Malagousia.
Vidiano.
Assyrtiko.
On paper, these three words are all Greek to me. In a bottle, they are a triune of grapes that make up a delicious Greek white blend called Apla.
This wine is refreshing and aromatic. Definitely a treat for the senses. Bountiful tangerine and peach flavors in every sip. Extremely food friendly. Gathering a few Mediterranean morsels was definitely the fun part of writing this column.
I hopped in my car and took a quick drive down Interstate 77 to see Maria Varonis at the Greek and Mediterranean specialty store called Canton Importing, which she owns with her husband Justin Seeker. Varonis pointed out a cornucopia of foods that would be great to have with a glass of Apla.
I picked up hunks of feta cheese, from Greece of course, as well as France and Bulgaria, to do a wonderful side-by-side tasting with this enticing white wine. If you love feta, this will be a fun and tasty experience to share with friends. The Kalamata olives were a divine snack. A few koulourakia, Greek butter cookies made by Maria’s mom Litsa, were pretty fab as well. I dipped one in a jar of Greek honey that just happened to find its way home with me that day. That really brought out some honey nuances in this wine.
I happily drove down to the store a second time to pick up a floral focaccia made by Varonis’ Greek friend Angela Gaitanos, whose bakery is called, Fournos Crafted by Angie. This organic work of art was decorated with onions, peppers, dill, capers, olives and feta. This $20 showstopper is available at Canton Importing Company every Friday. It will definitely add some WOW to your next food and wine gathering.
You can find this wine at Canton Importing Co., Meyers Lake Beverage in Canton, Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley and Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls.
Canton Importing is at 1136 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton, and can be reached at 330-452-9351, cantonimporting.com
A toast to Jim Demuth
Stop in at Beau’s Bar & Bistro from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 19 to sample four Gregory James wines. We’ll clink our glasses and toast New Philadelphia native and winemaker Jim Demuth, who passed away on May 13. Demuth, 66, started Gregory James Wines in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley in 2013. In the last 10 years, Jim raised well over $2 million for the Research Institute for Children’s Health at Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University Tuscarawas, and the Molly B. Demuth Memorial Scholarship at The Ohio State University.
You can reach Phil Masturzo at philyourglass@gmail.com and follow him on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Apla, a Greek white wine blend, pairs well with feta, olives, treats
Reporting by Phil Masturzo, Special to the Akron Beacon Journal | USA Today Network / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Phil Masturzo, Special to the Akron Beacon Journal | USA Today Network | USA TODAY Network
