Gaia
Gaia (pronounced Yeah-Ah) started in 1994 by two friends, Agronomist Leon Karatsalos and eonologist Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, with a small vineyard on the Island of Santorini.
The vineyards of Santorini grow the native grape Assyrtiko. Assyrtiko is perhaps the only Mediterranean grape variety to flourish under such difficult climatic conditions. From poor, porous soil formed by volcanic activity and composed largely of pumice, Assyrtiko produces wines with a relatively high acidity. The Gai’a vineyards, located on the Southeastern slopes of Episkopi, Akrotiri and Pyrgos regions, are composed entirely of 70-80 year old, ungrafted vines with a dramatically low yield. It is an anomaly in today’s technologically advanced world and a wine that is well worth preserving and treasuring.
In 1996, Leon and Yiannis purchased a fully functioning winery with vineyards in Nemea, just outside Athens. Here they grow the red grape Agiorgitiko (ah your YEE TEE ko), which we believe is a fabulous grape. Agiorgitiko can be produced in a range of styles, from fruity rosé and fresh light-bodied red that is best served slightly chilled to a full-bodied red that responds well to oak aging and can cellar and improve for many years. In many ways, Agiorgitko is Greece’s Nebbiolo.
Gai’a produces a broad range of extremely high quality wines in a range of styles. Robert Parker describes them as “one of Greece’s finest wineries, making steely Santorini whites and Agiorgitiko that is among Greece’s best.” Wine & Spirits Winery of the Year in 2007, 2009 and 2010!
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Gaia Assyrtiko Clay 2020
This unique orange wine from Santorini was inspired by ancient experience, faith in nature and technical expertise. The Assyrtiko Clay gives voice to the ancient, ungrafted vines which are allowed to express themselves through traditional fermentation and aging techniques. Modern egg-shaped clay fermentation vessels take the place of the amphora historically used for this technique and the wine is shaped exclusively with indigenous yeasts.
$59.50 -
Gaia Assyrtiko Thalassitis 2022
This unique wine is produced on the island of Santorini. The vines are planted on a 15-degree slope facing East and Southeast on transferred pumice stone soil. The wine is made from the Assyrtiko grape and is light and aromatic. Only free run must is used, which is then fermented for approximately days at 15C. The resulting wine is almost white in color, bone-dry, with strong character, eliciting considerable structure, with crisp acidity, distinctive minerality and delicate honeysuckle aromas.
$52.95 -
Gaia Notios Red 2022
Notios Red is a delightful blend of Agiorgitiko (which gives its intense fruity aroma and its soft tannins) and the international variety Syrah (which provides a rich and spicy character along with a sense of structure and depth). Its deep reddish-violet colour, its complex aroma and its taste intensity makes a perfect accompaniment to a wide range of spicy and flavourful dishes.
$21.50 -
Gaia Notios White 2022
Notios White is a blend of the aromatic, floral scented Moschofilero (Arcadian Plateau) with the crisp, lemony Roditis (mountainous Aigialeia area) and a touch of Assyrtiko which adds strength, length and depth.
$21.50