“Ariousios Glykazon” Red Semi Sweet Wine 750ml

“Ariousios Glykazon” Red Semi Sweet Wine 750ml. Following the tradition of the famous “Kouroniotiko Wine”, Ariousios Glykazon is produced from sun-dried grapes of the Chian Krasero variety. Krasero grape is cultivated on the hills of Amani mountain, with  the combination of rich sunshine and the Aegean breeze, giving the wine excellent characteristics. A rich red color with reddish brown shades. Dried figs and prunes, raisins and vanilla, offer their aromas and give this wine a balance between sweetness and acidity. In ancient times, the island of Chios was famous for its wine. The Greek god of wine, Dionysus, gave his personal blessing to the island and its storied nectar. It is fabled that the wine god’s son, Oenopion, became the mythical king of Chios and taught the Islanders the art of vine cultivation. According to the legend, Oenopion had five sons: Talon, Evanthis, Melas, Salagos and Athamas and these became the names of the 5 qualities of Chian wine. The land between Mount Pelinneon and Amani, in the northwest part of the island, has a special microclimate, optimum for winemaking. This area was referred to as the land of Ariousia and is associated with one of the most famous wines in Greek history. While at first, the wine’s fame extended only to the island of Chios, it soon became renowned all over Greece. Chian ships transported it throughout the Mediterranean and were served at the most exclusive symposiums. Poets far and near sung the praises of the Ariousios wine and it was called “the nectar of the gods”. Because of this, the term “Homer’s wine” was attributed to the Ariousios grapes and the wine’s fame lived for more than 1.500 years, into the rise and fall of the Byzantines. In the Aegean and beyond, the name Ariousios rang in the ears of wine lovers just as Bordeaux has rung in the ears of connoisseurs for the last 150 years. Recently on Chios, the name “Ariousios” has been replaced by the “wine of Kourounia,” a small village down the road that has kept alive the ancient Greek tradition of winemaking on the island.