The variety Assyrtiko plays a starring role in the relatively recent revival of the Greek wine industry. This is the perfect introduction to the variety, fruitful and super fresh. It’s got some lovely palate weight, with a citrusy finish and minerality. As a variety it’s very expressive of where it’s grown. Mostly grown on the volcanic island of Santorini, it shows a very mineral, Chablis-like quality. Monograph is grown on the Peloponnese peninsula in the south of the mainland of Greece, which is greener and cooler, so this expression has a more exuberant fruit profile. 

Greek producer Gaia has two estates. One in Santorini where they focus on the production of the white variety Assyrtiko. The other is in Nemea, in the north east of the Peloponnese peninsula, where they focus on the production of the red variety Agiorgitiko as well as Assyrtiko. Gaia are synonymous with quality expressions of indigenous Greek varieties.