Try the tongue-twisting grape Agiorgitiko with Greek cuisine at The Aegean

Fans of the Greek restaurant The Aegean were heartbroken when the Watertown spot closed in 2015, followed by the Framingham location in 2021, a casualty of the pandemic. So there was cause for celebration when a reborn Aegean opened on Moody Street in 2022. 

Now run by the original owners’ son, Chris Ntasios, and his wife, Christa Bazarian, the menu includes all the old Greek favorites with some new Armenian dishes, courtesy of Bazarian’s family. Our go-to choices are the broiled chicken – perfectly moist and well seasoned – and the rack of lamb. And of course, those mouth-watering lemon potatoes.

We also love the Aegean’s well-designed international wine list, with plenty of Greek and Armenian selections. VinoDuo’s wine blog information on Greek wine is limited and we are true novices with Armenian wines, so at each visit to the restaurant we try something new.  

Our latest discovery is Greek Wine Cellars’ Apelia Dry Red Wine from the Peloponnese region. The Apelia is a blend of Syrah and Agiorgitiko, one of Greece’s most prevalent grapes. It’s a medium-bodied, food-friendly wine, with juicy flavors of black plum and blackberry and hints of baking spice. 

Light enough to pair well with chicken and bold enough for lamb, the Apelia is an excellent choice for most of Aegean’s fare. And at under $12 a glass, it’s a bargain. In the days of $20 wines by the glass at some restaurants, Aegean’s well-priced offerings encourage diners to step outside their wine comfort zones.