Tag: sparkling wine

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Greek Sparkling Wine

There is no better way to ring in the new year than with your loved ones and a bottle of bubbles. While most people flock to Champagne or Prosecco, Greece often gets overlooked as a sparkling wine region.

From Crete & Santorini, to all the way in Northern Greece, sparkling wine is produced all over the country. If you like the brightness and acidity of a blanc de blanc Champagne, you’d love the method traditionalle sparkling wines of Santorini made with Assyrtiko. If you prefer wines with a little more body and fruity character, seek out the sparkling wines of northern Greece made with xinomavro.

My personal favorite and top recommendation to start off the new year is the Akakies Sparkling Xinomavro from Kir-Yianni. This is made 100% from the native red variety of northern Greece, Xinomavro. Meaning “black and tart,” this variety brings a wonderful fruitiness to this sparkling rosé. With characteristics of strawberries and cream, it is a fruit forward and crowd-pleasing wine that will be perfect for ringing in the new year.

Buy a bottle of Kir Yianni Akakies Rosé

Xronia Polla!

Johnny Livanos, Sales Manager for Diamond Wine Importers, is a 3rd Generation Greek American and expert on all things Greek. Coming from a multi-generational New York restaurant family, Johnny joined the Diamond Wine Importer team after having years in the restaurant business selling Greek wine. Running Greek restaurants, such as Molyvos and Ousia in NYC, as well as Zaytinya in Washington, DC, Johnny gained a tremendous knowledge and passion for sharing the joys of Greek wine with the world. This led Johnny to also launch his own gin brand, called Stray Dog Wild Gin, which is distilled in Northern Greece with a medley of wild Greek botanicals.