2024 Karamolegos - Assyrtiko Santorini Estate (750ml)

Karamolegos is one of Santorini's most respected wineries, tracing its roots to a small underground canava, or cellar, that Artemis Karamolegos's grandfather built in 1952 to make wine for the family's own table. Artemis took over the business and, starting in 2004, transformed it into a modern operation, now the third-largest winery on the island by volume. The estate farms centuries-old, own-rooted vines across villages including Pyrgos, Megalochori, Exo Gonia, Akrotiri, and Fira, and has become known for exploring the many styles Assyrtiko can take.

This wine is made from 100 percent Assyrtiko grown in Santorini's volcanic soil, where the vines are traditionally trained low to the ground in a basket shape called kouloura to shield the grapes from the island's relentless wind and sun. Vinification follows a classic white winemaking style: gentle pressing, cool fermentation in stainless steel, and minimal intervention, a method chosen to let the grape's natural minerality and acidity come through without interference from oak or extended lees contact.

The wine shows a pale straw color, with aromas of citrus, white flowers, and a distinct salty, volcanic minerality. On the palate it is dry, crisp, and vibrant, with lively acidity and a long, saline finish. It pairs beautifully with grilled fish, shellfish, or fresh Mediterranean salads.