Wine Wednesday 5.7.25

aubrey graf
May 7
2 min read

Happy Wine Wednesday!

Today, we are drinking a 2023 Hoof & Lur Moschofilero from Greece,

Moschofilero — Greece’s flirty, floral white grape with a touch of pink sass. Let’s dig into it and unwrap the "skin fermentation" mystery.

🇬🇷 Moschofilero: The Basics

Origin:

Indigenous to Mantinia, a high-altitude plateau in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece.
Grown at elevations up to 750 meters (2,460 ft), where cool temps preserve acidity.

Grape Traits:

Pink-skinned despite making white wine — think of it as Greece’s answer to Pinot Gris.
Aromatic, floral, and playful. Often likened to Muscat, Gewürztraminer, or Torrontés. But it's NOT like any "canon" grape you've ever tried,

Typical Flavor Profile:

Aromas: Rose, orange, jasmine, citrus blossom.
Palate: Lemon zest, lychee, white peach, hints of white pepper.
Body: Light to medium, high acidity and mouth puckering tannins.
Style: Often dry and fresh. Best enjoyed young.

Skin Fermentation ("Orange Wine") & Moschofilero

What is Skin Fermentation?

In white winemaking, grapes are pressed immediately, separating juice from skins. Skin-fermented whites, on the other hand, are left to soak on their skins, like red wines.

This gives:

Color: Deep gold to amber. In this case, a beautiful Salmon color.
Texture: Tannins! (unusual for white wines).
Flavors: Dried fruit, tea, herbs, often more savory or earthy.

Moschofilero + Skin Contact = A Whole New Beast

The aromatic intensity of Moschofilero makes it an excellent candidate for this style.
Expect:
- More rose hips, orange peel, wild herbs.
- Grippy tannins, deeper structure.
- A far cry from the light-and-lovely version — this is Moschofilero in boots and a poetry journal.