Santorini’s newest winemaking venture by winegrower Spyros Chryssos is based on his family’s very old privately owned vineyards in two of the island’s best-known wine-growing villages, Pyrgos and Megalochori. Spyros Chrysos himself declares himself a viticulturist and not a winemaker, since he grew up from a very young age among the vines of this unique terroir. 4th generation of winegrowers in Santorini, he started producing his first wine in 2015. The vines are very old, with the oldest roots possibly exceeding 200 years. Cultivation of done with traditional methods, is organic and is done by hand and with the help of donkeys. Spyros has started to experiment the principles of biodynamic cultivation. The wines are produced naturally, using indigenous yeasts and minimal sulphites.
Rizes is an optimistic message for the future of Greek wine. It’s a combination of two varieties, from 2 islands, from 2 rare and prophylloxeric vineyards. A unique blend; 65% Vidiano from Fourfouras Crete (pre-phylloxera vines around 80 years old) and 35% Assyrtiko from the extreme, Louros terroir, in Santorini. Vidiano and Assyrtiko are firstly vinified separately in stainless steel tanks, fermentation is spontaneous and sulphites are kept at very low levels. The aim is to clearly capture the different terroirs. In the glass it has a smokey, honeyed, tropical fruit character that is followed by a texturally friendly palate, with no edges, integrated acid and good, rather warm, finish with an alcohol of 14.5% abv. Think sweet peach, apricot, and tropical pineapple. Equally rich and fatty in the mouth, with notes of biscuit but also penetrating acidity that breathes new life into the wine and enlivens it It is a forward and charming wine that could improve with a couple of years of cellaring. 2000 bottles of total production. Pairs well with Shellfish, crab & lobster.
Akra santorini
The grapes for Akra come from Louron in Pyrgos and Megalochori. With smoke and spicy character along with an excellent density in both flavor and texture of the wine, the fruit is plump and ripe, but of course the acidity is within the classic data of the region, giving tremendous uplift and energy. Thus the wine is rich but not heavy, dense but not inelegant.