Limniona, or sometimes spelled Lemniona, is an extremely rare red Greek grape variety with origins in Thessaly, Greece. Limniona wine is fast becoming one of the trendiest and sought-after wines in Greece. It’s only a matter of time before it spills over into the rest of the world. Be in-the-know with this guide to the Limniona grape.
Origins of Limniona
Limniona originates from Thessaly in central mainland Greece. Thessaly is in the shadows of Mount Olympus. The Limniona grape has been known to farmers for generations. As is the story with many Greek grapes, it took the courage and insight of one Greek winemaker to bring it into the spotlight. Christos Zafeirakis bottled the first monovarietal Limniona in 2007. He was enchanted by the color, the aroma, and velvet mouthfeel that Limniona has.
Previous to Zafeirakis undertaking Limniona on its own, it was a blending grape with other indigenous grapes of the area like Xinomavro, Krasato, Muscat of Tyrnavos, and Stavroto. While Zafeirakis is certainly the pioneer of Limniona, there are now several producers throughout the mainland of Greece. There is a friendly atmosphere among the growers of Limniona who all want to see it shine in the spotlight.
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What do Limniona grapes look like?
Limniona is a dark berried grape with large tightly-clustered berries. The berries do particularly well against the extreme heat and diurnal shift in Thessaly. Limniona grapes ripen late in the season, usually around mid-to-late September. It’s generally a healthy grape that has no major sensitivities. In the glass, Limniona is a bright ruby-purple color.
What does Limniona wine smell like?
On the nose, Limniona has a beautiful combination of fruit and herbal aromas. Limniona is quite an aromatic red wine. At first the blueberry and greengage smells come through but closely behind are basil and thyme. You may also get some aromas like tobacco, licorice and dried flowers, too.
What does Limniona taste like?
Limniona is a very juicy grape. It bursts with more blueberries, pomegranate, and maraschino cherries. It’s a medium-bodied wine. Limnona has this gorgeous velvet mouthfeel that’s feel like your tongue is wrapped in a queen’s mantle. The acidity is quite high with a sour cherry flavors. This makes it a great wine with food. The tannins are mellow but structured. It is a little too easy to drink. This may get me in trouble but Limniona tastes like if Beaujolais and Chianti had a baby. It has the juicy fruitiness of Gamay and the acidity and earthiness of Sangiovese.
What foods pair well with Limniona?
Limniona pairs well with meat dishes, tomato based stews, and even a simple meat and cheese platter. Twice now I’ve had it with grilled steaks and it’s been fantastic. The high acidity is a great match with fattier meats like lamb and pork. In northern Greece, many of the foods are butter or milk based instead of olive oil based so enjoy Limniona wine with Greek dishes like moussaka and pastitsio, or with international foods like shepherd’s pie or steak with Béarnaise sauce.
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[mailerlite_form form_id=4]Storage and Serving Suggestions for Limniona
Limniona has the ageing potential of up to 10 years. The alcohol can be a touch high so serve Limniona with a slight chill to keep it in check. I would suggest decanting Limniona for an hour before serving so the fruit can really come out and shine. Limniona wine is best in a wine glass with a large bowl and tapered rim.
Test Your New Knowledge about Limniona
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Have you ever tried Limniona wine? What do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know.