From: Peloponnese, Greece
Blend: 80% Moschofilero, 20% Sauvignon Blanc
Taste: Immediately intensely aromatic, bearing a compelling scent of citrus fruits and roses. The palate is well-balanced with mild acidity leading to a smooth finish. This elegant wine, with its refreshing mouthfeel, marked by rose petals, lemon blossom, and citrus aromas, offers a subtle, mineral aftertaste.
Pairing: This charming wine is ideally suited for a range of traditional Greek dishes (check out the recipe below!), seafood, and pasta. It also doubles as a fantastic aperitif when accompanied by fresh fruit. To expand, seafood, whether grilled, fried or in a soup, is greatly complemented by this wine's crisp acidity and fruity undertones. It also harmonizes beautifully with pasta dishes, particularly those with cream-based sauces or seafood ingredients. Vegetarian dishes cooked in olive oil, such as ratatouille or stuffed bell peppers, are equally enhanced by this wine's refreshing profile. Furthermore, it serves as a splendid aperitif when accompanied by a plate of fresh fruits, cutting through their sweetness with its vibrant acidity, creating an elegant balance of flavors.
Youvarlakia Avgolemono (Lemony Greek Meatball Soup)
By Melissa Clark
About. The Greek winescape has never been as exciting or dynamic as today, with the 2021 Semeli Mountain Sun White Wine bearing the testament. Hailing from the picturesque landscape of the Peloponnese peninsula, this sublime blend is the brainchild of master winemaker Yiannis Flerianos, promising a journey of refreshing flavors and soothing textures.
Vintage and Vineyards. Harvested from the high-altitude vineyards of the Mantinia plateau at 650m and the Aigialia mountains at 600m, the wine is composed predominantly of Moschofilero grapes, contributing 80% to the blend, complemented by a 20% contribution from Sauvignon Blanc. With their sand and clay soil, these vineyards are a beacon of a unique terroir, bringing a distinctive character to the wine's overall profile.
The microclimate of these vineyards, characterized by low winter temperatures and cool summer nights owing to the high altitude, ensures the slow ripening of the grapes. This gradual maturation process aids in preserving acidity and paves the way for a vibrant manifestation of flavors and aromas in the grapes.
The Leading Grape: Moschofilero. A standout among Greece's top white-wine grape varieties, the pink-skinned Moschofilero, the primary constituent of the 2021 Semeli Mountian Sun White Wine, exudes a rich aromatic character with many floral and grapey flavors. Its lineage can be traced back to the ancient "Fileri" grape family from the Peloponnese, known for its numerous mutations, varying in color, sugar content, and acidity levels.
While it is a high-yielding grape, Moschofilero's sensitivity to bad weather can sometimes cause issues. Still, the high-altitude terroir of the Mantinia plateau counteracts these problems, producing wines of remarkable quality.
An Ode to the Peloponnese Peninsula. The wine production industry of the Peloponnese Peninsula blossomed post World War II and has since become a fertile ground for viticultural productivity in Greece. The peninsula is an intersection point for the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas, offering a diverse range of microclimates and terroirs suitable for premium viticulture.
Two of Greece's most esteemed PDO appellations, Nemea and Mantinia, are located on the eastern side of the Peloponnese. Here, vineyards reaching altitudes of up to 800 meters yield grapes that, due to the diurnal temperature variation, produce wines characterized by refreshing acidity and a perfect balance of flavors.
