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Assyrtiko
White grape variety from Santorini, Greece

Assyrtiko is a white variety, indigenous to the island of Santorini, where the vineyard contributes to the picturesque aesthetic of the island’s landscape. Assyrtiko, however, is being cultivated throughout the Aegean Sea. It has been classified as a noble white variety, and is one of the most renown greek varieties internationally. It is a multi-dynamic variety that is able to give us fine wines, either dry or sweet, and allows a wide range of cultivation approaches and techniques as well as vinification at different stages of ripening.

Assyrtiko origins from the island of Santorini, Aegean Sea

The history of the grape variety
Assyrtiko

There are several theories regarding the origin of Assyrtiko, with the most convincing theory claiming that the name means "Assyrian", placing the roots of Assyrtiko somewhere in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq). This theory, however, is yet to be proven either genetically or scientifically, so for now it just remains a theory.

VINEYARD CULTIVATION
ASSYRTIKO GRAPE VARIETY

The total acreage of the vineyards devoted to the cultivation of Assyrtiko is 19.000 stremmas, 70% of which in Santorini alone (12.000-13.000 stremmas), where the vineyards are mostly ungrafted/own-rooted. Outside of Santorini, the cultivation of Assyrtiko is recommended for the regions of Dodecanese, Cyclades, Thessalia, Thrace, Macedonia, Peloponese and Crete.

In Dafnes area the soil has medium texture and it is characterized as clay loam. It is rich in calcium carbonate in a percentage that exceeds 40%.
The presence of calcium carbonate that neutralizes the acidity of the soil, in connection with the pH that ranges from 7 to 8.5, is ideal for the absorption of most trace elements by the plant.
Calcium carbonate also improves soil structure, ensuring good drainage and good soil temperature. These soil characteristics contribute to the good phenolic and technological ripening of the grapes and therefore to the production of wines with rich structure and volume, intensity in colour and balanced acidity.

Assyrtiko exhibits an admirable resistance to both draught and downy and powdery mildews.
The vineyards in Dafnes area are located northeast of Psiloritis Mountain, which is the highest of the island, with an altitude 2456m. The relief of the wider area is formed by rolling hills, almost parallel to each other, extending from the northern part of the prefecture to the south at an altitude of 300-500m. The vineyards are planted on the slopes of these hills, east or west oriented.
The elongated valleys that are formed between the hills serve as natural canals, transferring the conducive chilled breeze from Cretan Sea to the center of the prefecture, maintaining the temperature at the slopes at very good levels all around summer. Rainfall is rare during the summer, so plants and grapes avoid virus infections.

CULTIVATION OF CRETAN GREEK ASSYRTIKO GRAPE VARIETY

GRAPES OF ASSYRTIKO VARIETY CRETE GREECE

The buds at the base of the canes are infertile and so the most preferable style of pruning is long. The fertile canes usually carry 2-3 grapes located at the 3^rd and 4^th node. The vines of Assyrtiko variety in Santorini are ungrafted, and they are morphed into an horizontal circle, tied around the base of the over ground part of the plant, woven (into a nest-like shape/in nest-like a manner), with a really short trunk. Outside of Santorini Assyrtiko is being pruned as double sided Guyot, with the canes been left rather long.

Assyrtiko is a vigorous and relatively productive variety. The weight of the grape is medium and the weight of the berry is small. The sugar level is high, while the level of acidity is characteristically high.
The variety has been fully acclimatized in Dafnes. The great advantage of Assyrtiko at our area is that it matures properly, because of the beneficial microclimate.

The vineyards of Assyrtiko cultivar are planted at a density of about 350-400 plants per stremma and are cultivated in linear shapes, at distances of 1.10 m. x 2.5m.

THE VINE DESCRIPTION
OF THE VIDIANO VARIETY

Shoot tip: light green with red pigmentation, downy to felty.
Young leaf: yellow-ish green with bronze-red areas, smooth on the upper side, cobwebby to downy on the lower side with distinct veins.

