DIONWINES

DIONYSOS Is the Olympian god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity, madness and wild frenzy. He was depicted as either an older, bearded god or an effeminate, long-haired youth. His attributes included the thyrsos a pine-cone tipped staff, a drinking cup and a crown of ivy. He was usually accompanied by a troop of Satyrs and Mainades (wild female devotees).

-The Wanderings of Dionysus-

Once he had grown to manhood Dionysos decided to wander far and wide, including areas outside of Greece. Where ever he went he taught men how to cultivate vines, and the mysteries of his cult. He was accepted until he returned to his own country of Thebes.

As he journeyed back to Greece he was spotted by pirates. He appeared to them as a rich young man. He might even be the son of a king. He certainly looked like his parents would pay a rich ransom for his safe return. Happy at their good luck the pirates seized him and brought him aboard their ship. They then attempted to tie him to the ship but, the ropes refused to hold. Anyplace a rope touched him it just fell apart. Dionysus watched calmly, smiling.

After some time, the helmsman realized that only a god could be responsible. He called out that the crew should free Dionysus and beg his forgiveness. But the captain mocked the helmsman as a fool and called for the crew to set sail. The crew raised the sail and caught the wind but, the ship did not move. Looking around they saw the ship quickly becoming overgrown with vines that held it fast. Dionysus then changed himself into a lion and began to chase the crewmen. To escape they leaped overboard but, as they did, they were changed to dolphins. Only on the helmsman did Dionysus have mercy.

As he passed through Thrace he was insulted by King Lycurgus, who bitterly opposed his new religion. Initially Dionysus retreated into the sea but, he returned, overpowered Lycurgus and imprisoned him in a rocky cave. Dionysus planned to let him reflect and learn from his mistakes. However, Zeus did not care to have the gods insulted, so he blinded then killed Lycurgus.

He pressed on to Thebes, ruled by his cousin Pentheus. However, Pentheus did not know of Dionysus. Dionysus was with a group of his followers, who were naturally singing and dancing loudly, flushed with wine. Pentheus disliked the loud, strangers, and ordered his guards to imprison them all. He refired to their leader as a cheating sorcerer from Lydia. When he said this the blind old prophet Teiresias, who had already dressed as one of Dionysus's followers gave Pentheus a warning: "The man you reject is a new god. He is Semele's child, whom Zeus rescued. He, along with Demeter, are the greatest upon earth for men." Pentheus, seeing the strange garb Teiresias had on, laughed at him and ordered his guards to continue.The guards soon found that ropes fell apart, latches fell open, and there they could not imprison Dionysus's followers. The took Dionysus to Pentheus. Dionysus tried to explain at length his worship but, Pentheus listened only to his own anger and insulted Dionysus. Finally, Dionysus gave up and left Pentheus to his doom.

Pentheus perused Dionysus followers up into the hills where they had gone after walking away from his prison. Many of the local women including Pentheus's mother and sister had joined them there. Then Dionysus appeared to his followers in his most terrible aspect and drove them mad. To them Pentheus appeared to be mounted on a lion. In a berserk rage they attacked him. Now Pentheus realized he had fought with a god and would die for it. His mother was the first to reach him, and ripped his head off, while the others tore off his limbs.

Wine in Greek History as lifestyle

The ancient Greeks had their own god of wine, Dionysus. Dionysus was one of the most beloved gods, and of course he was, since he was the cheerful god of wine. Magnificent celebrations with plenty of Greek wine, feasting, and food were organized in his honor.Finally, according to Hippocrates, the father of medicine, Greek wine was a medicine. Specifically, he recommended it for pain relief and for disinfecting wounds.

The ancient Greeks began to deal with wine between the 13th and 11th centuries BC. Greek wine was also mentioned in several famous literary works of the time: in Athenian's Deipnosophists, in Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, in Plato's Symposium, and others.Myths and legends connect wine, the drink of the Greeks, with their social life since ancient times. The drink of the gods, medicine for mortals, and the balm of happiness, as they characterized it, as it gave joy and cheerfulness and drove away evil and sadness.

The Ancient Greeks, people and rulers, as well as philosophers of almost all schools, from the Presocratics and Idealists (Plato, Socrates, etc.) to the Epicureans, loved wine, while poets did not fail to praise it.Homer in the "Odyssey" describes many scenes of wine drinking, while in the "Iliad" he speaks of the shield of Achilles which is decorated with a harvest scene. Euripides in the satirical drama "Cyclops", (lines 616-624) mentions that Odysseus got Polyphemus drunk with the strong wine (Thracian Wine) given to him by the priest Maronas and blinded him.

Now Days , A new era for Greek wine

Things began to change in the 1980s. Young (at the time) and talented oenologists began to invest in Greek indigenous varieties (remember that there are over 300) and even revived some of those that were considered extinct.Greek winemakers encouraged their children to study oenology at world-renowned universities. Some of them worked in some of the major international wineries and when they returned, bringing back new winemaking techniques and technologies, the results were astonishing. Alone or in blends, some of the indigenous Greek varieties proved capable of producing wines that would impress the world.

UNIQUE GRAPE VARIETIES IN GREEK REGION

The impressive thing is that there are more than 300 indigenous grape varieties in Greece. More than 70 of them are made into wine with excellent results.Here we have some of new upcoming nad the most famous.

PAMIDI ROZE AND RED WINE GRAPE VARIETIES

Pamidi is considered one of the most ancient varieties of Thrace. Pamidi or Pamiti is a special Greek red variety of Thrace, is an old grape variety ,which with proper management gives rose and red wines with a rich aromatic character. It has a bright clear salmon color. The aromas consist of strawberry and cherry, followed by hints of thyme.. It is believed that this is the wine that Odysseus made to get Polyphemus drunk, blinded him by plunging a lit stick into his eye while he slept, and, with six of his friends (the others had been devoured by Polyphemus), managed to escape by holding him by the bellies of sheep that had gone out to graze.

MALAGOUZIA WHITE GRAPE VARIETY

The Cinderella of the Greek vineyard or the ugly duckling that became a swan. Probably both. The evolution of the beloved variety whose cultivation spread throughout the country. The most talked about Greek variety that is the new trend and perhaps the Greek chardonnay. Malagouzia is considered the fastest growing variety in planted areas of the Greek vineyard. Its geographical distribution is equally impressive, since we find it from the Dodecanese, to our northern borders. Malagouzia produces wines with a medium soft yellow-green color and a very intense, extremely expressive nose, with hints of peach, green pepper, herbs and flowers. In the mouth, the wine is round, full, but always fresh, with moderately high alcohol levels.

MAVROUDI RED WINE GRAPE VARIETY

Mavroudi is one of the most ancient varieties of Thrace. A black, dense grape with strong characteristics, its wine is strong and delicious, so characteristic that the wild ancient Thracian warriors in the campaign of Alexander the Great carried it with them to the depths of Asia as it gave them strength and stamina to withstand the great battles. Full of characteristic spicy notes and intense flavors of wild black fruits and a particularly long finish, it is the most recognizable monopolian wine produced in Thrace.