This past weekend, our illustrious “Wine Pairing Weekend” (#winePW) crew published articles on their sites and engaged in a lively twitter chat about the crisp white wines of Spain and Portugal. As always, the banter was fun, the recipes were mouthwatering, and the memorable wines were those to find and enjoy. On September 8, we’ll be discussing food and wines from Greece and we want YOU to join our Greek Squad!
The September #winePW will be our 52nd gathering. Started by David Crowley at Cooking Chat, our group of writers has expanded its food and wine pairing horizons and I can honestly write that I learn (and taste) something new during each conversation. We “meet” the second Saturday of the month at 11am EDT/8am Pacific on twitter with the hashtag #winePW. A list of past and upcoming events can be found by clicking here.
Now this! What complements Greek history, culture, traditional dishes, and views like no other than a glass of wine? We have plenty of choices thanks to a range of climates that’s more diverse that most people suspect. From arid islands in the Mediterranean Sea to forests that are wet and often snowy in the north, the selection of wines is just as varied.
Photo Credit: www.winefolly.com
In Northern Greece, white grapes Malagousia and Assyrtiko are predominant; red grapes include mostly Xinomavro as well as Merlot, Limnio, Cabernet, and Syrah. The Aegean Islands, Santorini, Samos, Limnos, and others, cultivate white grapes of Assyrtiko, Muscat Blanc, Athiri, Malvasia and red grapes of Limnio, Mandilaria, and Mavrotragano. In Central Greece and around the areas of Thessaly and Attica, we can find white wines of Savatiana, Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Athiri, Begleri, and Chardonnay and red wines of Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, Limniona, and more. Finally, the Southern Greece areas of Crete, Peloponnese, and Kefalonia produce white wines of Moschofilero, Muscat Blanc, Robola, Vidiano, and Roditis and red wines of Agiorgitiko, Mavrodaphne, Kotsifali, Liatiko, Mandilaria, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our challenge, Greek Squad, is to choose a wine or group of wines from regions of which we may be unfamiliar and pair with a delicious recipe of your choice, whether it’s a traditional or modern Greek dish or a family favorite. Let’s get creative!
So, how do you participate?
Send an email to let me know that you’re ready to be a part of the Greek Squad. Include your blog URL, Twitter handle, and links to your other social media channels. I’d like to know who’s participating so that each is included in upcoming posts. Please email to: cindy@grape-experiences.com.
I’ll need the post title by Tuesday, September 4 for it to be included in the preview post. I’ll do a brief article after receiving the titles and will give a link to your blog. When posted, consider using #winePW in the title so that it’s easier to see posts shared on Twitter.
Publish your post no later than Saturday, September 8 at 7am Eastern. You can always schedule your post in advance…
Include a link to the other #winePW participants in your post and a description of what the event is about. The day before the twitter chat, I’ll provide the html code that you can easily put in your initial post. The code links to participants’ general blog URLs and the updated code links to the specific #winePW articles.
Get social! After the posts go live, please visit your fellow bloggers’ posts, comment, and share the links.
Sponsored posts are great, but only if clearly disclosed. Please be sure to let readers know if your post is sponsored or if you are describing wine or other products for which you have received a free sample.
Our live #winePW twitter chat will be on September 8 at 11am Eastern. I look forward to reading everyone’s articles and hope to “see” plenty of members of the Greek Squad on twitter!
Photo Credit: www.blueparallel.com
Yamas! ~ Cindy
Jill
Lynn