A busy weekend!!! There were two Exhibitions in Athens to visit, the Trade Exhibition "Food and Drink" and the Bi-Annual Athens Wine Fair "Dionysia" that is for the Trade and the Public.
Friday evening we paid a brief visit to the Food Exhibition , altho this event attracts the big boys there were some very interesting small producers there too, with some great products.
Stand outs were:
The Graviera cheese made by the Cooperative from the island of Naxos. This was nutty , tasty, with a great texture , something like a cross between a top Gruyere and a aged English cheddar. Absolutely the best greek cheese that I have tasted.
In a recent compition of Top 100 World Cheeses it came 9th.
Honey Spread from Cyprus. Using honey as a healthy base , they have added, carob, hazelnuts , almonds, creating products that are a very healthy and tasty alternative to jam, especially good for children.
There were some great Olive Oils and we were really impressed by the Olive Oil from Zakynthos made again by the Cooperative there. Funky pink packaging.
Also the Olive Oil made by the Cretan Producer Vassilaki, absolutely delicious, with packaging that was chic and stylish.
Finally a Micro-Brewery based in Corfu, making Real Ale, Bitter and Lager they were all absolutely top quality.
Saturday saw us rock up for the Wine Exhibition , this was an opportunity to meet old friends , taste the new vintages and also meet some new producers.
One hundred and twenty wineries had tables, this is not for thr faint hearted.
Saturday was White wine Tasting.
Stand outs
2010 Vintage of Nassiakos Mantinea
2010 Vintage of Gentillini Single vineyard Robola (20% oaked but so delicate )
It just gave the wine a little more roundness and depth.
2010Vintage Moraitis Paros (100% Monemvasia)
2010 Vintage Moraitis Sillogi organic (Assyrtiko/Malagousia) suddenly everone is talking up Malagousia , so well done to Roxanne Matza who was the main protagonist of this variety.
2010 Skouras Cuvee Prestige White ( a blend of Roditis & Moscofilero) this inexpensive white is consistantly a pleaser.
2009 Hatzidakis Nyteri ,WOW what a wine, not a quaffer , but big powerful , pineapple/grapefruit beautifully balanced and this was only the tank sample!!!
Hatzidakis 2010 Santorini and his Organic Cuvee 15 again thoroughbreds . Of course I may be a little biased as I have been working with Haridimos Hatzidakis for 10 years now.
Domaine Evharis Assyrtiko 2009, probably the best Assyrtiko outside of Santorini.
We also tasted quite a few good dry Muscats , excellent quaffers on a hot day.l
No comments:
Post a Comment