2022 Domaine Glinavos - Debina Vlahiko Zitsa Paleokerisio (Orange Wine) (500ml)

Domaine Glinavos was founded in 1978 by Lefteris Glinavos, who trained in Bordeaux before returning to his native Epirus with the goal of blending traditional regional winemaking with modern technique. Today his son Thomas Glinavos runs the estate's twenty hectares of vineyards, scattered across high plots within the Zitsa appellation, a semi-mountainous zone whose cool climate and limestone soils feel more alpine than Mediterranean. The domaine remains one of the region's key custodians of rare native grapes like Debina and Vlahiko.

Paleokerisio, meaning "old fashioned," revives a traditional semi-sparkling style once made by local farmers around Ioannina. The wine is built mostly from Debina, the region's signature white grape known for retaining bright acidity even at high altitude, with a small addition of the red Vlahiko variety. The blend macerates on its skins for about twelve days before being bottled in the middle of fermentation, a method that traps natural carbonation in the bottle and gives the finished wine its distinctive light frizzante character and pale amber-orange hue.

Expect an earthy, slightly funky nose of dried apricot, hazelnut, and citrus oil, joined by warm spice notes of cinnamon and ginger. The palate is off-dry and gently sparkling, with a creamy texture and a yeasty, bread-like finish. It pairs beautifully with shrimp, grilled vegetables, or spiced Asian dishes like pad thai.