SAMOS WINE In early antiquity, some time during the 10th9th century B.C., the argonaut hero Ancaios ruled on the island of Samos. Among the numerous, mainly financial, reforms that he introduced was the cultivation of the vine. Samos being extremely mountainous, the farmers had to work hard before they were to see their first plants to bear fruit. The ancient Greeks who loved to observe and study nature often praised the beneficial climate and the fertile soil of Samos. Aethlios, exaggerating no doubt, tells us that the vines, figs and rose trees of Samos bore fruit twice a year. Although, many things have changed since ancient times the type of vine mentioned by the ancient grammarian Hesychius in his Lexicon as "Samian Vine" (samos wine) still remains the same owing to Samos' favourable climate and to the extraordinary qualities of its earth. Thus viniculture and wine production permanently marked the island's economy and history linking the cultivator to this sensitive and demanding plant which requires great care and toil in order to produce the unique, sweet flavoured, Samos wine known as moschato. Samos wines aquired international reputation. Samos supplied the markets of both East and West. Merchant vessels, laden with wine, reached as far north as Amsterdam. The Roman Catholic Church conceded to Samos the privilege of preparing the wine used in the Holy Eucharist. In 1934 the wine producers undertake the Wine trade, forming the Union of Wine Producing Cooperatives of Samos. The Samian vine growers and wine producers believe that, in order to produce good wine of any variety or price, it is not enough to rely on favourable natural vesources and human endeavor. Tradition, delication and experience are indispensible ingredients which the specialists contribute to the production of such a fine and selective product. Because wine like music,communicates with every human being offering him exquisite pleasure and good company with each aromatic,velvety and refreshing sip.