Definition: retsina

Retsina Greek wine with resin aromas. Sweet inspirations. We often associate the richness of Mediterranean cuisine with Italy or Spain. Who thinks of Greece outside of olives and feta cheese? Similarly, Italian and Spanish wines are ubiquitous, which is not the case for Greek wines. And that's a shame.

This country bathed by the Aegean Sea has a long history of wine production and offers many specialities, such as Retsina: a dry, easy-drinking white wine with a hint of resin, which is not a characteristic of the Savatiano and Assyrtiko grape varieties from which it is made. This original note is in fact due to Aleppo pine resin, which in ancient times was used to coat amphorae to make them watertight. Today, around 5% pine resin is added to the wine during fermentation to give it its unique aroma and taste. Retsina is mainly an aperitif wine, but it also goes wonderfully with the savoury dishes of Greek cuisine.

Robert Schlag, oenologist, COOP Wines and his website at the link: