Agiorgitiko is a black-skinned grape variety native to the Greek Peloponnese region, where it produces some of the country's best red wines. The name means "Saint George's Grape" and is thought to originate in Nemea where the best bottles come from vineyards planted at altitude, keeping their acidity due to the effect of the markedly cooler climate. After Xinomavro, it is one of the most widely planted grapes in Greece and is used to make a range of styles including dry rosé, young, unoaked reds, through to rich, dark-fruited, oak-aged wines needing time to mature. Wines using Agiorgitiko have rich fruit flavours of raspberry, blackberry and plum, along with spicy notes of black pepper and nutmeg. The barrel aged red wines usually have considerable tannins and are well-suited to pairing with meat dishes such as a local stifatho (veal stew), roasted meats, steak and Mediterranean lamb dishes.
