2020 Santo Wines Assyrtiko
Santo Wines was founded as the Union of Santorini Cooperatives in 1947, a home-grown organization to support grape growers and winemakers, and establish best practices for producing wines from native varietals on the island, particularly the white grape assyrtiko. The co-op, which now counts 1200 members and is the biggest producer of wines on the island, didn't start making wines under its own label until 1985.
Almost all the assyrtiko vines on Santorini are on their original rootstock, as phylloxera never got a foothold on the island, due to its isolated nature and its sandy ashy-volcanic soil composition. Vintners on Santorini also use an entirely unique form of vine training, called the kouloura, or "basket vine", in which the vine is woven around itself as it rises directly off the ground in a circular shape. This technique keeps the vines fortified against the strong southerly winds from North Africa, shields the grapes from the harsh sun, and keeps the leaves and grapes close to their underground water source.
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This 2020 has apricot and lime up front, with some floral aromatics like chamomile, a bit of beeswax on the palate, and sharp rocky minerality on the finish. This is definitely an oyster wine, and perfect with salads like the Greek tomato and feta, and also with quail and other fowl.

Producer: Santo Wines
Name of Wine: Santorini Assyrtiko
Vintage: 2020
Region: Santorini, Greece
Appellation: Santorini PDO
Varietal(s): 100% assyrtiko
Agriculture: organic
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Vineyard/Winery Location: Pyrgos, Santorini, Greece
Soil Type(s): volcanic-ash sand
Altitude: ~300-400m / ~980-1300ft
Exposure: west
Trellis: kouloura (basket training)
Planting Density: 2000-2300 vines/hectare
Age of Vines: 40-60 years
Harvest: hand harvested
Yield: 2000 kg/hectare
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Yeasts: native yeasts
Maceration: 6 hours on skins
Alcoholic fermentation: in stainless steel
Malolactic fermentation: no
Élevage: in stainless steel
Fining/Filtration: no / light filtration
Acidity: 5.9 g/L
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 80,000 bottles
Closure and bottle: natural cork, 750 ml, Burgundy bottle
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Service Temperature: 45-55 F
Drink: now to 2024
Decant: no
Pairing: oysters / tomato and feta salad / roast quail