TNW: You closed your TEDx Athens talk with the message ‘Re:code//Greece’. How do you think the European startup ecosystem can make a difference and help Europe get out of the crisis stronger and more united?
Steve Vranakis: Europe is already producing some of the worlds biggest and most cutting edge technology (just look at the Airbus A380!) Countries like Greece need to include IP and digital ideas on their list of exports. We have an incredibly skilled and educated labor force that just needs the environment to be put in place to help start and grow these types of companies. The beauty with tech startups I that if their idea is good enough it travels easily around the world. It takes a slight shift in thinking to go from what Negroponte called a few years back ‘atoms to bits’. The recent crisis is both an economic as well as cultural one. We need to feel comfortable with technology playing a key part of the Greek society and economy and feel confident in producing it. (via Google’s Steve Vranakis: Technology Should Be a Tool and a Toy)
How do you design, agree and maintain a long term growth vision, while focusing on the arduous, daily task of embracing and executing change? It is difficult to keep me from being optimistic. Greeks are incredibly able to deliver but it somehow has to come to the brink.
One of the best-selling Greek Merlot in the past years. The producer describes it as “From the privately owned vineyard at Kokkinomylos (Tegea, Arcadia, Greece), located on a hillside with a north-west orientation and clay-rocky soil at an altitude of 750 meters. The low yield per stremma and late harvesting result in ripe and aromatic grapes. Classic red wine vinification with a lengthy period of extraction lasting for 25 days. Aged 15 months in new oak barrels. Deep red colour with a rich velvety texture. Aromas of ripe red fruits with a delicate presence of vanilla and chocolate. Smooth tannins and a long finish characterize this round, well-structured wine that can be cellared for 10 to 15 years.” This is a clear medium ruby wine with purple hues and tears on the glass. Clean on the nose with medium intensity aromas suggesting of dark cherry, cranberry, strawberry, plum, vanilla, black pepper and cloves. Dry on the palate with medium+ acidity, medium ripe yet stalky tannins, medium+ alcohol, medium+ body and medium+ flavor intensity displaying dark cherry, cranberry, strawberry, plum, vanilla, black pepper and cloves. Medium length with red fruit aftertaste. This wine balances its chalky tannins with a juicy fruit and a warm alcohol. Very good quality wine with balance between its components, some fruit concentration and complexity and medium length. Good to drink now with meat dishes, but can be kept for another 10 years. Great magnum bottle treat from my friend Kostas. Thank you!
An interesting version of the much adored Greek red variety Agiorgitiko. This is my review of the 2011 vintage. Clear, bright medium purple color wine with ruby tones and some tears on the glass. Clean on the nose with medium intensity aromas suggesting of cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cloves and vanilla. Fully developed. Dry on the palate, with medium acidity, medium ripe and fine-grained tannins, medium alcohol, medium body and medium+ flavor intensity displaying of cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cloves and vanilla. Medium length with sweet fruit aftertaste. Good quality wine with some fruit concentration and complexity, medium length, and typical Agiorgitiko that should be enjoyed now, not intended for further ageing.
A very interesting wine expression from the Attica vineyard of the Savatiano grape. Bright, clear medium lemon color wine with green hues and long legs on the glass. Clean on the nose with medium intensity of aromas suggesting green apple, green pear, lychee, lime, orange zest, honeysuckle, and elderflower. Fully developed. Dry on the palate with medium acidity, medium- alcohol, medium body, medium flavor intensity displaying green apple, green pear, lychee, lime, grapefruit, orange zest, honeysuckle, and elderflower. Medium-length with green fruit aftertaste. Good quality wine with balance between its components, some fruit concentration and complexity and medium+ length. Good to drink now but could last 3-5 more years due to its structure and fruit concentration. I expect to drink delightful wines from this grape variety in the near future!
