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For many years K made his own wine with 'mousto' (grape juice) from our famous (in Greece) wine growing district of Nemea. We travelled through this area, much of it high in the hills, last spring for a quick visit to the mountain village of Lower Trikala. There were endless rows of grape vines from sea level to way up in the moutains, and other very small plots planted in amongst the forest and scrub. I was amazed at the grapes that were grown there on every hillside, in every valley, some obvioulsy well cared for, nice neat lines, others planted wherever there was space, probably a small family parcel.
Some of the juice from these grapes is made into wine by smaller growers but a lot of it is sent to the big wine makers in the area. We tried years ago to have a wine tasting at some of these big wineries. Back then they had no idea what we wanted and wouldn't even sell us a bottle of wine. Nowadays wine tourism is big business but it's still not open house. You have to book with a group well in advance.
We had a family grower and wine maker we always brought our juice from, carrying it home in big barrels in the boot of the car.
Here is K with 2 of the grandchildren cleaning out his plastic barrels in 2008, ready for the new wine. This is the year we moved up to our new house in the hills where we had more room for his hobbies. Before this he had a 300 litre wooden barrel in his sister's basement. Wooden barrels are hard to keep clean so he changed to plastic and had 2 barrels, one for white and one for red.
And this is the last of that red. A bottle which has been sitting at the back of the bookcase since then. I decided it was time to open it. A bottle I filled myself, with a screw cap. The wine was very drinkable. It was obvioulsy a vintage year. Just wish I had 'bottled' more
And now I have this bottle to open. I don't know who's wine it is, not ours, but it must be just as old as the 2008 bottle I opened. I'll let you know. The other two bottles are also red wine from a few years ago, made by our neighbour Vaso. I always enjoy her wine and those two have already been drunk. We are still waiting for her son to open the wine of 2019. Around xmas he says.
On our next trip to the big city I hope to find a bottle of this year's beaujolais.
Last of the summer wine? 2008 sounds like it was a good year. We usually treat ourselves to a bottle of German white wine from Lidl (Liebfraumilch) on a Sunday. May be two. Is it expensive?
ReplyDeleteHomemade wine is so cheap! And easy to drink. We'll be going to lidls this week. I wonder what wine we'll find here in our greek lidls.
DeleteCheers to that 🥂
ReplyDeleteHic!
DeleteAnother Greek tradition!!!
ReplyDelete🎄 😊 🎄
It is around here. A lot of families on the island grow their own grapes for wine
DeleteHow wonderful to be able to have your own wine. I loved visiting different wineries (by myself, and impromptu) when I was down the South Island earlier this year. Their wine is always so much nicer than the "plonk" for sale in the supermarkets.
ReplyDeleteWish we could wine taste. It's an expensive adventure here. We no longer make our own wine but our neighbours do. We drink theirs, and our son in law makes his own every year.
DeleteWe live about 20mins from the Yarra Valley - where 'big commercial' vineyards sit side by side with smaller boutique types. Wine tasting is also big business- pull up in your car (or by the bus load) and go through the routine - then hopefully you'll find something good enough to bring home. If not have a meal in the attached restaurant (also big business!)
ReplyDeleteThe strange thing is you'll find most of the same commercial wines on offer in the local Dan Murphys at half the price lol
I remember doing the wine route south of Perth with my brother one year. Those wineries were magnificent , so beautifully set out, wonderful food.
DeleteHe bought the wine.
Wine tourism is big business down there. Loved the experience tho
I made some very acceptable Vinegar this year.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your wine. I thought for sure you would have something drinkable.
DeleteNext year!
We used to make wine with my dad
ReplyDeleteHe bought the grapes and we had to stomp them lol
We were little and it was the fun part of the day
It’s much easier just to buy it I think 🤔 lol
Much easier to buy it!! Too old for all that hassle. We still buy local. Wine that hasn't travelled is the best says hubby! Also he knows the grapes and the grower and can have long rambling talks about it with his buddies!
DeleteHe would probably have a good discussion about alcohol with my other half who makes his own whiskey, it certainly is alot cheaper than buying it.
ReplyDeleteMakes his own whiskey!!! Boy that's something different! The boys would have a great conversation....over a glass or two!
DeleteWhen I think of Greece I think of wine, olives and feta cheese. Not a bad grouping, huh?
ReplyDeleteWine comes first, of course...or at least most people around here would say so. Though a good olive oil keeps you going so you can drink the wine!
DeletePs feta.... Hmm would come a little lower on my list. But so so greek
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