2021 Domaine Papagiannakos Assyrtiko Attica Greece 750 ml

A crisp, mouthwatering white wine drenched in minerality, grown in limestone-rich vineyards in one of the oldest wine regions in Europe—if you think that sounds like Chablis or Sancerre, you’re right. But it also describes the 2021 Domaine Papagiannakos Assyrtiko.

Assyrtiko (Ah-SEAR-tih-koh) is the signature white grape of Greece, and Domaine Papagiannakos has been making wine near Athens for over 100 years. Their estate vineyard is perfectly situated to grow grapes of incredible elegance: Facing north rather than south, the vines escape the blistering Mediterranean sun, which allows the Assyrtiko to ripen more slowly, developing complexity and finesse in addition to bright fruit. 

The moderating influence of water—Attica is on a peninsula that juts into the Aegean Sea—also helps tame high temperatures, allowing the grapes preserve their vibrant acidity. The vines are dry-farmed, forcing their roots to spider deep into the stony earth to find water and nutrients. The winemaking regimen employs skin contact and lees-stirring to add texture and weight to the finished wine.

We’re sure that if it came from a better known region it would be a household name, but because Greek wines can be a mystery to many Americans—they’re imported in small quantities and often feature unfamiliar grapes—bottles like this can fly under the radar to all but wine obsessives.

You can always rely on Domaine Papagiannakos’ Assyrtiko at dinner, whether you’re grabbing a bucket of fried chicken or shelling out for some wood-fired branzino.