One of the ‘brand’ names from Santorini in the 1990s from the Boutari winery. Bright, clear medium gold colour with wide rim and slow moving tears on the glass. Clean, on the nose with intense aromas of watermelon, orange, minerality, wet pebbles, vanilla, lime, lychee and pear. Developing. Dry on the palate with high acidity, medium+ alcohol, full-bodied with intense flavors displaying apple, peach, petrol, hazelnut, vanilla and lime. Complex but well-structured fruit, combined with a sharp acidity and an overall robust structure. Medium+ length. Very good quality with balance between its components, high fruit complexity and concentration and medium+ length. Great to drink now but can last 5-10 more years due to its structure and acidity.
A very interesting rendition of a promising Greek red grape variety, Limnio. The producerhttp://www.kikones.gr/english/defaulten.html describes it: “Entirely from the ancient Greek grape varietal Limnio. Ruby colored with purple hues. On the nose plums, mature cherries, cinnamon, clove, coffee, cacao and blond tobacco. On the mouth,full -bodied, melted soft tannins, mellow reglisse with a touch of mint. An irresistible lingering elegant finish.” This wine has a clear, bright medium ruby color with purple hues, wide rim and long legs on the glass. Clean on the nose, with aromas suggesting of cranberry, sour cherry, wet leaves, tomato, green bell pepper, strawberry, plum, cloves and vanilla. Fully developed. Dry on the palate with medium acidity, medium+ green & grippy tannins, medium+ alcohol&body, medium flavor intensity displaying raspberry, cranberry, sour cherry, black pepper, plum, prune and vanilla. Good balance between the refreshing acidity with sinewy tannins and a juicy fruit. Medium length with red fruit and spices aftertaste. Good quality for a wine that is balanced, has some fruit concentration and complexity, and medium length. Good to drink not but can age for at least 10 years.
A very interesting wine from the island of Paros. Bright, clear wine with medium intensity ruby color with garnet hues and long legs on the glass. Clean on the nose with medium- intensity aromas suggesting wet leaves, tomato, plum, prune, black cherry, vanilla and cranberry. Developing. Dry on the palate with medium+ acidity, medium+ ripe and coarse tannins, medium alcohol, medium body and medium+ flavor intensity displaying wet leaves, tomato, plum, prune, black cherry, cloves vanilla and cranberry. Medium+ length with sweet fruit aftertaste. Very good quality wine with balance between the acidity and the expressive fruit, robust tannins, good fruit concentration and complexity and medium+ length. Good to drink now but could easily age 3-5 more years.
This is a clear, bright deep ruby color wine with purple hues and long legs on the glass. Clean on the nose with medium+ intensity aromas suggesting mushrooms, wet leaves, cherry, strawberry jam, prune, plum, cloves and vanilla. Developing. Dry on the palate with medium+ acidity, medium- ripe and fine-grained tannins, medium+ alcohol, medium+ body and medium+ flavor intensity displaying mushrooms, wet leaves, cherry, strawberry, prune, plum, cloves and vanilla. The hot-climate, expressive fruit is balanced by the zesty acidity. Medium+ length with red fruit and vegetal aftertaste. Good quality wine with balance between its components, high fruit concentration and complexity and medium+ length. Good Syrah-Kotsifali blend that is good to drink now but could age 3-5 years due to its structure and acidity. This is the 2010 vintage.
A wine I adore to enjoy with friends. Here is my review of the 2003 vintage! This is a clear, bright deep purple color wine with ruby hues and long legs staining the glass. Clean on the nose with medium+ intensity aromas suggesting dark cherry, strawberry, cranberry, prune, plum, cloves and vanilla. Youthful. Dry on the palate with medium+ acidity, medium+ firm but ripe and fine-grained tannins, high alcohol, medium+ body and medium+ flavor intensity displaying dark cherry, blackberry, strawberry, green bell pepper, cranberry, prune, plum, cloves and vanilla. The hot-climate, expressive fruit is balanced by the zesty acidity. Medium+ length with dark fruit and sweet spices aftertaste. Outstanding quality wine with balance between its generous fruit, zesty acidity and robust tannins, high fruit concentration and complexity and medium+ length. Typical Canernet Sauvignon with oak influence taht is good to drink now but could age 10-15 years due to its structure and acidity.
