In the autumn of 2018, the team of Gefseis & Oinos and I made a series of short videos on Greek varieties that last about a minute and a half. The series kicked-off with Assyrtiko; the amazing variety that has taken Greece abroad, and has paved the way for Greek wines in overseas markets. These videos are posted on my YouTube channel (You can subscribe here [1]).
In the first part, I speak about the variety in general, its main characteristics, its flavor, where it is grown, the international varieties it could bring to mind, and the food pairings I suggest. All recounted in just 78 seconds. Please watch above for Part 1.
In the second part, I focus on the island of Santorini (102 seconds) with its unique vineyard, which has stood there for thousands of years, with some of the oldest surviving vines, the volcanic soil, the distinctive ‘basket’ training system, and, of course, Assyrtiko. Elements that constitute a profound terroir, set against the strong summer sunshine. The soil of Santorini is comprised mainly of pumice stone covering limestone and slate, and a very small amount of clay (about 2%), which is the reason for which the phylloxera insect can’t survive (more than 2,5% of clay is required for that). This means that the vines are planted on their own roots, whereas in other areas in which the variety is grown, it is usually grafted on American rootstock for protection.