2024 Zafeirakis - Assyrtiko Tyrnavos (750ml)

The Zafeirakis family has farmed grapes in Tyrnavos, in the foothills of Mount Olympus in the Thessaly region of central Greece, for more than a century. Christos Zafeirakis represents the fourth generation of winemakers in the family, and after completing an oenology degree in Milan and working in Tuscany, Piedmont, and Alto Adige, he returned home determined to raise the profile of Thessalian wine. In 2005 he planted the area's first organic vineyard, and he has since become known for reviving the nearly extinct local grape Limniona alongside his work with more familiar varieties.

This Assyrtiko is grown organically in the clay soils at the base of Mount Olympus, a site that benefits from cool mountain air and a long growing season. Christos ferments the grapes using only indigenous yeasts, then ages the wine entirely in stainless steel, an approach designed to keep the focus on purity of fruit and the grape's natural tension rather than any outside influence from wood.

The wine glows bright lemon in the glass, with green highlights and aromas of wildflowers, citrus zest, and a touch of vanilla blossom, sometimes joined by a mineral, flinty edge. On the palate it turns creamy, almost like lemon curd, yet stays lifted by bracing acidity through a long finish. It pairs well with grilled fish, fried anchovies, creamy pasta dishes, and lamb fricassee.