Travel by Air France –
Heteroclito: oenology is Greek
Oenos means ‘wine’ and logos means ‘speech’… and yes, the Greeks invented oenology!
Forget retsina. Did you know that, until the Middle Ages, only Greek wine was drunk at the royal tables of Europe?
In ancient times, the land of this country was covered with vineyards, and wines were exported throughout the Mediterranean. Wine belongs as much to Greek tales and legends as Dionysus, Ariadne, and Odysseus. The ancient grape varieties had practically disappeared, but thanks to a new generation of winemakers and traders, viticulture and wine tasting are experiencing a new craze. Hence the emergence of wine bars in Athens. Opened by Madeline Lorantos and Dimitris Koumanis, Heteroclito offers the widest selection of wines. One can savour 20 by the glass and 150 in the bottle, while enjoying a plate of charcuterie and cheeses that are of course Greek.
In this cellar, wine lovers will recognize the Gerovassiliou area and the excellent Malagousia. To taste, sit either on the terrace or inside at one of the tables in a bar that cultivates a 1950s Parisian spirit.
