wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.

Log in Become a Member

Ouzo

This spirit, which is protected within the EU, is one of the best-known alcoholic drinks in Greece and is considered the national drink there. The name is presumably derived from the Turkish "üzüm" (bunch of grapes or grape juice). The history of ouzo production dates back to the 19th century, when merchant families from Asia Minor (Turkey) settled on Lesbos and began producing the distillate in stills made of bronze or copper. These influenced today's ouzo production. The popularity of ouzo increased enormously after the Greek-Turkish War in 1922.

Ouzo was exported to France flavoured with aniseed. It was exported to the port of Marseille in wooden crates with the Italian inscription "Uso di Massillia" (meaning "for use in Marseille"). According to a second version, the name was derived from this. And according to a third version, it is a corruption of the ancient Greek verb "ozo" ("I smell") or "ou zo" ("I do not live" - meaning "I cannot live without ouzo"). In the past, it was produced by double distillation of the press residue, so it was a pomace spirit like grappa or marc.

Voices of our members

Sigi Hiss

There is a vast number of sources on the web where one can acquire knowledge about wine. But none has the scope, timeliness and accuracy of the information in the encyclopaedia at wein.plus. I use it regularly and rely on it.

Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

26,379 Keywords · 46,983 Synonyms · 5,323 Translations · 31,713 Pronunciations · 202,075 Cross-references
made with by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS