Regional info.

Santorini (also known as Thira) is one of the southernmost of the Kyklades islands and among the most famous in Greece. It is a unique environment for viticulture, perhaps the most unique wine region in the world. A volcanic island, Santorini suffered a catastrophic eruption around 1500 BC, leaving a huge, submerged caldera where the center of the Island had been. Its resulting geological features are not only singular in Greece-chalk and shale beneath ash, lava and pumice-but also contribute to the kind of stress that compels vines to produce extraordinary fruit. Grapes grow on the eastern slopes of the caldera's edge, which begin from their sharp western edge at around 1,000 feet, ending at sea level at the island's famous black beaches. There is no question of over-farming in this environment: vine spacing is by necessity double traditional distances. Further stress results from a dearth of water on the Island. With the exception of the winter there is little rain on Santorini during the year. There is none at all during the growing season. Steady westerly winds preclude condensation on the grapes themselves, resulting in the parallel development of high sugar and acid levels. The wind being so relentless as to threaten the survival of youthful vines, an ancient, though hardly simple, solution is now a famous tradition on the island: many vines are trained to grow in a stefani (crown), a round basket the middle of which provides a haven for hanging clusters of grapes.

Santorini has two applellations: one for dry whites and one for sweet whites. The appellation for dry wines calls for Asyrtiko, Athiri and Aïdani Aspro. The sweet appelletion requires Asyrtiko and Aïdani only.

Asyrtiko (70% of vineyard area) is often described as Greece's best white wine grape. It is unique among low-latititude Mediterranean cultivars in ripening to high sugar—and therefore alcohol—levels with a high level of acidity intact.

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