Discover the Wines of Greece! I had the opportunity to visit the renowned producer Domaine Costa Lazaridi during my first summer in Greece, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. As I toured the sprawling estate, I was swept away by the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding vineyards, the fragrant aroma of the ripening grapes, and the staff’s warm hospitality. I indulged in a wine-tasting session, sampling some of the finest wines produced by the estate, each with its unique flavor and character. It was a truly epic visit that will remain etched in my memory for years to come.
Instead of visiting the Acropolis first, my initial stop in Athens was the Costa Lazaridi Wine Museum. This Domaine is particularly unique for me because the first Greek wine I ever tasted was an Amethystos Blanc, produced by Costa Lazaridi. I have previously paired this Assyrtiko-Sauvignon Blanc blend with delicious Greek food and salads. The Amethystos Blanc is an acidic white wine with notes of lemon, lime, and salt. Read the complete review here.
Costa Lazaridi has been around since 1979. They have been through changes, but Costa Lazaridi remains loyal to providing quality wine to their consumers. In 2011, they opened the Oenotria Land wine museum, according to their website, ‘is the most comprehensive effort to present the history of winemaking in Greece.’
I didn’t have an appointment, but they had great hospitality and kindly accommodated me and my family. The Oenotria Land Wine Museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm, so we played it safe and visited at 11 am. It was sad to see that there were not many visitors, but hopefully, Greek Wine Tourism will be as fabulous as it is on the Greek Islands; it can rise to the Greek mainland sooner rather than later. Please see some pictures of the Wine Museum for your enjoyment:
We had a great time and of course …
During the wine tasting, I couldn’t help but imagine the Greek god of wine, Bacchus, watching over us with envy. We were fortunate enough to try various wines, including an exquisite Rosé that was a crowd-pleaser. I ended up purchasing a Sauvignon Blanc with Assyrtiko, which is sold in the US as Amethystos Blanc, the Chateau Julia, and two different Red Blends.
The first Red Blend we tried was the Oenotria Land 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon and Agiorgitiko. It was a bold blend, and I could immediately taste the influence of the Greek way of making Cabernet Sauvignon. The second Red Blend was the Oenotria Land 2015 Syrah and Agiorgitiko. Another great blend had a different flavor profile than the first one.
I was impressed to learn that these wines have great aging potential, which means they’ll improve in flavor over time. So, I’ve decided to store them in my cellar for the next decade, and I can’t wait to see how they’ll taste. Overall, it was an enjoyable wine-tasting experience, and I’m grateful to have been able to experience Costa Lazaridi, one of the most notable producers of Wines in Greece, firsthand.
One of the remarks of their wine-making is blending Bordeaux grapes with Greek autochtonous grapes. Wine done alla greek mode with bold character and historical as Greece itself.
Costa Lazaridi wines are now easily accessible throughout the US. To find the nearest store, please check out this link and select your state for a more personalized result.
For those in New York, Astoria, Queens is home to the most significant Greek neighborhood in the US. You can visit the stores listed here or enjoy the total Greek wine and food experience at one of the many Greek restaurants located near Ditmars Ave, also listed here.
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