Assyrtiko
Greece · White · Available (A)
The most important Greek white. Native to Santorini, where ungrafted vines grown in volcanic ash are trained into basket shapes (kouloura) against the wind. Unusually, it retains searing acidity even in extreme heat, and resists oxidation. Flavours run to lemon, saline minerality and struck flint; it takes oak and lees ageing well and develops over a decade. Also made as Nykteri (barrel-fermented, higher alcohol) and Vinsanto (sun-dried, sweet, oxidative). Now planted across mainland Greece and abroad, from Australia to California.