If you are in your corner office, cubicle, or home “bunker” you may wonder if anyone cares about what you’re doing. Income is important, but frankly, the paycheck won’t sustain motivation. Intrinsic rewards are more important and if you can receive any direct or indirect verbal or even non-verbal validation for what you are doing, that works, too! Recently I shared the answer to this “Does anyone care what I’m doing?” question with two hard working young men, business partners at Eklektikon, who are importing some knock-your-socks-off wines from Northern Greece to the tables of consumers in (at this time) New York City.
Last fall, I received an email from a company of whom I had never heard. “A Museum inside a Wine Bottle: A Story About Greek Wine” was the subject and the thoughts of museums, Greece, and wine, all of my favorite topics, were intriguing enough to gamble on that source to (hopefully) discover something unique. And I did. After several emails, I received sample bottles of the wines imported by the team at Eklektikon, the source of that email, which partners with prestigious wineries in Northern Greece to bring them to American consumers. Delicious wines they were to share with family and friends and I was thrilled to describe them in two articles on this site and naturally, to note the unique art on the bottles which is, in fact, yet another true expression of Greek culture.
What was just as interesting as their wines was learning a bit about Aris who has an MBA from Pepperdine, speaks English fluently, is an incredibly hard working, intelligent entrepreneur who is passionate about sharing these wines from his country, and is a bit of Greek eye candy if you know what I mean (see picture below…). Nikos, a handsome better-than Vince Vaughn lookalike who has an MBA from ICBS in Greece, was wonderful, too, although our conversation was mainly gestures and interpretations from Aris since his English was slightly better than my Greek which was non-existent!
While Aris and I were chatting and sipping, Nikos was crunching numbers and dealing with the business at hand! Hey, someone had to taste the wine (and yes, he did have some…a fabulous red)!! One of the selections we tasted, the new 2012 release of the En Oeno Rose, was different than the 2011…yet just as delicious with its expression of the vintage year and terroir. This Rose from Drama in Northern Greece is 85% Grenache Rouge and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. I loved its aromas of wildflowers and its high acidity with stone fruit tastes (think white peaches!) was absolutely refreshing and perfect on a warm evening in the city.
Aris contentedly sat back and explained that seeing a consumer love the wines which he has worked hard to bring to the United States and to market to restaurants and wine shops is incredibly satisfying. Working long hours, regularly contacting their wineries in Greece, presenting the wines at many tasting events, analyzing financial data (with Nikos, of course), and making sacrifices both personally and professionally are absolutely worth it when you see the end result: complete customer satisfaction.
So, do consumers care about what Aris, Nikos, and the Eklektikon team are doing besides me and others who know them? I doubt anyone thinks of the importer when they purchase a bottle of wine! However, for me to witness the gratitude of Aris who, with Nikos, is working tirelessly to bring something unique, personal (wines from his country), and delicious to American wine lovers was quite special indeed and I thought it worthy to share with you all.
During the course of my continuing Greek wine journey and specifically with those sent to me from Eklektikon, I realize that the wines from Northern Greece are some of my favorites. You may read more about these wines in my articles and try them for yourself. Currently, you can find Eklektikon’s portfolio of wines in New York City in upscale Greek restaurants including Avra, Ammos, Kellari, Molyvos, Loi, Pylos, Ethos Gallery, and Nerai. The wine lists at Waldorf Astoria’s Bull and Bear, Delmonico’s Kitchen, and the upstairs rooftop at the Kimberly Hotel also include selections from Eklektikon. In Astoria, New York, stop by Ovelia or Bahari for a glass (or bottle!) of wine for your taste of Greece!
But when in New York City, you may want to enjoy dinner and some delicious wine (like me) with TriBeCa locals at The Greek (456 Greenwich between Watts and Desbrosses)…and if you happen to see two handsome men observing you while you enjoy their wine, just raise your glass, say “thank you” and…
Yamas! ~ Cindy
