Greece
In Macedonia, the grape variety Xynomavro is at the origin
of Naoussa, a dark wine, both supple and spicy, as well as Goumenissa and Amindeo,
more light. The best producers of Naoussa are Boutari, Tsantalis and the Cooperative from
Naoussa, that produces equally rosé and red wines Xynomavro based.
In the Mount Athos peninsula, in Chalcidique, vineyards of the monastery of Hourmistas
give a beautiful Sauvignon and a rosé based from Cabernet-Franc, Cabernet-Sauvignon and
Limnio.
The Sithonie peninsula shelters the Carras Estate, a lone estate who produces the vintage
Côtes de Meliton. The best white wine is the Melissanthi, a fruity assemblage of grape
varieties Assyrtiko and Athiri. Château Carras, an assemblage of 80% Cabernet-Sauvignon
completed by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Limnio, is the Greek red wine the most known in
foreign countries.
In the north-west of Athens, the Hatzimichali Estate produces wines of good quality
based from Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. The Ampelon Estate, exclusively
Robola based, produces quality wines as well.
On the Eubee island, grape variety Robola, although less implanted than the Savatiano,
plays an important role. It is this region that plays a part in the production of Retsina.
It contributes flavor to the addition of Alep pine resin during fermentation. The Retsina
when it is drunk young and fresh, is a wine remarkably typical.
The best wine of Peloponnese, and perhaps of all Greece, is the Nemea, dark and spicy,
elaborated from grape variety Aghiorghitiko. The best wines are on the stemming hillsides
situated in below of the Asprokambos plateau. Worth noting are wineries like Kourtakis, Kokotos, Papaioannou and Skouras.
Of all islands of the Agean Sea, it is Crete that produces the most wine. The winery
Kourtakis proposes remarkable red wines, stemming of vines no grafted and very good
white wines.
One finds good bottles of Muscat at Rhodes. Samos is known for its excellent Muscat.
The Nectar of Samos, product by the Union of Cooperatives, is truly a great wine.
Lebanon
The most important wine-growing estates are Château Kefraya, Château Musar and Ksara, whose vineyards are exposed to the east
of the Mount Barouk, that dominates the beautiful Beka'a Valley. Thanks to an altitude
that exceeds 1000 meters, the temperature remains fair.
The best vintage of Kefraya "Coteaux de Kefraya", elaborated
from Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan, are the first witnesses of the
history of Château Kefraya, the first vintage being 1979.
The Musar is elaborated from Cabernet-Sauvignon and Cinsault. It is a wine whose
aromas are of an incomparable exoticism. The best vintage of Ksara "Reserve du
Couvent" elaborated from Cabernet-Sauvignon as well as Cinsaut and Syrah. This
wine with its dark ruby-red colour, allies finesse and elegance with aromas of woods and
vanilla.
Israel
Since the eighties, Israel produces some good wines. The
most interesting are original Golan plateau wines in Galilee. The key appelations are
Yarden, Gamla and Golan (Golan Heights Winery).
Vines planted in the shade of the Mount Hermon grow on very drained soils, for most
basaltic or volcanic origin. Cabernet, Merlot, Muscat, Chardonnay and Sauvignon give
excellent results. The relatively raised altitude explains, that in the day, the
temperature does not exceed 25°C.
The biggest vineyards area of the country is the Shomron situated between the
Mediterranean and the Mount Carmel. The Carmel
Mizrachi Wines, that represents 64% of the Israeli production has their vineyards
there. An excellent quality wines are produced by Baron Wine Cellars at Binyamina.
To know more about Israeli wines, visit the site : IsraWine.
Cyprus
Indigenous grape varieties, notably red Mavron and
white Xynisteri cover approximately 85% the vineyard. The remainder shares
between Palomino, and the great French grape varieties. The most famous wine of the island
is the Commandaria, elaborated from the best vats of Mavron and Xynisteri.
The best table wines are derived from south hillsides of the Mount Troodos, where the
melting snow insures the supply in water. For the best, look for Othello and Aphrodite of
Keo or the Semeli of Etko Wines.
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