Sunsational Santorini

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Sunsational Santorini Is there anything normal about the wines of Santorini? Don’t count on it. This black crescent of an island set against the blue Aegean and dotted with white outcroppings of life seems an unlikely place to live, much less grow grapes, but grow grapes they do and have been doing for centuries.

With a long viticultural history to back them, the current crop of Santorini winemakers (a small crop at that with 10 wineries) is determined to fulfill the promise of this desert island. Yes, in addition to being hot and very windy, the island is also basically a desert with vines that lay about on the ground like so many exasperated baskets, frustrated by their inability to do what vines do, and that means grow up.

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Laura-
Davis

Hand of Snooth

851301 390

Enjoyed their wines, but it was really the gorgeous sunset paired with the wine that made the experience!

Jul 26, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Leah-
Mansback

Hand of Snooth

555565 1,286

These wines are great and unlike any I have ever tasted. Thank you for writing about Greek wines!

Jul 26, 2011 at 1:35 PM
Sheiky

901743 0

Not sure about the reds but the sweet Vinsanto is good.
The whites are not bad either, but agree its the atmosphere which makes a visit to these vinyards a must!

Jul 26, 2011 at 4:03 PM
gathanas

592675 0

well done. you really captured the essence of this strange and wonderful place

Jul 26, 2011 at 4:22 PM
starchase1

883675 7

We tasted some really interesting wines at one of the few wineries in Santorini. We were sitting in the shade of a large fig tree. I reached up, picked a fig and ate it on the spot! I recall the whites being very good and the reds not as good. But the overall experience was unforgettable.

Jul 26, 2011 at 5:07 PM
Gregory-
Dal Piaz

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

89065 88,940

I'll be adding the tasting notes to the site soon. The white, Assyrtiko in particular are outstanding, the Vinsanto very good indeed, but the reds are a rough mix that need work!

Jul 26, 2011 at 10:37 PM
Eva Smith

31108 20

Finally what about another island much bigger than Santorini that has absdolutely fantastic wines Crete? ...

Jul 27, 2011 at 7:06 AM
cywiner

868359 17

Mr Piaz, the whites from Santorini are indeed magical as is their sunset...and Vinsanto is an excellent sweet wine nearly as good as the unique Commandaria from Cyprus. Santorini as you point out has an ancient history in wine making and is the oldest vinyard in Europe. A much bigger Mediterranean island with ancient wine making history which boasts excellent wines is Cyprus! Try them... Thanks for a great article.

Jul 27, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Gregory-
Dal Piaz

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

89065 88,940

Crete and Cyprus eh? I'll add them to my list. I've certainly has wines from both but not in significant quantities.

Jul 27, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Red Wine-
Experience

902044 0

These are deliciously looking wines you have here. Great articles

Aug 03, 2011 at 3:06 AM
Gregory-
Dal Piaz

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

89065 88,940

We try, and there's more on the way as I write up the individual winery visits!

Aug 03, 2011 at 7:22 PM