Retsina is produced by the addition of the natural resin extracted from pinus halepensis (commonly known as Aleppo Pine) during fermentation of white and, in rare cases, of rosé wines. Having left only its aroma in the wine, the resin is then removed.

What is retsina wine made of?

Retsina (Greek: Ρετσίνα) is a Greek white (or rosé) resinated wine, which has been made for at least 2,000 years. Its unique flavor is said to have originated from the practice of sealing wine vessels, particularly amphorae, with Aleppo Pine resin in ancient times.

What is resin wine?

Resinated wine is a type of wine which derives part of its flavor from exposure to tree resins, most generally pine resin. Prior to the widespread use of barrels in Europe, wine was stored in amphorae, often sealed with Aleppo pine resin.

Is there a red retsina wine?

The resinous wine (Rezine = resin) is probably one of the most famous wines of Greece, which was already produced in ancient Hellas. Retsina wines are produced in white, rosé and red versions. ...

Does retsina go bad?

Retsina is far stronger, far worse than oak, especially since it's not meant to be absorbed in a long aging process. The wines are rarely intended to age, actually. At the so-called "high end," some suggest the wine can age for five years.

The Secret of Retsina Wine

31 related questions found

Do Greeks like retsina?

The Greeks have favored retsina since the earliest days of ancient winemaking, when they used pine resin to line and seal terracotta amphoras. Even after wooden barrels replaced amphoras as the preferred storage vessels, the Greeks retained their taste for retsina. ... But retsina appears to be undergoing a renaissance.

What does retsina pair with?

The enticing herbal aromas in retsina make it a perfect partner at the table for dishes like roasted chicken with rosemary or simple grilled fish with lemon and mint. Lamb recommends serving retsina with a platter of rice and vegetable-stuffed dolmades.

What Colour is retsina?

Pale yellow color and aromas of fresh yellow fruits and herbs, beautifully bound with resin.

Does Greece make good wine?

In the ancient world, Greece was once one of the foremost producers of wine. However, in contrast to the country's important wine heritage, modern Greek wines are only recently reaching the rest of the world. These days, Greece offers outstanding wine value and new varieties to expand your palate!

What Colour is retsina wine?

Retsina has bright gold-yellow color with rich body, fruity aroma mixed with an elegant aroma of resin. Fruit, together with the characteristic acidity and the long finish, constitute a wine unique for his style.

What is Rose alcohol?

Rosé is a type of wine made from red wine grapes, produced in a similar manner to red wine, but with reduced time fermenting with grape skins. This reduced skin contact gives rosé a pink hue and lighter flavor than that of red wine.

How do you make pine needle wine?

Method:

1. Strip pine needles from twigs.
2. Place in boiling pan and cover with 1/2 required water, bring to boil.
3. Simmer for c.1 hour, whilst adding diced / chopped raisins, tea, nutmeg, chilli, and I threw in a banana.
4. Drain and strain off the liquid when cool into a clean DJ.

What is resin used for?

What is a resins purpose? It is commonly used for making durable castings, arts and crafts, flooring, countertops, and more. Resin can be used to make plastics, and it is an excellent adhesive.

What grape is used for Retsina?

The grape variety most commonly associated with Retsina is Saviatano, though Roditis and Assyrtico are often blended in, and other grapes are used across the various regions of Greece. Modern examples, while much more delicate than (our understanding of) their ancestors, still display subtle aromas of resin.

What is a good Greek red wine?

What to drink in Greece? 7 Most Popular Greek Red Wines

• Wine Appellation. Fokiano Ikaria. Icaria. Greece. ...
• Wine Variety. Limniona. Thessaly. Greece. ...
• Wine Variety. Mavrotragano. Santorini. Greece. ...
• Wine Variety. Kostifali. Crete. ...
• Wine Appellation. Nemea. Peloponnese. ...
• Wine Appellation. Naousa. Macedonia. ...
• Wine Variety. Agiorgitiko. Peloponnese.

Is alcohol cheap in Greece?

Drinking out in Greece is expensive. Of course you can find alternative or cheaper methods to get around this - just by using common sense and a bit of an imagination. Mykonos is certainly the party island of the Cyclades but is well known for being one of the most, if not THE most expensive island anywhere in Greece.

Is Greek wine a thing?

2 – Greek wine is unique. Yes, some common varietals are used like Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah but these are often blended with the local varieties like Assyrtiko, Vidiano, Moschofilero and Savatiano in whites and Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, Kotsifali and Avgoustiatis in reds… just to name a few.

Are there vineyards in Greece?

Greece has a varied Mediterranean climate and terrain. Vineyards grow on flat land, on terraced volcanic islands, and up mountain slopes, producing white (70% of total production), red, and sweet wine.

Can you get retsina in Cyprus?

Is Retsina availiable in Cyprus? Yes, Retsina can only be made in Greece & S Cyprus according to the EU denomination of origin rules.

Which Anbaugebiete produces the most wine?

Rheinhessen is the largest of German's Anbaugebiete in both vineyard acreage and wine production. a. ... produces more red wine than white.

What is the ancient name for Greece?

The ancient and modern name of the country is Hellas or Hellada (Greek: Ελλάς, Ελλάδα; in polytonic: Ἑλλάς, Ἑλλάδα), and its official name is the Hellenic Republic, Helliniki Dimokratia (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία [eliniˈci ðimokraˈti.

How do you drink retsina?

Retsina is served cold and goes very well with fish, seafood, cheese and appetizers (or mezedes, as they call them in Greece). It comes in a bottle of 500 ml and unlike the draft homemade wine, we have never seen draft retsina in a taverna but it doesn`t mean you can`t find such.

Is retsina served cold?

It also pairs well with pasta dishes, particularly those with strong Mediterranean flavors such as pesto sauce. Retsina has an alcohol content of 12 to 12.5 percent and is best served chilled at 10C.

What kind of wine is moschofilero?

Moschofilero is a pink-skinned, aromatic grape variety grown mainly on Greece's Peloponnese peninsula. Here, it is the main constituent in fresh, light Mantinia wines, whose aromatic character and floral, grapey flavors often bear comparisons to wines made from Traminer and Muscat.