The New meets the Old
While Greek vineyards are perhaps by far the most historic of the old wine world and are given to winegrowing on a human scale, it nevertheless produces modern wines, based on exploiting the native variety potential, on the “new wave” of Greek vintners and oenologists, and on the new technologies with which many of the modern wineries are equipped today. Thus, Greek vineyards provide a point where the New meets the Old in all things wine.
Some of the major factors which contributed to shaping the contemporary profile of Greek winemaking are as follows:
• The modernization and outfitting of wineries which were created a few decades ago by people who, as seasoned veterans, combine enormous vinicultural and viticultural experience, thus ensuring even international recognition.
• The creation of new, small-to-medium size winerieswhich are outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment. Some of them are well known as “boutique wineries” which combine aesthetics and accessibility with an overall quality upgrading of winemaking.
• The new generation of vintners who, in their majority, are relatively young, enthusiastic and passionate over winegrowing and the creation of exciting, new wines.
• Vinification using innovative and often environmentally friendly technologies, such as sustainable and organic viticulture, and an active interest in new alternative winegrowing practices such as biodynamic or organic wines. Also, the production of wines which showcase the particular character of grape varieties and terroirs of origin via the responsible use of methods and additives, as for instance in cooling, filtering, clarification and keeping sulfite content to a minimum so that both the wine and the environment may benefit.
• The oenological training of many young scientists have received in European universities located mostly in France, Italy, and Germany or even in other countries such as the U.S.A. and Australia; and the creation of oenology schools and graduate study programs in Greece.
• Applied viticultural and wine research on basic native varieties, wine types, etc.
