4 FEATURE THE NATIONAL HERALD, MAY 1-7, 2021 Grand Wine and Liquor: A Family-Owned Astoria Institution

By Christodoulos Athanasatos

ASTORIA – Grand Wine and Liquor, 30-05 31st Street in As - toria, is a staple of the neigh - borhood, celebrating 84 years offering an impressive variety of wines and other alcoholic bev - erages for even the most de - manding customer, including a wide range of Greek wines, and more. The company was founded in 1937, by Robert Battipaglia, in the period after the repeal of Prohibition. For Battipaglia, it was a side business, as his main concern was to establish himself in the local political scene. He PHOTOS: TNH/ZAFEIRIS HAITIDIS may not have imagined at that Robert J. Battipaglia is the third generation running the fam - time that the next generation ily-owned Grand Wine and Liquor in Astoria. would make Grand Wine and Liquor the standard for the en - tire area. he said, noting that the surge in cause we had to adapt the store "The truth is that, after the sales during the lockdown was in order for both the customers first 20 years, my grandfather almost unexpected. and the staff to be safe,” said thought the store was not doing "A lot of people thought we Battipaglia. well enough and wanted to sell agement of the company, told business and the significant and now we have wines from would close and they came here Finally, the owner of the it. But when my father reached The National Herald. changes in the profile of the cus - all over the world, mainly of buying wine and liquor to have store, via TNH, thanked the adulthood, he decided to run it As the third generation in tomers themselves, Battipaglia medium price, while our big for the long run. Eventually, the Greek-American community for himself. Not only did he run it, this family-run business, Bob lit - noted that the flexibility in the se - goal is to take advantage of e- wine shops and liquor stores its timeless support, expressing but he expanded it, investing erally ‘grew up’ inside the store. lection and distribution of prod - commerce. We have a modern were considered essential ser - his happiness for the fact that heavily in Greek wines, as well He worked part-time and helped ucts was immediate, towards a website and we emphasize on - vices and remained open during the company is based in an area as others from Eastern Europe. his father during his student very demanding audience. line orders. E-commerce is the pandemic. From March to like Queens with so much diver - This helped him build the busi - years, work in wine sales, and "Demographics have growing at a rate of … 20 per - May, we had an increase in sity. ness’ reputation. So he ex - in 2017, he was called on to changed, a lot of the older resi - cent each year and the pan - sales, but from the summer More information about panded the space and bought take over and continue the fam - dents have left for the suburbs demic – something that can be when people left for Long Island Grand Wine and Liquor, 30-05 this building," Bob Battipaglia, ily business. He was, in fact, and new people have come to seen from the launch of Amazon the traffic went back to normal. 31st Street in Astoria, is avail - the grandson of the founder, ready for a long time. the area who work in Manhat - – has made many people accus - From our side, of course, we able by phone: 718-728-2520 who has taken over the man - Regarding the evolution of the tan. So the profile has changed, tomed to ordering from home," had additional expenses, be - and online: grandliquors.com.

