a white wine with an unknown parentage, although the ability for genetic testing which shows a possible relationship with Gaidouria and Platani.  Assyrtiko is a vine that produces one of the whitest grape skins in the industry.

Region

The most notable region for this variety is Greece, specifically the Island of Santorini, originally/also known as Thira, in the southern Aegean Sea about 120mi southeast of Greece’s mainland.  Santorini is located between Los and Anafi islands, is a volcanic island and part of the Cyclades group of Greek islands.  It has a reputation for its amazing views and sunsets from the town of Oia.

Pairing

When it comes to pairing Assyrtiko there is one sauce that is high on the list of Assyrtiko combinations which is shellfish and seafood acidic sauces, and there are other tasty Greek foods that are going to make for great pairings; hummus, kebabs, chicken, yogurt and sour cream dips, lamb, pork and Taziki.

I would suggest a bold effort of pairing it with your favorite white wine dishes and if you don’t have any yet start creating that list.

Connoisseur Components

What to look, smell and taste for when sipping Assyrtiko; a bit of a citrus (lime, lemon), yellow apple, stone fruit.  From the floral side; citrus blossoms, Gardenia and dried flowers.  See if you can catch a slight bit of hazelnut.  Most likely you are not going to experience any Oak.  From a structural standpoint Assyrtiko is dry, moderate plus body with low tannins because Assyrtiko is an extremely phenolic grape (read up on phenolic it’s a pretty interesting aspect of wine).  Assyrtiko has a high alcohol and acidity (average pH of 3) levels.

Assyrtiko is a hearty varietal, it prefers volcanic soil, is resistant to mildew and drought, is thick skinned, has loose clusters of small berries although it is susceptible to oxidation.

Remembering Your Assyrtiko Experience

What did you smell, taste and notice about this Greek wine?

Where to Go Next

Let’s visit another island in the Aegean Sea, the island of Samos near the shores of Turkey.  Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is the oldest member of the Muscat grape family.