One of the authentic cultural elements of a region is gastronomy. The distinctiveness of the “kitchen taste” (gustation) is many times associated with the quality characteristics of its society, while “revealing” information concerning its cultural and economical history.

At the same time, gustation seems to be a way of communicating. A way for someone to “talk” to the heart of someone else.

Greek gastronomy has recorded a history of around 4,000 years, with especial characteristics based on pure and unique quality goods produced on Greek land. In fact, it was Archestratos who wrote the first cookbook in history (330 B.C.).

In Greek nutritional tradition the gustative result blends harmonically with the high nutritional value. Dozens of scientific studies have shown the positive effect of a balanced Greek diet on a person’s health, beauty and longevity. In addition, the nutritional culture of the Greeks has traditionally added an extraverted social dimension to the table, combining gustative satisfaction with recreation and communication, and thus maintaining even today some overtones from ancient feasts.

In contrast to what many people believe about Greek cuisine, you will discoverer that “moussaka”, “souvlaki” and “choriatiki” (Greek salad) are not the only worthwhile Greek dishes. Greek cuisine consists of a large variety of dishes that can fully satisfy the gastronomic quests of both vegetarians and meat lovers.

Basic ingredients

Greek cuisine has four secrets: good quality fresh ingredients, correct use of flavourings (herbs) and spices, the famous Greek olive oil and simplicity.

Greek olive oil deserves a special note. It accompanies almost all Greek dishes, it is used abundantly in most of them, it is of excellent quality and it is very good for your health. It is also known that artificial cultivation of vegetables is not carried out due to the mild Greek climate. Consequently, most vegetables are cultivated in natural ways and they therefore maintain their aroma and their flavour. You will be happy and content after tasting a Greek tomato, cabbage, carrot, onion, parsley and garlic. At the same time, you should not forget the rich flavour and aroma of fresh Greek fruits, such as grapes, apricots, peaches, cherries, melons, watermelons, etc.

As far as flavourings (herbs) are concerned, which almost every Greek gathers from the hills and the countryside, they are renowned for their gustativeness, aromas and curative properties. As you taste some of the many different dishes, you will be mesmerized by the amazing aroma of oregano, thyme, mint androsemary. Do not forget to also try the Greek cheeses, especially feta cheese. Taking as fact that the sheep and goats are free-ranging and the pastures are especially lush and green, Greek meat has a unique taste that cannot be compared. Mediterranean seafood is much tastier than those from the oceans. The Aegean and Ionian Seas are crystal clear and rich with fish. Fresh fish on the grill is considered to be a true delight.

Winery and finery

Wine, another famous Greek staple ever since the days the god Dionysus was invented as a convenient excuse for tippling. Traces of Europe’s first grape-trading ground have been uncovered at Linos in Crete. The ancient Greeks were famous winebibbers, and that’s one trait that has continued uninterrupted from that time to this. The main Greek wines are:

Agiorgitiko, cultivated and produced at Nemea, the home of the best Greek wine. This is a deep red wine with a strong blackberry flavour and silken texture. New Agiorgitiko is pleasant with fruit, and can be stored for up to ten years.
Assyrtiko, the wine of Santorini that has since migrated to other areas as well. It is highly acidic, even when fully matured. Crisp and metallic, this wine is refreshing, flavored with citrus fruits and lemon blossoms.
Athiri, deriving from a white grape of the southern Aegean and northern mainland Greece. These wines have overtones of flower aromas that tickle the palate.
Debina, a fruity wine made in Epiros, with a tinge of green apple and pear, and the basis of the region’s sparkling wines.
Kotsifali, deriving from a Cretan grape and noted for its full body, bright red color and satisfying taste. It’s often blended with Mandilaria, a red island grape.
Liatiko, a Cretan wine deriving from one of the oldest Greek grape varieties. It matures in July, hence its full name Iouliatiko, of which the former name is a contraction.
Limnio, as its name implies, a wine from grapes grown on Limnos and mentioned by Aristotle and other ancient writers. The Limnio grape produces a bright red wine that has suggestions of violets and cherries.
Malagouzia, which takes its name from the Malvasia wine of the Middle Ages, cultivated mostly on the islands. It’s strong and aromatic, with complex overtones and leaving a slightly peppery taste in the mouth. Wine tourism is becoming an increasingly popular form of vacationing for the smart set. In Greece one can tour several wineries and sample the product while getting to know how the wine is brewed and aged. One such organized tour is called Wine Roads that combines an experience of several wineries with archaeological visits. These take several days and include ample refreshment and accommodation at good restaurants and hotels along the route.

The Wine Routes
There are presently tens of vine yards and wineries to visit in various parts of Greece, which provide the visitor with the opportunity to tour the magical world of the vine yard and the wine, to become familiar with the traditional and modern methods of wine making and to taste selected Greek wines, in conjunction with traditional flavors. In terms of the preservation and the promotion of this heritage a specific form of rural tourism has in recent years been developed in Greece, the Wine Routes. This is a proposal to the visitor to follow a carefully selected route, which crosses the most graphic points in a viniculture zone. The visitor may visit selected wine production plants, to taste the local wines and to simultaneously tour through traditional built up areas, archaeological areas etc. This is a relatively new form of tourism, which has been absolutely harmonized with the natural environment and is simultaneously excellently organized, which aims at the essential familiarization with every area, through the tradition of viniculture and wine making. Along the length of the routes there are restaurants, taverns, ouzo bars and hotels, which offer hospitality of quality and which complement the familiarization with Greece and its culture.

Wineries to visit
The wine has been bound to the customs, the social life and the traditions of the Greeks for over 4,000 years. Discover the most familiar wineries to visit in Greece and savour the wines at the place where they are produced. Discover their aromas and flavours with the traditional products and the home recipes, which are passed down from generation to generation. Discover the culture of Greece through the seven Wine routes, as well as through tens of other routes for wineries to visit and live unforgettable experiences.
Below have been presented the most organized wineries to visit in Greece:

• North Greece wineries
• Wineries of Corinth
• Attica wineries
• Wineries of Crete
• Wineries of Santorini