I imagine I won’t be able to convince anyone that most classic Christmas and New Year’s dishes – turkey first and foremost – go well with white wines, nor of course that white wines are very expensive and rarer than red wine.
You see, in the consciousness of most oenophiles, reds express the quintessence of wine but also its most mythical side.
Therefore all I can do is recommend (in alphabetical order) 5 top labels from the Greek vineyard, which will send shivers of emotion to any serious wine lover. Yes, most of them are very expensive, but the quality inside the glass won’t make you think for a moment if you’re going to spit it out: “it’s okay”!
Avadis, Syrah Collection
Only 8 barrels give the charismatic Cru to Afrati Evia, but even these are considered a lot for the country’s top Syrah. So after selecting the best of them, only 1000 bottles are filled with the Collection!
Fans of full-bodied Syrah can turn to the same vineyard in Agio Chrono, since here finesse is the one that has the first word. And it’s so French that it makes many of the legendary Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage seem gross!
Zafirakis, Limniona Terracotta
Limniona has emerged as the new red star of the Greek vineyard, thanks to the efforts of Christos Zafirakis.
The influential producer from Tyrnavos highlights the fruity a la Pinot Noir nobility of the variety, even in the cask versions, but ends the pleasure in this cuvee that matures for 12 months in clay amphorae. Full of aromas of violets and herbs, the effect is sweet, velvety and highly addictive!
Thymiopoulos, Autorizo
With Earth and Sky, Apostolos Thymiopoulos opened new paths for Naoussa and Xinomavro, sending the great grape from the earth to the sky, but with his Autorizo he proves that he can travel to the stratosphere!
Coming from a vineyard planted with autoriage vines that are over 50 years old, this Naoussa from the semi-mountainous (450m) Fitia Plantation, sets new limits in flavor depth and complexity while at the same time pounding with abundant fruit.
Costa Lazaridis, Amethystos Winery
Oikonomou, Antigone
Isolated on the plateau of Ziros, Yiannis Oikonomou does not pose for photos, does not fool around on social media, nor does he spend himself in self-admiration.
On the contrary, he transforms the humble Liatiko and the discredited Mandilari into works of supreme wine art like Antigoni, a vaporizer of silky complexity, which simply brings tears to the eyes.
It is true, it costs as much as many famous Burgundies; but it is better than all of them!
Simos Georgopoulos is a columnist for New Money.
READ MORE: The World’s Best Vineyards In Greece.
