A pleasant two hour drive from Athens, in the heartland of the Peloponnese, sits a small chapel. Situated on the highest point of Tselepos’ Mantinia vineyard, it pays homage to Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of winemakers. With depictions of biblical references to wine adorning the chapel’s interior, one is reminded of Greece’s devout christianity and that winemaking, as with all agricultural endeavors, is at the mercy of elements beyond our control. But even more so, the chapel is a reflection of Giannis Tselepos’ holistic approach to winemaking. Having studied oenolgy at the University of Dijon in Burgundy, he returned to…
Travel
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Continue ReadingNestled in the Peloponnesian mountainside village of Vastas one will find the small church of Saint Theodora. The road to get there is narrow and windy, testing nerves at every turn. As the GPS indicator inched closer to our destination, anticipation grew. Built in the twelfth century, this church is no ordinary site. With seventeen trees growing atop its roof without any visible root system, the church is considered a “living miracle”. As we made our final turn, I wondered. From parted seas to walking on water, many are the miraculous stories that shaped my upbringing. But they remain stories, accounts from…
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Continue ReadingOur summer visit to Greece concluded with a one night stay in Athens. When asked by our friends what we wanted to do, the answer was obvious: eat good Greek food! With a city as large as the capital, there is no shortage of options. Knowing our penchant for seafood, our friends decided to take us to Raki Meze, which loosely translates to “booze and small plates”. The restaurant’s setting was charming with both indoor and veranda seating. In order to enjoy a variety of foods, our group agreed to order multiple dishes, which we shared family style. Following are…
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Continue ReadingGreece is best known for its islands, beautiful sunsets, and picturesque seaside villages. These are certainly key to Greece’s lure, but there is another quality to the country; its agriculture. Most of my time in Greece has been spent in the southern part of the mainland, known as the Peloponnese. This region is the country’s “bread basket”. Its fertile soil yields a multitude of crops, its surrounding seas are filled with fresh fish, and there are seemingly endless olive groves from which the people derive their prized olive oil. As with any region rich in agriculture, a trip to the…