Page 47 - ANDRONIS magazine 19/20

EXPLORE andROnis - santORini

The Vinsanto 12 years barrel aged carries flavours of raisins, figs and butterscotch.

Boasting a history that spreads over three millennia, wine anCiEnt graPEs on oLD VinEs
is not just a buzzword on Santorini. Matthew Argyros knows Part of what makes them unique are the grape varieties
this well, himself part of the fourth generation of his family themselves. Across 120 hectares of vineyards with 80-year
to work the vines. At the helm of award-winning Argyros old phylloxera plants, Estate Argyros cultivate white Assyrtiko,
Estate, he runs a boutique winery, investing in some of the Aidani, and Athiri grapes as well as red Mavrotragano – all
oldest vines on the island, traditional cultivation techniques, indigenous Santorini varieties. They are blended to produce
and ancient grape varieties. wines that enjoy Protected Destination of Origin status, including
Santorini is said by aficionados to be the oldest vineyard Santorini, Nykteri and the illustrious Vinsanto. Argyros wines
in Europe. Family businesses like Argyros Estate, founded include the white Argyros Santorini, twice awarded the Regional
in 1903, are living proof of this legacy, strengthened by the Trophy at Decanter Awards, Estate Argyros Assyrtiko, which
island’s unique terroir and techniques that took centuries has scored an outstanding 95/100 Robert Parker points, as well
to develop. as Oak Fermented and Mavrotragano. Adding to the range
are naturally sweet aged wines including the Visanto 20 years
barrel aged, the first Greek wine to score a perfect 100/100
a BLEssED DEsErt BECoMEs its oWn oasis from Wine and Spirits magazine.
Wandering the stunningly rocky Santorini with its cliff-edges,
black soil and red beaches, many are taken aback when they a BLossoMing MED WinE hUB
come upon fields upon fields of vines planted in a circle close Full of confidence in their products, Estate Argyros haven’t
to the ground. They are the famed “kouloures”, which allow hesitated to open their doors to the public, providing on-site
grapes to grow on this seemingly unfertile land, whose high tours and tastings. It is the contribution and innovative ethos
acidity and low pH instils unique flavour into the grapes. The of Santorini’s wine masters that has earned the island a spot
Estate Argyros team plough the land with mules, hand-prune on the global wine map. At the village of Episkopi Gonia, the
vines, hand-pick grapes and forbid the use of all pesticides, Estate Argyros team smile, wipe the sweat from their foreheads,
all to produce organic wines of exceptional quality. and get back to working on the land. • Estate Argyros, Episkopi Gonia, Thira 847 00 Santorini Tel.: +30 2286 031489

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