Greece: Troupis Winery - TOMH Moschofilero 2024/2025, Mantinia (Vegan-Friendly)

Grape variety: 100% Moschofilero. 13% alcohol.

Right now, if you ask pretty much anyone deeply involved in the wine game, especially the wine anoraks amongst us, as to which country's wines they are currently most excited about in terms of new discoveries, unique styles, and uplifts in quality, it would be Greece.

Quality wine importers are now awash with well-made Greek wines, and they're not dirt cheap either, far from it. The last decade or two has seen a new generation of winemakers come to the fore, largely with only one, or perhaps two things in mind: quality. And the second thing? Export. But they are not doing this with Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, but by staying true to their own indigenous (and often unpronounceable!) varieties.

Indeed, there now isn't a supermarket in the UK that doesn't stock an Assyrtiko white wine, a variety made famous by the fabulous, in demand (and very expensive) wines of the island of Santorini - albeit these supermarket wines will be from Assyrtiko grown on the mainland.

Another Greek grape variety increasingly gaining new fans? Moschofilero, the variety responsible for this wine.

Troupis is a family-owned boutique winery based in Mantinia, in the Peloponnese, 165km to the west of Athens. Mantinia has a long tradition of viticulture, dating back to the ancient Greeks. It is one of the coldest wine-growing regions in Greece, despite not being at the highest altitude - the Troupis family's seven hectares of vineyards are at 650m. In the summer, the daytime temperature frequently reaches 40°C while then plummeting at night down to 12-15°C, slowing the ripening sufficiently for the grapes to retain their characteristic acidity, while harvest can sometimes come as late as October.

In the winter, there is skiing nearby within the Mainalon mountain range; this mountain range overlooks the whole Peloponnesian peninsula as it dominates its centre.

Moschofilero is an indigenous grape to the region: it has a special aromatic profile and retains a great deal of freshness. This is a delightful seafood wine, and of course with anything Greek.....give me a bowl of tzatziki! It is aromatically complex and with a wonderful richness of refreshing, textured fruit.

What the experts say

17/20 jancisrobinson.com: ‘Fragrant with grapey citrus and balanced by the finely dry texture. Extreme purity and freshness. Troupis seems to hit the high points in every style. Chalky, dry texture makes this much more than an aromatic and fruity fresh white.’ 

Food pairing

Great with Mediterranean style dishes, lemon sauces, grilled oily fish and shellfish.