Shape-Size: medium to large, circular to pentagonal, 3-lobed (less frequently 5-lobbed), symmetrical.
Leaf blade: thick and slightly crimped, smooth, deep green in the upper surface, faint green, downy on the lower.
Petiolar sinus: very open.
Veins: green, sleek on the upper side, downy on lower side.
Serrations: small to medium, unequal, convex, in three series
Petiole: small-medium, unequal, pointed, both sides straight.

Medium, sometimes large, cylindrical – conical, dense with similarly shaped berries. Peduncle short, strong, lignified in full maturation.

Medium to large, circular to elliptical. Yellow skin with golden tones, medium thickness, rich with tannins (considering it is a white variety), transparent, covered by a thin waxy film. Soft flesh, with a distinct sour taste. Pedicel medium, easy to detach.

2-3 per berry, crimped pear-shaped with a sharp beak.

Ribbed, yellow- brown, with an elliptical to circular cross section, angular, smooth.
The vine description was based on "The Cretan Grapes", a book by Manolis and Maritina Stavrakaki.

THE VINE DESCRIPTION OF THE VIDIANO VARIETY

Vine sprouting in Spring at Assyrtiko vineyards

PHENOLOGICAL DATA
OF ASSYRTIKO VARIETY

The soil and the climatic conditions that prevail in each region have a decisive effect on phenols in wines. In Dafnes we have observed in general the following:
• Vegetation: March 20- April 10
• Full vegetation: In the last 10 days of April
• Flowering beginning - full flowering: May 18-22
• Maturation beginning: July 20-30

TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUST
OF A FULLY MATURED ASSYRTIKO

• Sugars: 250 - 260g/L
• Total acidity: 7.0 - 9.5 g/L
• Active Acidity pH: 3.1 - 3.4

The secret to a great Assyrtiko is keeping yields low, applying the right cultivation management, so that it does not overripe, and finally, vinification with methods that allow maximum colour extraction.

GREEK LEGISLATION FOR ASSYRTIKO VARIETY

In combination with the varieties Athiri and Roditis, we get the dry wine Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) "Slopes of Meliton". Vinified on its own, or along with small fractions of Athiri and Aidani, it gives us both the dry and sweet PDO wines "Santorini". The same varieties also give us a sweet wine from sun-dried grapes (sun-dried and vin de Liqueur) with the name Vinsanto (ΦΕΚ 179/Β/19-02-2002), recognised by the European Union as Designation of Origin, equivalent to that of PDO Santorini. Vinified along with Monemvasia (minimum of 51%) and Kidonitsa, it creates/it results in the PDO "Monemvasia- Malvasia". Additionally, it is a part of more than 20 white dry wine of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) such as: "Crete", "Agioritikos", "Anavyssos", "Attica", "Drama", "Dodecanese" , "Epanomi", "Paggaio", "Peania", "Corinth", "Chalkidiki", "Cyclades", etc.

What must a Greek Assyrtiko wine label write on

How is the taste and aroma, Greek Assyrtiko wine

The characteristics of Assyrtiko wine

Assyrtiko variety gives us wine of high colour intensity, that differs depending on its age. It varies from pale yellow with green hews that gets more and more golden with the pass of time.
The unique aromatic bouquet combines some fresh aromas of citrus, with those of white fruits and herbs. The ageing potential is lead by the acidity that makes it last through time, developing a unique, intense palate of aging aromas.
In the mouth, we find the corresponding flavors to the aromas, a rich body and a crispy acidity that is typical of the variety.
Depending on the vinification method, it has an aging potential of 8-10 years. Regarding the dessert wines from the variety of Assyrtiko, because of the dehydration of the grapes under the sun, we are left with wines of high alcohol contents and well-rounded tannins.

Assyrtiko is considered as one of the finest and most noble greek white varieties.