What is Retsina?

A delicious, yet unusual wine that has been made in and around Greece for at least 2,000 years by infusing it with resin from the Aleppo pine tree during the fermentation process. Retsina admittedly experienced an extended downturn when the pine resin was used to mask the flavours of substandard wine. Nowadays, Retsina is back on trend and enjoying a resurgence in popularity in Greece and around the world thanks to numerous quality-focused producers seeking to highlight this ancient tradition in the contemporary world.

Modern producers have achieved a harmony between the varied fruity tones of the grape and joined it with the distinctive yet discreet flavour of pine resin, underlined with hints of mastic gum, rosemary and sage, the slight bitterness of the pine needle and a peppery finish.

Giannikos Retsina is produced from the indigenous Roditis grape. The fruit is hand-picked and hand-sorted and undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a low temperature together with pine resin collected from their own organic Aleppo pine trees.

Giannikos Retsina

In 1896, Greece rekindled the Olympic flame by hosting the first modern international Olympic games. It was also the year when the Giannikos family planted their first vines in the rich soil of ancient Mycenae, the birthplace of Greek viticulture almost 4,000 years ago.

With a focus on single varietal wines, Giannikos is able to show the greatness of the indigenous Greek grape varieties. Their location enjoys an ideal microclimate influenced by the cooling winds from the sea and the Mediterranean sun. Giannikos is a leading producer of organically certified wines in Greece.

Malagouzia (100%)

Peloponnese