| History |
The ancient poets called wine the Nectar of the Gods. It was also known as Homer’s wine by later generations and was the Romans favorite wine. The wine’s excellent reputation continued during the Byzantine period. Once upon a time the wines were also used extensively in medicine, as an effective treatment for stomach pains. According to the ancient Chian historian Theopompos, Oenopion, the son of the god Dionysus, taught Chians how to plant, cultivate and produce the “black wine”, a famous product produced in Chios Island. The ancient geographer Strabon was the first to precisely define the region of Ariousia Land, situated between the area of Pelinnaion Mountain and Cape Melena Akra. His description places the ancient wine making region in the northwest area of Chios. In modern times the nearby vineyards produce excellent quality wines mainly in the area of Kourounia. |