When in Athens …. drink more Greek Wine

Continuing my exploration into Greek wines, I couldn’t resist going to the Heteroclito Wine Bar in the historic centre of Athens.  Set opposite a church, it is compact with the feel of a sophisticated French bisto but the focus is on wine.  Most of the tables were outside and thankfully we snagged one under a heater on a cold winter night.

I wanted to taste varieties that I had not tasted before – quite literally exploring the Greek world of wine – so we selected three wines between us, two whites and one red.

Lyrakis Wines Dermatas and Vidiano 2022 (Rethymno-Crete)

This white wine piqued my interest as the producer specialises in local nearly-forgotten grape varieties.  This wine blended the rare Dermatas variety with Vidiano - a slightly better known variety also from Crete. 

There was initial tannic grip on the palate at my first sip.  However as the wine warmed up, it became textural yet smooth – yes, it seems to be a contradiction but it was really round in the mouth.  Vanilla, honey and quince flavours abounded with a touch of orange pith on the back palate.  There was a faint hint of barely dried herbs, hazelnut and almond.  A really interesting wine.

Rating: Delish       Price: EUR 8 per glass

Kefallinos and Oenos Nature 2024 Verdea Nature

A traditional appellation wine from Zakynthos and has to be made of at least 50.1% Skiadopoulo grapes exclusively from Zakynthos.  This wine was a blend and also contained Robola, Goustolidi, Makrypodia and Xilopodia – yes, I really am exploring a new world of grapes.

This white wine was superb.  A major vanilla hit backed by honeycomb and white floral.  It was so smooth and just enveloped the mouth.  On the finish there was citrus – especially clementine – and a bit of pith.  Unusual and I loved it.  This was the pick of the evening (and also the most expensive wine per glass on the list).

Rating: Outstanding     Price: EUR 9 per glass

My friend had a glass of the Daimon Eautou Negoca 2024 August from Illia in the Peloponnese.  It was made from Avgoustiatis, a red variety mainly found on Zakynthos and western Illia, and my friend said that it had a lovely sour cherry taste.  I was too interested in drinking the Verdea Nature to give this wine a proper assessment and have more than one sip, so my friend did the rating.

Rating: Delish     Price: EUR 5.50 per glass

photo courtesy of heteroclito.gr