Retsina facts for kids
Retsina (Greek: Ρετσίνα) is a special type of Greek white or rosé wine. It has a unique flavor because pine resin is added to it. People have been making Retsina for at least 2,000 years!
Long ago, before glass bottles were invented, wine was stored in clay pots called amphorae. These pots were not airtight, so oxygen could get in and spoil the wine quickly. To stop this, people used Aleppo pine resin to seal the pots. This helped keep the air out and also gave the wine a special piney smell and taste.
Later, around 300 AD, Romans started using wooden barrels to store wine. Barrels were better at keeping air out, so resin was no longer needed for sealing. But people still loved the unique flavor of Retsina. That's why this special wine is still made and enjoyed today!
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History of Retsina
The idea of using resin with wine is very old. A Roman writer named Columella wrote about it in the first century. He talked about different types of resin that could be used to seal wine containers. He also mentioned that the best wines should not have resin mixed in, because it changed the taste.
Another Roman writer, Pliny the Elder, also wrote about adding resin. He suggested putting resin into the wine while it was fermenting. He thought resin from mountain areas smelled better than resin from lower lands.
In the 3rd century, wooden barrels became common for storing wine across the Roman Empire. This meant that resin was not needed for sealing anymore. However, people in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, called Byzantium, really liked the strong taste of resinated wine. So, they kept making it long after the western parts stopped.
During the Middle Ages, travelers and Crusaders visited the Greek islands. They wrote about their experiences with the strong, resin wines there. For example, an Italian noble named Pietro Casola traveled to Jerusalem in 1494. He wrote about the wines he tried in Greece. He found most wines pleasing, but he noted that the strong, resinated wine had an "unpleasant odor."
Fun Stories About Retsina
There are some interesting stories about how Retsina became popular. One story says that when the Romans took over Greece, they stole a lot of Greek wine. The Greeks were angry, so they started adding pine resin to their wine. This made the wine taste harsh, which supposedly made the thirsty Romans refuse to drink it.
Another story claims that drinking too much undiluted Retsina was deadly for two kings: King Eric I of Denmark and King Sigurd I of Norway. These are just fun stories, but they show how strong the flavor of Retsina can be!
Where Retsina is Made
Retsina is made all over Greece. The main places where it is produced are Attica, Boeotia, and Euboea. The European Union protects the name "Retsina." This means that only wine made in Greece and some parts of southern Cyprus can be called Retsina. For example, a similar wine made in South Australia can be called "resinated wine," but not "Retsina."
How Retsina is Made
Today, the main grape used for Retsina is Savatiano. Sometimes, other grapes like Assyrtiko and Rhoditis are mixed in. On the island of Rhodes, the Athiri grape is often used.
Modern Retsina is made much like other white or rosé wines. The main difference is that small pieces of Aleppo pine resin are added to the grape juice (called "must") while it is fermenting. The resin pieces stay in the must and release a thin, oily film on top of the liquid. When the wine is ready, the resin pieces and the oily film are carefully removed.
Nowadays, it's much easier to protect wine from spoiling without using a lot of resin. So, modern Retsina uses less resin than in ancient times. This means it doesn't have the very strong, "turpentine" smell that older Retsina sometimes had. Modern Retsina is often enjoyed with strong-tasting Greek foods, like pastırma or garlic dips, which are often eaten as mezes (small dishes) with drinks.
See also
In Spanish: Retsina para niños
