Easter falls on April 20 this year—and, as always, it is calculated by the moon and Gregorian calendar. For Orthodox Christians (mainly in Greece, Russia and the Balkans), Easter is calculated by the Julian calendar, so it can fall on a different date. This year, Easter for both Christian and Orthodox Christian falls on the same date—a fine day for celebrating with a bottle of bubbly, especially with a made-in-Greece sparkling wine.
For the 13 years I lived in Greece, I loved every minute of observing “Greek Easter.” Dyed red eggs and a special bread called tsoureki can be found all over, and Greeks far and wide are busy roasting lambs on a spit, along with a special meat blend called kokoretsi. Easter is a huge celebratory event in Greece—and drinking wine is a good part of it.
Aphrodise’s Greek Charmat Rosé Sparkling Wine ($40) is made from indigenous Xinomavro (dry/red) grapes, which are sourced from vineyards in northwestern Greece. Not too sweet and bursting with flavor, this is an absolutely gorgeous bottle of festive fizz for any occasion.
Tech titan Frank Schilling, who discovered the Xinomavro grape on a trip to Greece, partnered with Gabi Petrylaite to make something that wasn’t just a Champagne alternative, but a drink that people could enjoy almost any time—and without the typical hangover feeling.
Buy it in Greece, or buy it right here at drinkaphrodise.com.
Kitchen Ease
My new piece of kitchen equipment is a Kalorik Vivid Touch air fryer. It is cooking made easy with its customizable settings based on food type, weight, fresh or frozen. And you can see how your food’s cooking through a viewing window. Made of stainless steel, it’s easy to clean too.
