What does retsina wine taste like?

What does retsina wine taste like?

The flavor of retsina, a wine infused with the resin of Aleppo pine trees, has often been likened to turpentine, even by people who like the stuff. Most modern retsinas are made with poor, thin wine. A potent addition of resin masks the dullness of the base with a sharp, bracing pungency.

Is retsina a sweet wine?

Retsina’s Past as a Salty-Sweet Wine of Ancient Greece Certainly, there are wines with delicate, saline-like flavors, but they aren’t exactly salty.

What grape is used for retsina?

Saviatano
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.

How do you serve retsina?

Lamb recommends serving retsina with a platter of rice and vegetable-stuffed dolmades. He says the tannin in the grape leaves used in the dolmades acts as a carbon filter, removing some of the wine’s undesirable cleaning-solvent flavors and letting the notes of fresh pine and piercing lemon shine through.

Should retsina be chilled?

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 is the national drink of Greece?

Ouzo
Regardless of what happens in Greece, we can all agree on one thing: ouzo is awesome. What is ouzo, you ask? You might remember the infamous ouzo-drinking scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where the anise-flavored aperitif gets heroine Tula’s in-laws-to-be smashed.

What gives retsina its Flavour?

Aleppo Pine resin
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 a potent Greek wine?

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.

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.

What alcohol is ouzo?

Ouzo (Greek: ούζο, IPA: [ˈuzo]) is a dry anise-flavored aperitif that is widely consumed in Greece. It is made from rectified spirits that have undergone a process of distillation and flavoring. Its taste is similar to other anise liquors like rakı, arak, pastis, and sambuca.

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. …

What kind of wine does retsina wine have?

Retsina is an old world wine that has a flavor profile that varies from brand to brand. In a very general sense, the wine has a mild taste to it, neither too sweet or too bitter, and it typically has a whiff of pine and notes of lemon with a mild touch of salinity.

Why does retsina have a resinous smell?

To stave off this problem, wine makers covered their wine jugs in pine pitch, the same material used to waterproof boats. The pitch effectively sealed the containers so that the wine did not spoil, and consumers developed a taste for the resulting resinous wine. Retsina has a resinous aroma.

What do you need to know about Retin-A?

When using Retin-A avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Retin-A can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. Avoid getting Retin-A in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips.

Where to get the best retsina in Santorini?

Santorini is filled with truly great retsina spots–try any of the cliff-hanging taverns in Fira. A last-chance spot is the pleasant seaside tavern by the quay where the cable car deposits passengers. For cruise ship passengers, it’s their last sip of Santorini magic before returning to their ship.