Your guide to food & wine pairing, Greek style, crafted by our friends at Wine Selectors. Read on and be inspired by some mouthwatering Mediterranean matches!

Made using fantastically fresh ingredients including lamb, seafood, vegetables, beans, pulses, olives and olive oil, herbs, cheese, and yoghurt, there’s a Greek dish for every taste and every occasion, and of a course a wine style to match. It’s a well-known fact that Greek locals are lovers of Ouzo, but do Greeks drink wine with meals? The answer is yes – typically they enjoy a glass or two of Greek wines including Restina or Assyrtiko.

Here in Australia, Mediterranean grape varieties like Fiano, Vermentino, Grenache and Tempranillo thrive in our climate producing a fantastic range of wines that are perfect to enjoy with many Greek dishes.

What wine works best with Greek souvlaki?

Spicy, light to medium-bodied reds are ideal with grilled and barbequed favourites like souvlaki or gyros.

Wine pairing: Grenache and Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre (GSM), or Pinot Noir, Nero d’Avola and Merlot.

What wine goes best with Moussaka?

Serve the savoury, richer wine styles with a hearty yet gentle moussaka, but nothing too overpowering.

Wine pairing: Tempranillo, or Sangiovese, Barbera and Shiraz.

What wine tastes good with dolmades?

Wine pairing: Vermentino, or Riesling, Gruner Veltliner or Rosé.

What wine works best with a Greek salad?

Colourful, crunchy and healthy, a classic Greek salad is perfect enjoyed with a zesty white or Rosé.

Wine pairing: Sauvignon Blanc, or Semillon, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé or Pinot G.

Wine to pair with Gyros?

Marinated Greek chicken or lamb, tzatziki, tomato, cucumber, oregano, and flat bread – what’s not to love? Especially when you pair these tasty morsels with wine. Lamb gyros is best paired with fruity red wine like Pinot Noir, Tempranillo or Sangiovese, while chicken gyros are great with Riesling or Gewürztraminer – avoid wines with high acidity, as they accentuate the acidity of the tzatziki. Rosé is a good choice for both.

Wine pairing: Riesling, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo or Sangiovese.

Wine to serve with Pastitsio

Pastitsio is a Greek version of lasagne. Traditional ingredients include tubular pasta covered in a layer of an aromatic beef ragu (featuring cinnamon and nutmeg) and  then topped with a rich and creamy béchamel sauce. Choose a wine that has enough acidity to balance this rich dish.

Wine pairing: Merlot or Barbera

What works well with Greek calamari?

This brightly flavoured, colourful and textural calamari recipe by Shane Delia, is begging for a wine with similar attribute – try a deliciously dry Aussie Rosé like Tempranillo Rosé that is plush and fresh at the same time with mouth-watering acidity throughout.

Wine pairing: Rosé

Best wine to pair with Greek Chicken?

Lyndey Milan’s recipe for Greek-style barbeque chicken is delightful paired with Chardonnay.

Wine pairing: Chardonnay

What wine works best with Greek lamb?

Lyndey Milan’s delicious Greek lamb with skordalia recipe is perfect with a glass of Malbec.

Wine pairing: Malbec

Want more of a Greek food and wine pairing fix? Join Wine Selectors for their ‘Greek Goodies’ masterclass at the Good Food & Wine Show, or discover other food and wine pairings across a range of international cuisines in the Cuisine Discovery Tasting Room. Tickets on sale now for Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.