Retsina
/rɛtˈsiː.nə/noun
A Greek wine traditionally flavored with pine resin.
Did you know?Ancient Greek and Roman winemakers used pine resin to seal amphorae, and the resin gradually infused the wine; modern Retsina preserves that practical accident as a tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥητίνη (rhētínē)
“Resin, especially the sticky substance produced by trees”
Classical Greek
Greek
ρητίνη οἴνου (rhētínē oínou)
“Resin of wine; resin used with or in wine”
Byzantine Greek
Greek
ρετσίνι (retsíni)
“Resin, in a later Greek form”
Medieval Greek
Greek
ρετσίνα (retsína)
“Resin-flavored wine or wine associated with resin”
19th Century
English
retsina
“A Greek wine flavored with pine resin”
Modern English
English
retsina
“A distinctive Greek white or rosé wine traditionally flavored with pine resin”