Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Xinomavro

Written by Allison Levine on July 15, 2017

Wine

It has been a week of Greek wine, Greek food and Greek people without having to leave the country. I spent the week organizing educational events about xinomavro, the grape of Naoussa, Greece but on one of the nights, I took off my event hat and was invited as a writer to enjoy the wines at a dinner. Finally I got to sit down and taste the wines and hence, xinomavro is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Xinomavro comes from Naoussa, located in the northern part of Greece. It is the single grape variety permitted under the PDO Naoussa which was established in 1971. As a mono-varietal region, when you see Naoussa on a bottle of wine, it means that the wine inside it is made from the grape xinomavro (ksee-NOH-mah-vroh). [If you practice saying it a few times, it will start to just roll off the tongue.]

Xinomavro produces a wine that is high in acid and high in tannin, with aromas of tomato, olive, spice and earthiness. This is a wine that really speaks of terroir and tradition. Xinomavro has its own style but it is known to resemble other wines you may be more familiar with. Lighter, younger styles of xinomavro may remind you of a Beaujolais or pinot noir and older xinomavro will remind you of nebbiolo.

Xinomavro is a wine that demands and deserves food. It pairs beautifully with lamb, roasted chicken and stews but surprisingly also can work with spicy foods.

There are a total of 18 producers of xinomavro in Naoussa and I tasted all of them this week. I enjoyed the range of styles that this one grape can express and that is why xinomavro is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Getting to know Greek wines: Naoussa and the Grape Xinomavro

Written by Allison Levine on December 30, 2015

Travel Lifestyle Wine

Located in Macedonia in the north of Greece, approximately one hour west Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, is the wine region of Naoussa. Naoussa was one of the first regions in Greece to receive protected denomination of origin (PDO) status in 1971 and is the home to the native grape Xinomavro.

Xino, which means “sour,” and mavro, which means “black,” is the single grape variety permitted under the PDO Naoussa. Xinomavro is one of two red varieties of Greek wine that puts the country on the international wine map.

The vineyards of Naoussa are at 1,150 feet. Influence from the Aegean and Ionian seas has resulted in a mosaic of soils, including rocks and clay, throughout the region. The region experiences a Mediterranean climate with strong continental influences. The days reach high temperatures and the nights reach low temperatures. The climate, combined with humidity and high fog, makes Xinomavro the last grape to harvest each vintage. Read More +

Vineyards Offer More than Wine

Written by Allison Levine on September 14, 2015

Lifestyle Food Wine

Harvest 2015 is well underway in most wine regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The grapes are being picked and made into wine. After all, that’s what vineyards are for. But, as we discuss the important topic of food waste and hear about chefs utilizing scraps in the kitchen, what about in the vineyard? Grapes are crushed to make wine and then the skins can be used to make grappa or can be used as compost. But, have you ever thought about the leaves or the stems?

While in Greece earlier this summer, lunch in the vineyard of Elinos Winery in Naoussa, we were shown how creative one can be utilizing elements from the vineyard.

Elinos is a family winery owned by the Taralas family. The name Elinos comes from the Odyssey and has multiple meanings – wine, crushing grapes, the top of the vine (helix), Greek wine. Dimitrios Taralas retired from banking and purchased the vineyard in 2006. The vineyard, situated at an altitude of 1000 feet, is located on the eastern edge of Naoussa, at the highest point of Mount Vermion, in the Imathia region of Macedonia, Greece. At 25 acres, it is the third biggest single vineyard in Naoussa. They grow Xinamavro, as well as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malagouzia, Preknadi, Moschomavro, Negoska and Roditis. Read More +