Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling... Assyrtiko? On Tuesday night, NAHA (whose captain - James Beard Award-winning Chef Carrie Nahabedian - boasts Greek and Armenian roots) hosted a late-night wine tasting of Greek wines from Domaine Skouras, Domaine Sigalas and Alpha Estate. The main takeaway: Greek varietals belong on the aforementioned prestigious list of white grapes.
The 10:30 p.m. tasting aimed to expose the service industry (and wine lovers, in general) to the pleasures of Greek wines, which seem to play a larger part in ancient history than they do on present-day wine lists. Peter Vestinos, Beverage Director for the Wirtz Beverage Group, also liked that the tasting "allowed us to meet the people behind the brands." In fact, Greece is so keen on spreading the word about the country's modern viticulture that the minister of agricultural development is donating $75,000 in order to help the nation’s winemakers sell their product in the Big Apple.
The rest of the country might be getting on board too. "Every serious wine list in America needs a Greek wine. They’re on an international stage and deserve a spot on every list," says Ken Fredrickson, one of five Master Sommeliers who attended the event. Opa! [Feast]