Glinavos "Vlahiko" Ioannina Red Dry Wine 2019

DIRECT PRESS SELECTION | June, 2021 Press 4 Red Vlahiko, the red grape featured in this wine, is cultivated mostly on limestone soils in this colder area of Greece near Albania. It reminds me of the savory, rich elegance of Pinot Noir or Schiava, but with just a touch more pepper and earth, like in Nebbiolo. As you can imagine, this is a great combination. A little pine and foresty herbaceousness are mixed in with ripe cherries, and stone fruit. The finish has a mushroomy umami balanced with light tannin and pleasing mineral freshness. A terrific crowd pleaser that will pair with local Epirote fare like pork sausage or grilled lamb, but equally as well with Italian-American staples with tomatoes.  Glinavos' patriarch is Lefteris Glinavos, who, in addition to being a former mayor of Epirus' main city Ioannina, was among the first group of 'boutique' winemakers in the 1970s who went against the large-scale cooperatives. Though Lefteris studied in Bordeaux, he returned to Epirus to wor