Bring on the Hima!
When you are traveling, there is nothing better than ordering a great bottle of local wine with lunch or dinner, right? All those domaines, chateaus, estates and varieties that are hard to find at home are now on the wine list ready to try.
This has been and will continue to be one of the highlights of my trips to Greece. That said, I have a new mission. ‘Hima’ (χυμα) wine! This is unbottled wine served at restaurants, in addition to the bottles on the wine list. (Sometimes, the only wine the taverna will have is hima.) This wine is served in a carafe or metal pitcher and usually comes straight from the barrel, jug or even box. Typically ordered by the kilo, this wine is best shared with friends. You usually have no idea of the varietal or of the winery. Sometimes the taverna owner is the ‘winemaker’, but usually it is purchased from a village or other regional winery.
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed the quality of some of the hima wine has significantly improved, especially the whites. As quality wine production has increased throughout Greece, wineries now have excess juice that they won’t bottle so they’Il sell it off to restaurants. I’ve even seen some high quality producers brand their boxes! I suspect with the crisis we’ll find even more quality hima wine as domestic sales have slowed.
One of these days I’ll follow through on my idea to create a guide to the best hima wines throughout Greece. Who wants to join me on that research trip!?
4 comments on “Bring on the Hima!”
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Love the hima! I’ve been able to find the copper/metal carafe (in Astoria) but do you know where I can purchase the little clear Greek-style wine glasses shown in the photo?
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Yassas!! Nice to hear from you! We actually got these from Crate and Barrel! Ha! They usually come along with a set of multiple sizes. For example https://www.crateandbarrel.com/duralex-picardie-glass-tumblers-set-of-18/s556995. Happy Shopping!
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I’m trying to order the carafe online but I can’t find them anywhere. I should have brought some back with me! Do you know of any website that sells them? Opa!
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I brought mine back but I did a very quick search and found these on Etsy!! Hope it works for you!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/748876334/vintage-anodized-aluminum-cup-retro?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=greek+wine+carafe&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&pro=1&col=1
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