2023 Houston Greek Festival Greek Wines
Anemos Red
“Anemos Red” – Palivou Estate Grapes: 100% Agiorgitiko (Ah-yor-yeé–ti-ko) Notes: A fresh, easy Agiorgitiko from the ancient area of Nemea. This dry red wine is aromatic in character with soft tannins. It has a hint of pepper with rich black cherries and blackberries. Compares to: Pinot Noir
Anemos White
"Anemos White" - Palivou Estate Grapes: 70% Roditis (Ro-theé-tees), 30% Moschofilero (Mōs-ko-fí-le-ro) Notes: This is a crisp and refreshing dry white wine from a second-generation family winery in the Peloponnese. It has notes of lemon blossoms, pear and apple. Compares to: Pinot Grigio
Plano White
“Plano Malagousia" – Wine Art Estate Grapes: 100% Malagousia (Mah-lah-gou-zyá) Notes: Intense character that brings a Mediterranean garden with green herbs to mind. Citrus fruits, unripe peach and a wonderful green character reminiscent of green pepper, freshly cut grass, fennel and mint. Compares to: Sauvignon Blanc
Palivou LaVie En Rose’
"La Vie en Rose"- Palivou Winery Grapes: 100% Moschofilero (Mōs-ko-fí-le-ro) Notes: A beautiful dry, light pink color rosé with violet tones. Wonderful aromas of pomegranates, plums, and raspberries, and nice floral tones. This is a very refreshing rosé. Compares to: An aromatic French rosé
Palivou Nemea
"Estate Nemea" - Palivou Estate Grapes: 100% Agiorgitiko (Ah-yor-yeé–ti-ko) Notes: The flagship wine of Palivou. Rich aromatic character with intense fruit and clean aromas of cherries, plums and spices. Single vineyard selection of 20 – 30 years old vines. This is a benchmark Agiorgitiko from Nemea that is a classic. Aged 12 months in French oak. Compares to: Rioja/ Chianti
Nostros Assyrtiko
“Nostos Assyrtiko" – Manousakis Winery Grapes: Assyrtiko 100% (Ah-seér-tee-ko) Notes: Aromas of ripe, fleshy, white fruit, and fresh citrus. A wonderful full-bodied, dry white wine from Crete with a complex mouth feel and intense flavor of citrus, mineral and herbaceous notes. Compares to: Light Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
Makrovitis Xinomavro
“Naoussa Xinomavro" – Markovitis Winery Grapes: 100% Xinomavro (Ksee-nó-mahv-roh) Notes: A fruity and earthy red wine from the area of Naoussa in Macedonia. This wine has rich notes of sun-dried tomato, earthy mushroom and red cherries. The tannins are perfectly integrated and soft. Compares to: Barolo, Pinot Noir
Mavrodaphne of Patras
“Mavrodaphne" – We imagine this is what sweet wine tasted like a thousand years ago. Rich, raisiny, and rustic, this Greek wine is the kind of thing Odysseus would have drunk to celebrate his return. Even better, a slight deliberate oxidation means that you can keep the bottle open for a few days and the wine wont change something youd have to be crazy to attempt with most non-fortified wines.
Kourtaki Retsina
“Retsina" – Retsina is a product unique to the Greek vineyards. Greece is the only country permitted to produce traditional Retsina wine under law. It is a dry, slightly piquant wine, which owes its characteristic flavor to the addition of a few pieces of pine resin to the must before or during fermentation. These, along with the lees, are removed during the first racking.