most tannic and fiercest of Greek grapes.
SIXTH
Fresh Fig and Frangipane Tart
plum granita, goat cheese ice cream, chocolate sauce
Domaine Sigalas VinSanto Assyrtiko/Aidani 2017, Santorini
A wine that is described in Hesiod’s Works and Days (circa 700 BC): dried on straw mats and aged for about seven years in barrel. This is one of the world’s greatest dessert wines.
$125 per person, plus tax and gratuity