It's All Greek To Me

Greek and Roman histories are intertwined as much as their mythologies. And while Greece and Italy are only separated by the relatively narrow Ionian Sea, the two countries have taken different directions in terms of their wine and how the world perceives and receives it. Italy has become synonymous for their fermented grape juice, while Greece is lesser celebrated for theirs. But Greece’s wine culture precedes Italy, France, Spain and other countries that are viewed as the world’s premier winemaking regions.
The world owes a great debt of gratitude to ancient Greece for its wine culture and this Sunday, Aug. 28 Avondale Wine & Cheese raises a glass to Greece with a special pop-up dinner and wine pairing with dishes and wine from the old Mediterranean country. According to manager Katherine Maher, this is the fourth installment in Avondale Wine & Cheese’s “Passport Around The World” pop-up dinner series. So far it has covered the West Coast (U.S.A.), South America, and Asia.
“Our pop-up dinners are four courses with wine pairings. The wine menu is determined by the different countries that produce wine. The food menu is then paired with the grapes (wine) from that region… Keeping it as authentic as possible,” says Maher. This time around the wines will include Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, and white Muscatone.
All of the wines are from Boutari, one of the oldest and top wineries in Greece and an ambassador of Greek wine all over the world. Boutari is among the top 10 international wineries in the Hall of Fame of the Wine & Spirits magazine and has been awarded “International Winery of the Year” 15 times. In 2008 Boutari was the first and only Greek winery to ever win the award “European Winery of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast.
As far as the food goes, Maher says she works with local chefs around the area for each dinner. “When pairing the dishes together a lot of tasting on our end goes into each course, she says. For Maher, this one is particularly special because her brother Chris Maher, who cooks downtown at Charleston Grill, will be preparing all of the food. “I don’t want to give the whole menu away,” she says. “But the main course will be Moussaka (a classic Greek dish that includes sliced eggplant baked in a meat sauce and then smothered in a thin white sauce).”  Assistant manager Christine Shatinsky who was formerly a pastry chef before working at Avondale Wine & Cheese, will be making the desserts.
Tickets are $65 per person and for each pop-up dinner there are only 30 seats available. As of press time, only had a handful of spots left. There has not been a date or a region set for the next pop-up dinner, but Maher says they try and hold them about every six weeks.  You Must RSVP to 769-5444 if you would like to make a reservation.
Avondale Wine & Cheese’s Greek Pop-Up Dinner will be held Sunday, Aug. 28, 6:45-9 p.m. at 813 Savannah Hwy. For more information, call 769-5444.