A beautiful model holds a bottle of Ouzo of Plomari during a promotion in Beijing on Friday, June 20. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com /Xu Liuliu]

Want a glass of wine? At a bar, a typical Greek will order a cup of Ouzo of Plomari. From the god of wine, Dionysus, in Greek mythology to the modern Greek people, this nation has made and consumed wine for thousands of years, Greece is known as the home of European wine as well as the home of the Olympics. Actually the typical Greek wine Ouzo of Plomari that was first distilled in 1894 has passed down through the generations for more than a century, just like the spirit of the Olympics. But for Chinese people, who have just begun to enjoy western alcoholic drinks in the past few decades, Greek wine is still a new thing.

With Chinese consuming more and more wine from the western world, Greek wine producers can wait no longer. With the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics, Greece's top selling prestige brand, Ouzo of Plomari, Isidoros Arvanitis has opened its door to the Chinese people and is allowing us to experience the spirit of Greece from a glass.

It is a summer drink that incites images of blue skies and seas, communion, fun and relaxing days easing into balmy evenings. The village of Plomari, considered the homeland of Ouzo, rests on the island of Lesvos off the north-east coast of Greece. At the crossroads of Asia and Europe, the island's inhabitants include many descendants of the travelers, traders and seaman who passed through and settled there in earlier times. At the mention of Ouzo of Plomari most Greek people become enraptured and now it has come to China.

Savor Greece from a glass with your favorite appetizers and let the liquor capture the heart of Greece. The appetizers can be anything from a salad, stewed meat and vegetables, sweetbreads, meatballs, cheese, sausage, fried fish or whatever the specialty of the house. Eat and drink slowly and enjoy. Don't be macho. Drink ouzo with water. When you pour it in, the ouzo will turn to a milky white. How much water is a matter of taste.

Ouzo of Plomari is also widely accepted as a base for mixed drinks. For instance, Ouzo of Plomari and lemonade (Sprite), Ouzo of Plomari and Coca Cola or with fruit juices.

Many cocktails include Ouzo of Plamari as an ingredient. So what are we waiting for? During the coming hot summer, fill yourself a glass of Ouzo of Plomari and savor Greece with your tongue.