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Assyrtiko
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Assyrtiko or Asyrtiko is the indigenous white wine grape of the island of Santorini, Greece.
Considered Greece's best white grape varietal by experts such as Nico Manessis, author of The Greek Wine Guide (Olive), assyrtiko is widely planted in the arid volcanic-ash-rich soil of Santorini and other Aegean islands, mainly on Paros (as well as in other scattered regions of Greece like Chalkidiki for example), where the average age of the root stock is 70 years, and many vines date back 150 years or more. Asyrtiko is natively resistant to Phylloxera[citation needed] and it has consequently not needed to be replaced by phylloxera-resistant rootstock. The grapes are large and round, and have a transparent, yellow-gold color with juicy flesh.
The volcanic soil of Santorini gives special characteristics to this variety, and therefore to the wine. Assyrtiko does not lose its acidity even if it is very ripe.
This variety is vinified to make a variety of dry and sweet wines, including Vinsanto, a musky and syrup-sweet dessert wine. Assyrtiko wines have a high alcohol content but also enough acids.
