Asyrtiko in the island of Santorini gives a homonym PDO dry white wine and a sweet white wine by the name of Vinsanto (Vino di Santorini). The first of those Santorini PDO wines, the dry white Santorini, derives from 100% Assyrtico grapes- although a blending with Athiri grapes is perfectly acceptable. The second, the white sweet Vinsanto, derives from Asyrtiko (70%) with Aidani (30%). For Vinsanto, ripe grapes are laid in the sun, usually for 10 days, and then undergo a slow fermentation.Asyrtico and the wines that originate from it have won great worldwide acceptance and are praised and awarded in international wine festivals.
Santorini is probaly a unique wine region in the world. A volcanic island is a tormented soil. This compels vines to produce extraordinary fruit. Grapes grow on the slopes of the caldera, which end at black volcanic beaches. Vine spacing is by necessity double traditional distances. Water is scarse. Vines soak the bare-minimum to survive and grow fruit. That combined with the winds that prevail on the island, result in the parallel development of high sugar and acid levels.
We have selected several wines of both those Protected Designations of Origin
Santorini dry white PDO wine
Ninsanto sweet white PDO wine
From the time of Ancient Greece and Rome visits have been made to vineyards. Since the early 19th century, however, visits to vineyards were part of package tours, which were mainly the prerogative of the aristocratic classes of the time.
Dry White wines of Santorini with (Protected Designation of Origin)
Sweet White wines of Santorini with (Protected Designation of Origin)
Three things shape the personality of wines: grape variety, territory characteristics and winegrowers care.
Zagori is an area of great natural beauty and unique architecture in the Pindus Mountains in Epirus in Northwestern Greece. The area is of about 1.000 square kilometers and contains 46 villages. Zagoria villages is called by Greeks “Zagorochoria” meaning the villages behind the mountain.
Read more...
In 1989, Professor of Byzantine Studies, Helen Ahrweiler is appointed Chairman of the Cultural Centre Pompidou in Paris