Gaia Monograph Assyrtiko PGI Peloponnese

Gaia Estate: Greek Wine Pioneers

Gaia Estate, established in 1994 by Greek winemakers Leon Karatsalos and Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, is a pioneer in quality Greek wine production. Operating two wineries in Nemea and Santorini, they produce cutting-edge wines.

Their vineyards span three unique terroirs: Nemea, Peloponnese, and Santorini. While Peloponnese is renowned for velvety, full-bodied red wines from the Agiorgitiko grape, it also produces exceptional white wines.

Gaia Monograph Assyrtiko Vineyards

The grapes for the Gaia Monograph Assyrtiko come from 40 year old vineyards in the commune of Koutsi in Nemea. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 450 to 550 metres on an intense slope. The soils here consist of a shallow layer of clay over limestone. The vineyards are pruned very strictly to keep yields low.

Winemaking

• Grapes are carefully selected, chilled to 4°C, destemmed, and gently pressed.
• Fermentation occurs with selected yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve fruit purity.
• No oak is used to maintain the fresh, varietal characteristics of Assyrtiko and the distinctive Nemea terroir.
• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

What is Assyrtiko?

The Assyrtiko grape variety is the flagship white grape variety of the Greek island of Santorini, where it tends to produce white wines with good acidity, packed with mineral and citrus character.

It can also be found in other wine-growing areas in Greece. In Nemea, compared to Santorini, Assyrtiko tends to produce lighter, more tropical styles while retaining zippy acidity and ageing potential.

This grape variety can also be found in other wine-growing countries. Jim Barry produces a very good Assyrtiko in Clare Valley, Australia, for example, which is also available to buy at Fareham Wine Cellar.