Retsina white wine, dry. Traditional and well known. (2023)

FAQs

Retsina white wine, dry. Traditional and well known.? ›

Retsina (Greek: ρετσίνα) is a Greek white (or rosé) resinated wine, which has been made for at least 2,000 years. Its unique flavor is said to have originated from the practice of sealing wine vessels, particularly amphorae, with Aleppo pine resin in ancient times.

Retsina (Greek: ρετσίνα) is a Greek white (or rosé) resinated wine, which has been made for at least 2,000 years. Its unique flavor is said to have originated from the practice of sealing wine vessels, particularly amphorae, with Aleppo pine resin in ancient times.

Dry white wine is a blend of white grapes fermented until all the sugar is gone. It is typically available in the following varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscadet, Albariño, Pinot Grigio, Soave, Picpoul, and Grenache Blanc.

The flavor of retsina, a wine infused with the resin of Aleppo pine trees, has often been likened to turpentine, even by people who like the stuff. Most modern retsinas are made with poor, thin wine. A potent addition of resin masks the dullness of the base with a sharp, bracing pungency.

So, it was understandable that Retsina became synonymous with low-priced wines of poor quality. Much of these wines were sold in bulk, with resin added in order to mask any flaws from poor grape quality and dreadful winemaking, full of oenological “no-nos”.

Assyrtiko. Assyrtiko is one of the most popular Greek products and recognized wine varieties in Greece and can be found all across the country since its production is not limited to one specific region but rather covers the majority of the land.

Retsina from Central Greece

A specialty of Greece is a white wine infused with the sap of the Allepo pine tree. Retsina wines have aromas of linseed oil and lime peel that lead into flavors of apples and roses, with a subtle piney, saline finish.

Arneis. Reputedly Italy's most popular dry white wine of the 1980s, this crispy white is from the northern Italian region of Piedmont. Often straw-green in color, it can cover a wide range of aromas from white flowers and chamomile to peach, apricot, citrus, and even almond, and can have a creamy mouthfeel.

Dry White Wine #1 Sauvignon Blanc - Widely available

Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white wine made around the world. Sauvignon Blanc makes aromatic white wines that have citrus, stone fruit, grass, or herbal notes. In cooler growing regions, Sauvignon Blanc tends to be more herbaceous with gooseberry.

There is no single best type of white wine, but the most popular white wine varietal in the world is Chardonnay. Winemakers, bars, restaurants, and enthusiasts alike all love Chardonnay.

How do Greeks drink retsina? ›

Retsina is served cold and goes very well with fish, seafood, cheese and appetizers (or mezedes, as they call them in Greece). It comes in a bottle of 500 ml and unlike the draft homemade wine, we have never seen draft retsina in a taverna but it doesn`t mean you can`t find such.

Retsina is produced and bottled at specific locations in Central Greece: Attica (mainly the area of Mesogia), Boeotia and Evia. It is a traditional Greek wine, which has been considered for many decades as a cheap popular choice.

Retsina is the best known traditional Greek wine. Its reputation, not always positive, had long overshadowed that of other distinguished Greek wines and appellations.

Ambrosia was the drink of choice for the Greek Gods: a sweet and ethereal wine so magical that merely tasting it could make you immortal. Ambrosia appears often in classical Greek poetry, but the origins of the word are obscure.

Retsina is a wine process, really, not a wine—pine resin is added to a base of white wine (typically Roditis or Savatiano), thus creating a pine resin flavor and aromatic. This supposedly mimics ancient traditions, when ancient Greeks sealed wines with resin closures.

Ouzo. Ouzo is considered the national drink of Greece. In technical terms, it is either produced by partial distillation or the admixture of plain alcohol with aromatic herbs.

Greece is primarily known for its white grape varieties. Among them, Assyrtiko tops the list of the finest Greek wine varieties. Indigenous to the island of Santorini, Assyrtiko is now grown in other places in Greece too, mainly on the Cyclades Islands.

The most expensive Greek wine, LΛPO , is a Rose that you can find at the price of 1200.00 Euro / bottle, produced in very small quantity, about 700 bottles per year . LΛΡΟ dry rose wine, is an outstanding member of the wine club, created with true passion for wine trips, modern winemaking, beautiful aromas and nature.

The oldest Greek wine (2,000 years old) served today is the famous white wine, Retsina. The very same wine that the ancient Greeks drank can be tasted today.

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.

What is the name of the Greek communion wine? ›

Nama (Greek: Νάμα) is a sweet red wine that is usually used in Greek Orthodox Churches in Holy Communion. It is similar to Mavrodaphne, with the difference that it is sweeter and it contains less alcohol.

The most popular Italian white wine is Sangiovese. Sangiovese wines are widely planted grape varietals in Italy. It houses the best white wines in Italy, such as Chianti Classico.

