Georgós Wine, an emerging wine company that has taken the best of American innovation and Greek tradition and put it into into a bottle right in the Sonoma Valley, is proud to launch its latest vintages. The brainchild of engineer-turned wine company founder Georgós Zanganas, Georgós Wine brings five wines to market, available direct from the winery, at Whole Foods in Northern California, and at fine restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Recently the brand had an influencer event in Beverly Hills. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it. But I was able to gather the information, photos along with some samples of this brand that I will review within the context of the respective wines I was provided. (See the list of wines you will see my reviews)
The wines themselves come from a hybrid of premium Sonoma and Greek fruit, blended, and finished by winemaker Robert Rex to create a flavorful and transcendental experience that is the direct product of Old World techniques and innovation. The grapes might seem familiar, but the Greek spin is unmistakable.
Currently, Georgós Wine has five distinct varieties, each combining unforgettable names of the Greek islands with mythology:
• Santorini, “Sophia’s Smile”:
A 2016 Assyrtiko similar to a dry, crisp Sauvignon Blanc that has citrus aromas with a rich, earthy mineral character, and the acidity to stand up to meat and seafood with notes of lemon and apple. Unoaked.
• Ios, “Aphrodite’s Kiss”:
A 2016 Dry Rosé of Agiorgitiko (until recently the most commonly cultivated grape in Greece) that has all of the flavor of a Pinot Noir with the crispness of a Sauvignon Blanc. Fermented with skins on for 16 hours, it contains hints of apple and peach. Unoaked.
REVIEW:
I like Rosé wines – but it’s essential for them to be on the dry side and not sweet. The Ios wine is sensational! It was the first one I tried since I two reds to follow, I didn’t want to diminish the taste of the Ios. This is fresh and crisp on the palette. It’s a perfect wine for fish, chicken, appetizers or even just to sip at a picnic, pool, beach or on the patio. This is a refreshing wine that won’t leave you feeling woozy when you have had a couple of glasses! This one should be on your BUY list!
• Mykonos, “Wine of Hercules”: a 2013 vintage Agiorgitiko in the Pinot Noir style that is both light and delicate yet flavor-forward in a Burgundy tradition, with a nose of strawberry patch, a touch of allspice, pepper and sandalwood. Earthy flavors include maitake with a pleasant and multi-layered finish offering faint notes of licorice.
REVIEW:
I am never sure about red wines. I often get those same headaches that the founder, Georgós Zanganas, used to experience when sipping wine at lunch. I could never drink very much- maybe 1/2 of the glass I was served at best. Now I have found a wine that I can sip at lunch and not worry about the after-effects. The taste is full-bodied but without any harsh oak-y aftertaste. It’s light on the tongue when first sipped but develops quickly into a very flavorful wine that is very reminiscent of Pinot Noir yet has the body of a Cab without the harsh after-taste.
If you prefer to drink whites because red wines are too heavy, you need to try Mykonos! It’s worth the $$ and the time. You will love it ! (I do!)
• Ithaka, “Penelope’s Spell.”:
A 2014 blend of California Cabernet and Old World grapes that is dry and big, yet gentle for a Cabernet. It’s perfectly balanced and delicious. The nose is a true Cabernet, offering bits of leather, currants and blackberries.
REVIEW:
After trying the previous two wines, I was sure that the “cabernet sauvignon” of the group would be delightful and not at all the wine that makes me flinch when it is offered to me. This is one tasty bottle of wine and it’s perfect for just about any meal. It would be a great wine to serve with steaks or burgers because it’s not heavy. The residual taste is clean. It’s very very flavorful. And for the first time in over 10 years, I will be happily drinking a cabernet – as long as it is Ithaka!
• Corfu, “Siren’s Lure”: Georgós third vintage, 2014 Cabernet blend aged a year in the barrel, where Cabernet Sauvignon forms the base, Cabernet Franc gives lift, Malbec adds allure, and Merlot adds enchantment..
Winemaker Robert Rex has brought a scientific eye and artistic passion to winemaking for forty-five years. Rex started making wine in 1972 in Berkeley, California. He has worked for many different wineries, started wineries for others, has taught winemaking and currently acts as a consulting winemaker for Georgós handcrafted super-premium Greek Wines.
Rex’s winemaking style has its roots in the great French wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. He believes that the blending of attributes creates the best wines. Grapes from complementary soil types and microclimates are often married to maximize varietal characteristics and complexity. His wines have won a total of 300 awards.
Founding of a Brand: Georgós Wine!
The story behind Georgós Wine is really fascinating. It brings to light elements about US wines that are (to be honest) very true.
After moving to San Francisco to work as an engineer, Athens native Georgós Zanganas experienced that, for him, a glass of wine was an invitation to a roaring headache. Back home, he never experienced these symptoms from Greek wine. Greek wine generally has lower alcohol, which could mean that Greek wine would produce fewer headaches. While he could easily find other Greek products (yogurt, olive oil, etc.), he could not find Greek wines at local retail stores and restaurants. He decided to import the highest quality fruit from Greece to make wines suitable for the American palate: fruit forward, soft tannins, and clean tasting. These super-premium Greek Wines are blended, finished and bottled with reduced sulfites—which at higher levels can cause allergic reactions—at Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood, Sonoma Valley (known for their “Clean Wine®”) under the direction of Georgós and winemaker Robert Rex.
History was on Zanganas’ side! The Greeks originated Dionysus, the god of wine, and the name Georgós derives from the Greek word for farmer. Georgós “nu” Greek wines originate from the highest-quality 100% NON-GMO and sustainably grown grapes farmed by family growers who put the utmost attention into their trade, handcrafted using natural processes and lower sulfites. Georgós’ wine is made without using synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, growth hormones and other additives.
Georgós’ grapes are then handpicked and triple hand-sorted. It’s a time-consuming and meticulous endeavor, and of the essence, because removing everything but the grapes keeps the resulting wine low in histamines (Zanganas himself is very sensitive to sulfites (SO2) and for this reason the wines have very little SO2).
The wines themselves come from a hybrid of premium Sonoma and Greek fruit, blended, and finished by winemaker Robert Rex to create a flavorful and transcendental experience that is the direct product of Old World techniques and innovation. The grapes might seem familiar, but the Greek spin is unmistakable.
Follow Georgos Wines on these social platforms:
Instagram.com https://www.instagram.com/greekwines/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgoswine/
Website: https://www.georgoswine.com
Georgos Wines are available at Whole Foods stores in Northern California. Otherwise visit the website!
Thank you to Georgos Wines and Platform Media Group for allowing me to review this really fabulous wine brand. Can’t wait to see what else is coming! Can’t wait to have a great meal (like Christmas dinner) where I can actually chose a great red that will be a welcome at my table!
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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