Santorini Wines are unique and make my heart beat faster. Literally.
It’s the vines themselves – I am completely in love with these basket- shaped grapevines, trained in this spectacular way to protect the fruit from the powerful winds and the fierce heat, grown in the island’s volcanic soils!
Assyrtiko is the absolute star of Santorini and this natural ferment by Gavalas Winery is simply staggering.
The clarity of the grape is expressed in a uniquely crisp, lemony character with delicious pear notes and hints of jasmine.
The mouthfeel surprises you – the natural yeast fermentation brings an almost oily sensation with a distinct minerality! A hint of saltiness, too.
You close your eyes and you think you’re standing at the caldera, the wind is blowing through your hair. You might even smell the iodine from the deep blue sea. This is Greek summer in a glass!
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Effi drinks wine 
I adore this post. Thank you for sharing.
The idea of circular vines…… very intriguing. I am also very immersed in the study of different “soils” volcanic, blows my mind. In Maryland (USA), we have a lot of Chancery Loam soil.
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I know right? Volcanic soil and vines trained in a basket form! Such a huge contrast between the two soil types, nature is amazing!
Assyrtiko from Santorini is my favourite Greek wine (of any colour). What other contenders for best Greek white are there?
Hi! One of my favourite grapes is Malagousia from Northern Greece, Moschofilero from the Peloponnese and Vilana, Vidiano from Crete. Assyrtiko can age very gracefully with its high acidity and I have also included a few rare grapes in my latest post 🙂 If you need more info, please let me know I would be very glad to elaborate on their organoleptic profiles.
So much to learn regarding that shape…incredible.
That grilled octopus looks divine. So tempty!
Such a unique wine of vine training, it really is impressive to see!
we had the joy of sampling different wines while holidaying in Santorini, and I must say that their wines definitely carry a taste very unique to the area – almost a volcanic rocky/ashy quality to them, if I can say that!
Such a great comment, thank you. Yes, Assyrtiko is a noble grape which expresses the terroir it comes from, hence Assyrtiko from the island has this distinctive minerality, this appetising slate/rock note. Very glad to read that you enjoyed the wines!
Here in Chablis area vines are kept very low to avoid weather damage. I love the idea of the basket. Lots of work, but very pretty result. Would make it harder to pick the grapes possibly? 🙂
Yes, Chablis vines are all facings lots of weather challenges. In Santorini, it is mostly the heat and the strong winds that affect the grape quality and the put the plant in danger. Lots of hard work but it ensures a fantastic level of fruit quality! They are very pretty, too 😉
The basket shaped vine is fantastic! (I’m sure the wine is too.) Does anywhere else use that shape I wonder?
It’s fascinating, isn’t it?! Nowhere as “basket-like” as far as I know but in La Mancha they also train them quite low to the ground with protective foliage.
Yep. Some vineyards on the Canary Isles. Soil is also volcanic
Yes, I can see that it looks kind of similar on Jancis Robinson’s pictures here: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/the-canaries-where-vines-and-wines-creep-up-on-you . Are they trained in basket shape or grown in the hollows in a circular shape? I would love to know more.
Delicious comments! I so want a glass of wine from Santorini now!
Thank you Mary! Let me know how you like it when you find one 🙂