| Over the past few years the diet of the people living | | | | wonderful choices. For the wine aficionado, the fact |
| in Mediterranean area has come into focus and many | | | | that most Greek wines are made from native grape |
| people where surprised to learn the prominent role | | | | varieties will make them unique and appealing. Greek |
| wine plays in keep us healthy. You can create a | | | | wines come from a cool climate which gives them a |
| healthy gourmet wine gift basket based on the | | | | subtle temperament with low alcohol content. By |
| Mediterranean diet and give the wine lover on your | | | | some standards, every Greek meal could be |
| list a taste of the wonderful assortment of Greek | | | | considered gourmet; salads made with delectable |
| wines. Greece has a 6,000 year old wine tradition | | | | feta cheese, fresh seafood combinations, whole grain |
| supported by mythology which attributes the origin | | | | breads served with delicious wine is the common fare |
| of winemaking to Dionysus. Each of the local wines | | | | eaten on a daily basis. For the basic Greek gourmet |
| has a distinct identity and quality, which has been | | | | wine gift baskets, select a pair of red and white wine |
| supported for the past 20 years by the formation of | | | | from any of the famous vineyards of Greece and |
| the Appellation d' Origine Controlee (AOC). Wine | | | | then surround it with extra-virgin olive oil, "pitza" |
| producers in Greece have enjoyed much success in | | | | appetizers, marinated and oil cured olives, feta |
| culinary circles and gourmet wine gift baskets are a | | | | cheese, pasta, stuffed grape leaves with seasoned |
| natural extension to this. Greek gourmet wine gift | | | | rice and fire-roasted peppers. You can also create a |
| baskets make a wonderful addition to any wine | | | | gourmet wine gift basket with a Greek island theme; |
| enthusiasts collection. For a country that is smaller | | | | there are many regional producers of wine on Crete, |
| that the state of Georgia in America, ranking after | | | | Samos and Santorini online that can provide you with |
| the 12th largest wine producing country of Chile is a | | | | all of the ingredients for a wonderful present for any |
| testament to the improvement of wine quality over | | | | wine enthusiast. If your wine lover has a sweet |
| the last ten years. Wine production in Greece is a | | | | tooth, you can pair deliciously sweet dessert wines |
| natural result of its variable, temperate climate and all | | | | with a number of pastries that have a distinctive |
| sorts of varied soils, much of it mountainous with is | | | | Mediterranean flavor; Kataifi (Shredded Nut Pastries) |
| conducive for a wide range of wines. What are some | | | | or Bourekakia (Honey Nut Rolls) and one of the |
| of the best known grape varieties used in Greek | | | | many varieties of the world famous flaky pastry |
| wines? The grape variety of Moschofilero grown in a | | | | Baklava filled with honey, walnuts or pistachios just |
| cool climate produces white wines that are delicate | | | | to name a few. Make your present unique and really |
| and aromatic. For full bodied red wines, look to the | | | | surprise your wine lover with a gourmet wine gift |
| grape variety called Xinomavro. When you want to fill | | | | basket of delicacies and delectable Merlot or |
| your gourmet wine gift basket with delicious dessert | | | | Chardonnay from Greece; the land where wine is |
| wines, the Muscat variety from the Greek islands are | | | | considered a "gift from the Gods. |