Wine Lover's Companion:
Aghiorghitiko; Agiorgitiko
[ah-zheor-GEE-tee-koh] A Greek red-grape variety, also known as the grape of St. George. It's thought to be one of Greece's oldest grape varieties and is the second most widely planted grape in the country. Its name comes from the town of Agios Georgios, now called Nemea. Only wines made from Aghiorghitiko can be labeled "Nemea," which is the large Greek appellation located in the northeastern Peloponnese. Aghiorghitiko, considered by many to be Greece's noblest grape, is capable of producing a wide assortment of wine styles-from fruity rosés to full-bodied, deeply colored reds. Higher-quality Aghiorghitiko wines are appearing from some of the cooler-climate areas in Greece, such as Koutsi and the Asprokambos valley in Nemea.