HACC Presented Event on Amphora Wines Four Ancient Greek

By Eleni Sakellis Varieties Featured in Wine the opportunity to taste and learn about the different vari - eties available. A list of the wines for the tasting was emailed be - NEW YORK – The Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce fore the event. The wines could be purchased at Grand Wines & Enthusiast Magazine (HACC) presented The Amphora: Two Sides of Wine on April 24 Liquors 30-05 31st Street, Astoria, NY. via Zoom. The event included a presentation on the history of In her presentation, Museum of Cycladic Art archaeologist TNH Staff maine Papagiannakos 2019 As - wine with Museum of Cycladic Art archaeologist Metaxia Routsi Metaxia Routsi explored the from prehistoric syrtiko (Attica), $22; and Gavalas and a tasting of excellent amphora wines available today. Mod - crushes of the 2nd millennium BC to the luxurious gatherings of NEW YORK – Ancient Greek 2019 Dry Assyrtiko (Santorini), erator for the event Athenee Importers and Distributors Vice classical antiquity. The wine, as god Dionysus' gift, established grape varieties and the impressive $34. President Andrea Englisis was joined by Sommelier Michael the famous symposiums and led to high quality works of art to modern wines made from them Limnio, the red wine men - Madrigale for the tasting and discussion with winemakers Nikos serve the process of common drinking. The presentation high - were featured in Wine Enthusiast tioned in Homer’s Odyssey is “one Karatzas of Oenops and Sakis Nikolaidis of Anatolikos Vineyards. lighted a different perspective on ancient Greek history as it Magazine (WEM) which noted of ’s oldest on record,” Amphorae have been used to ferment and age wine for thou - traced the routes of viticulture during the millennia and show - that “in Greece, wine is deeply WEM reported, noting that it hails sands of years. For thousands of years, they also served the wine cased the importance of wine from ritual activities to the greatest woven into the fabric of everyday from the Aegean island of Lem - community well. Part of HACC’s wine tasting series, the event medium of socialization. society and is a central compo - nos, and “was a major player in transported attendees back to the roots of winemaking to explore The tasting began with Oenops wines, RAWDitis ($30.99) and nent of cultural history.” the sweet wine craze that domi - wines made in amphorae. XinomavRAW ($30.99), introduced by winemaker Nikos Karatzas. WEM reported that “refer - nated ancient Greece.” Amphora wines are unique and represent an emerging cate - The tasting continued with Anatolikos Vineyards’ Natural Red ences to consumption and culti - Today, Limnio is “produced gory of wines that offer a distinctive experience. In this class, ($54.99), Natural Orange ($54.99), and Pollios Oinos ($59.99) vation appear in literature and both in elegant, dry, single-variety participants ventured to Greece's northernmost wine regions of introduced by winemaker Sakis Nikolaidis. Englisis and Madrigale historical texts as early as the 17th bottlings and blends, mainly in Drama and Thrace. Rich in wine history, these regions offer offered their insights into the wines and answered questions century BC” and “indigenous the northern Greek regions of unique interpretations of amphora winemaking. Attendees had from the participants of the class throughout the event. wine varieties once favored by Macedonia and Thrace,” WEM re - Hesiod and Aristotle are still pro - ported, adding that “Limnio is duced today.” typified by moderate, silky tan - “Social and political upheaval nins, good acidity, a pronounced of subsequent Roman … [and] mineral nose and flavors of Turkish occupations impeded and crushed herbs and bright red sometimes suspended commer - berries.” cial production of Greece’s leg - “Its full-bodied yet focused endary ancient varieties,” WEM character has ‘more than a little reported, adding “yet, local pro - in common with Barolo,’” George duction and demand for the one- Salpindigis, viticultural director of-a-kind wines endured through - at Tsantali Vineyards & Wineries, out the ages.” told WEM. The ancient varieties are be - “Though relatively rare, vari - coming increasingly popular to - etal bottlings by producers like day worldwide, “thanks to pas - sionate sommeliers and wine historians, and an increasing “The global wine market number of progressive Greek vint - is now very open to ners committed to protecting and perfecting these liquid relics,” unique, rare wines...” WEM reported, noting that “among Greece’s more than 300 Vourvoukeli Estate in Thrace and indigenous , several are Garalis (on Lemnos) highlight millennia old,” and “Assyrtiko, Limnio’s naturally vibrant palate Limnio, Robola, and Liatiko are and high acidity,” WEM reported, four that draw particular atten - noting that “both stainless steel- tion for their world-class quality, and oak-aged expressions offer with traditional and modern an intriguing alternative for fans styles that align with 21st-century of deep-flavored reds.” palates.” Salpindigis told WEM that Assyrtiko is “the smoky, salty Limnio is “an extremely fine vari - and cellar-worthy white wine ety with fabulous potential to born of Santorini’s moonscape- make great, age-worthy wines.” like volcanic vineyards that dates WEM suggests Tsantali 2014 back more than 3,500 years,” Abaton Gold Selection WEM reported, adding “the is - (Mount Athos), $35, noting its land boasts some the few self- “aromas of ripe red berries, cherry rooted vines left in Europe.” and spice are followed by rich fla - “This flinty, full-bodied expres - vors of cherry, currant, and vanilla sion of Santorini may be the clos - in this blend of 50% , est in style to its ancient expres - 30% and 20% Limnio.” sion, but the grape has also Robola is a white grape, “fresh, proven successful elsewhere,” citrusy, and lightly aromatic,” WEM reported. which “originates from the Ionian Vagelis Gavalas, the fifth-gen - island of Cephalonia and is be - eration winemaker of Santorini’s lieved to date to at least the 12th Gavalas Winery told WEM “we century,” WEM reported. think it can be the flagship for the “Gentilini Winery is the is - white wines of Greece.” land’s premier Robola producer,” WEM noted that “elsewhere WEM reported. Gentilini 2019 on the island, producers like Wild Paths Robola (Cephalonia), Sigalas, Gai’a, Argyros, Vassaltis $43, and Sclavos 2019 Di Sasso and Hatzidakis have contributed (Cephalonia), $28, are among to the grape’s global success,” and the bottles recommended by “micro-terroir bottlings, experi - WEM. ments in underwater aging, and The section on the Liatiko va - library tastings reveal its potential riety highlights Crete’s “ancient as one of the world’s great age- wine world,” WEM reported, not - able white wines.” ing that, “Liatiko’s connection to Assyrtiko is also used “in Crete dates to the 2nd or 3rd cen - sparkling wines by producers like tury BC” and adding that “the va - Santorini’s Santo Wines, and in a riety is mentioned throughout the lively made by Kechris island’s history, including in 13th- Winery in Thessaloniki,” WEM re - century texts (referencing the fa - ported. mous sun-dried Malvasia sweet “The global wine market is wine of the time, in which Liatiko now very open to unique, rare was included) and in 16th-cen - wines,” Gavalas told WEM. tury vineyard purchase docu - Spinthiropoulou told WEM that ments.” she agrees, saying “Assyrtiko “The timing is right to show - seems to be our passport to the case the variety’s strengths,” Bart international market.” Lyrarakis, owner of Lyrarakis, told Among the “bottles to try,” WEM, adding that “he strives for WEM suggests Cel - a lighter, more delicate expres - lars 2019 Flowers Assyrtiko (San - sion of Liatiko.” torini), $27; Skouras 2019 Wild Lyrarakis 2018 Aggelis Li - Ferment Assyrtiko (Peloponnese), atiko (Crete), $24, and Doulo - $18; Wine Art Estate 2019 Plano ufakis 2018 Dafnios (Dafnes), Assyrtiko (Drama), $25; Alexakis $17, are two of the bottles of the 2019 Assyrtiko (Crete), $17; Do - variety recommended by WEM.