Assyrtiko is a white grape variety from Greece, renowned for its intensely stony character and ability to retain acidity in a hot climate.
Especially in its native Santorini, a Greek island, Assyrtiko offers bracing acidity with a stony backbone and mouth-watering citrus fruit. Examples from other parts of Greece often show a slightly fruitier character. Assyrtiko grapes can also be dried and oak-aged to create Vinsanto, a sweet but lively wine with intense flavours of spice and bitter orange.
Assyrtiko is native to the Aegean island of Santorini, proving well adapted to this windy desert climate and volcanic soil, which in turn are reflected in the grape’s notably nervy, stony expression here.
Assyrtiko is still almost exclusively found in Greece, with nearly half of these vines in its native Santorini. However, as a flagship Greek white grape, Assyrtiko is increasingly planted all over the country, from Crete in the south to Halkidiki in the north. Assyrtiko’s ability to keep acidity in the heat has recently led to experimental plantings in countries including Australia, California and South Africa.
Assyrtiko’s firm character is often softened via a blend with more aromatic, fruitier grape varieties such as fellow Greek grapes Athiri, Aidani and Malagousia or the more international Sauvignon Blanc.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Arcytico, Assirtico, Asurtico, Assyrtico, Asyrtico, Asyrtiko
