SANTORINI, THE ANCIENT LAND
A WINERY THAT CONTINUES THE TRADITION OF CREATING AND EVOLVING
Our winery is situated on a beach, on the east side of the island, between Kamari and Monolithos hamlets. The industrial stone building was once a tomato factory, built at the beginning of the 1900s and was used up until the 1970s for making an aromatic tomato purée from local cherry tomatoes.
With great joy we have renovated this rare, charming building, giving it new life as our winery. For GAIA, it has been an honor to preserve a piece of our heritage through reclamation of this architectural example of industrialization.
Today, the high-tech equipment and the cutting-edge facilities of our winery guarantee contemporary winemaking and ideal conditions for high quality production.
At the same time, in a discrete out-of-the-way vault, we have set up a small oxidization area where we are delighted to produce our rare, sweet, aromatic Assyrtiko vinegar. Small quantities (around 1,500 liters) are bottled annually after five years of ageing in oak barrels in our special cellars.
The winery is open to visitors daily from mid April to the end of October.
A VINEYARD OF A UNIQUE WINE PRODUCTION AND ECOSYSTEM
Santorini is a unique internationally recognized region with a special ecosystem for the cultivation of vines. The volcanic, porous soil, the long hours of sunshine, the lack of rainfalls throughout the year, the sea mist and the strong winds during summer, the traditional “kouloura” (basket shape) training system, the 3.000 years old in combination with one of the noblest white grape varieties in the Mediterranean, the indigenous Assyrtiko, create rare, precious and unique wines.
A typical Mediterranean climate. Relatively mild winters with lower temperatures followed by warm, windy and dry summers. The rainfall intensity, the occurrence of heat waves in June until the beginning of July, the night humidity in July and August determines the quality and quantity of the vintages
The vines are pruned in the traditional shape of ‘kouloura’ (basket) so the grapes are protected from the warm winds and intense sunlight of summer. A frequent phenomenon due to heat waves is the destruction of a significant part of the annual production, resulting in low productions that do not exceed 300k / acre. The natural enemies of the vine due to the big humidity and high temperatures rarely survive.
Assyrtiko is the noblest white grape variety of Greece. During the maturation it keeps its acidity and phenolic compounds at high levels, and it covers 70% of the total Santorini vineyard area (900 ha) on infertile volcanic soil.
Grown predominantly in Santorini island it produces P.D.O Santorini wines with a particular personality and strong character. The wines are full-bodied, well-structured with high minerality, high acidity and medium aromatic intensity.
These wines can benefit long termed aging and make a perfect match to food.
