Wine & Spirits - Best Buy

I defy those who think they hate all Retsina to find something bad to say about having a cold glass of Ritinítis Nobilis with a spring or summer salad. The pine element is so elegantly integrated into the base wine—which is obviously of higher quality than that of many a Retsína of yesteryear, as shown in the texture of the fruit—that it will win over a lot of skeptics. Writer Jamal Rayyis found a fresh-cut celery note in the wine, while Dimítrios Karagiánnis, of NYC’s Nerai, stipulated adding anchovies to that crisp salad pairing.

Wine Enthusiast

This retsina from Greece's Nemea region pours a green-tinged gold and announces itself with ample pine and lime aromas. While the palate is somewhat subdued, the long finish is redolent with lemon and lime juice, oil and pith.

Tasting Notes

Highly regarded as one of the few high quality Retsina on the market today, this dry white strikes an impressive balance between the flavors of the varietal and pine. Elegant aromas of citrus fruit are accented by hints of mint and eucalyptus on the nose, while the palate showcases good acidity.

There is a need for this wine, as the unique flavors of Retsina perfectly compliment certain dishes in Greek cuisine, especially the strong flavors in many Greek mezes (small appetizers similar to Spanish tapas). Outside of Greek cuisine, this new-style Retsina can also stand up well to Indian dishes and salty snacks.

Winemaker's Notes

The Traditional Appellation for Retsina can be made anywhere in Greece, typically from
Savatiano: a high-yielding, neutral-flavored white grape. Ritintis Nobilis represents a
courageous re-interpretation of the oft-maligned Retsina style, made from high-quality Roditis grapes from cool-climate, north-facing hillside vineyards located on the Corinthian slopes; the ideal environment for producing grapes with elegance and a smooth, lemony character.

The Retsina of Greek antiquity developed its distinctive flavor from pine resin that was used to seal the porous surface of the clay amphora used to store and transport wine. Although resin is no longer needed to provide air-tight containers for wine, today it is added directly to the must during the fermentation process in order to achieve the signature flavor profile. The grapes for the Ritinitis Nobils are destemmed prior to crushing. Only the free-run juice is used for fermentation.

About the Winery 

One of the pioneers of the modern Greek wine revolution, Gai’a Estate (pronounced Yay-ya) was established in 1994 by Leon Karatsalos and winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos. Their mission was to capture the best that Greece’s indigenous grapes have to offer by merging traditional viticultural and production methods with innovative techniques. The estate is named after “Mother Earth,” in honor of the unique terroir that gives birth to these world-class wines.

Grape Varietal: 100% Roditis