Pinot Grigio may dominate wine lists, but there's so much more to Italian white wine, and so many interesting varieties to try. In the north of Italy, you'll find the likes of Friuliano, which offers floral and citrus notes, the apple-tinged Garganega, and the stone-fruit-accented Cortese, which is used to make Gavi.

Grapes: Cortese. Cortese di Gavi, known simply as Gavi, is the most famous and prestigious white wine DOCG from the Piedmont region in northern Italy. It is produced from the indigenous white grape varietyCortese. Gavi is a crisp and refreshing bone-dry white wine, due to the mineral-rich soils of the area.

According to Wine-Searcher, chardonnay is the world's most popular white wine. Because it's so widely produced, these wines can vary greatly from region to region and winemaker to winemaker.

The French Muscadet is knwon as the driest white wine. It has intense minerality and a bone-dry, tropical fruit palate. The wine is made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape and has high acidity.

Full-bodied white wines have a higher alcohol content, generally 13.5% or more, and have more complex flavors. Examples include oaked Chardonnay, Viognier, and Muscat. These wines pair well with rich, buttery foods, like lobster, as well as smoky flavors and pungent cheeses.

Pinot Grigio is the second most popular white wine variety sold in the United States. It has a great balance of being dry to off-dry and crisply refreshing, with notes of pear and mineral on the nose.

The Chardonnay glass (also called Viognier or both) is the most traditional white wine glass type.

Chardonnay is often one of the house wines for bars and restaurants. It's a staple of the wine industry. In contrast, Sauvignon Blanc is another excellent white wine, but it's a bright, clear wine. The dichotomy between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc shows off the variety among the best types of white wine.

Is retsina sweet or dry? ›

Greek retsina is a dry white wine made and drunk all over Greece with a distinctive pine and resin flavour that people usually either love or hate. For us, when we visit Greece, our first meal is very often kalamari (squid) and a bottle of retsina, perhaps preceded by an ouzo and some meze.

Since 1940 Retsina has been a traditional trade name and is only produced in Greece and Cyprus. This well-known, dry Restina white wine is a quality product.

Retsina has an alcohol content of 12 to 12.5 percent and is best served chilled at 10C.

: a resin-flavored Greek wine.

The national drink of Greece is, of course, 'ouzo'! Ouzo is an alcoholic beverage with anise that is produced exclusively in Greece. Thanks to its essential oils of anise, anise, and fennel seeds, it creates a pleasant feeling of refreshment able to soothe even the hottest Greek summer.

History. Ouzo has its roots in tsipouro, which is said to have been the work of a group of 14th-century monks on Mount Athos. One version of it was flavored with anise. This version eventually came to be called ouzo.

Italy takes its wine seriously: combine a long history of wine-making (all the way back to Greek colonization) with an ideal climate and over a million vineyards, and you can see why Italy takes the top spot as the world's wine producer.

By adding the beneficial properties of resin known since ancient times, the achieved result is a unique wine with a completely Greek identity. Retsina is produced exclusively in Greece, and according to Regulation 1493/1999, its production is prohibited in any other country in the world.

LIMNIONA FROM THESSALY

Limniona (“lim-nee-ona”) is Greece's answer to Pinot Noir, producing wines with fragrant aromas of red-berries and rose petals, over delicate, rounded, silky texture.

Retsina has an alcohol content of 12 to 12.5 percent and is best served chilled at 10C.

What is the best way to drink retsina? ›

The general recommendation with Retsina is to drink it very cold and from a wide-open glass. This helps to temper the aroma of pine which can sometimes be overpowering. In a more acute glass, the odor will be trapped and can completely subdue the other elements of the wine.

Moschofilero. If you prefer sweeter, more aromatic Pinot Grigios, look no further than this Greek white wine. Moschofilero is found on the Peloponnese peninsula and is another great option for light-bodied, high acid, refreshing wines.

Cesanese has been hailed as Lazio's answer to Pinot Noir by Italian wine critics since at least the 1900s. A well-made Cesanese del Piglio or Olevano Romano often has berry aromas, floral notes, and pepper, with a silky texture and easy tannins.

It's considered one of the finest grape varieties in the World, yet being a cooler climate grape limits its reach in terms of vineyards. Pinot Noir (international name) in Italy becomes Pinot Nero (as Pinot Blanc becomes Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Gris becomes Pinot Grigio).

The Taste of Retsina

Retsina wines made with Assyrtiko grapes tend to be more angular in their style (but age longer) whereas, Retsina wines made with Savatiano grapes have a more generous taste with ripe apple and peach flavors, as well as an oily texture on the palate.

Since 1940 Retsina has been a traditional trade name and is only produced in Greece and Cyprus. This well-known, dry Restina white wine is a quality product.

Retsina Black Label is the purest expression of the most ancient Greek winemaking tradition, in a natural Savatiano vinification, with no sulfites or any additives, from biodynamic grapes.