Retsina

Le Retsina is the best-known traditional Greek wine. It was so well known for so long that its reputation - not always positive - overshadowed Greek wines and other Greek wines. 

The revival of Retsina wine

Straight from the sunny lands of Greece, Retsina has been enjoying a revival in recent years. Thanks to new production methods, why not discover or rediscover this beverage that smells like a seaside vacation?

The ancestral roots of Retsina wine

First seen over 4,000 years ago in the land of Sophocles, the Retsina wine like many discoveries, is the result of a fortunate coincidence. When wine was shipped to the colonies of Ancient Greece in amphorae sealed with resin, it was discovered that Aleppo pine resin had been mixed with the wine. Not only did the resin give the wine its distinctive citrus-like aromas of sweetness and bitterness, it also prevented oxidation. A white or sometimes rosé wine, Retsina is made from the roditis grape variety, which produces grapes with pink skin. Note that the "Retsina" appellation can only be used if the wine is produced in Greece, its country of origin. Traditionally, Attica, Boetia and Evvia are the Greek regions that produce the most Retsina wine.

The aromatic amplitude of Retsina wine

Until a few years ago, bad practices led to the use of mediocre wine to which a lot of resin was added to mask its poor quality, but a new generation of winemakers has succeeded in renewing the way Retsina wine is produced. Often grown organically and therefore in smaller quantities, the wine is still fermented in amphorae with freshly harvested pine resin as close to the vineyard as possible. Retsina white wine often has a scent reminiscent of jasmine, sometimes balsamic, and a wide range of aromas reminiscent of fresh herbs such as rosemary or oregano, plants like chamomile or even citrus. In fact, this dry wine is endowed with a great aromatic amplitude brought about by both the Mediterranean landscape and its atypical production method. 

Retsina wine and its many culinary combinations

This wealth of scents and flavors can accompany a wide range of dishes. Of course, Retsina wine is the perfect accompaniment to dishes from a variety of Mediterranean cuisines. Of course, it goes perfectly with Greek dishes based on olive oil: marinated vegetable mezzes, stuffed vine leaves or humus accompanied by pita bread. Retsina white wine also goes wonderfully well with grilled fish dishes with garlic. By extension, it goes well with many Japanese dishes, especially fish dishes. Japanese curries, for example, or Caribbean curries, are also simmered dishes that are best served with a glass of Retsina.