The Cinque Journal / The Greek Wine Journey
FROM THE ARCHIVE · AUGUST 2016
Santorini’s Assyrtiko: Seven Villages, Seven Expressions
A #WineLover seminar at Cinque Psyrri explored Paris Sigalas’s 7 Villages collection, one glass at a time.
Published 2016-08-24 · Cinque — The Greek Wine Journey
IN THIS ARTICLE
In 2016, Cinque Wine & Deli in Psyrri hosted a #WineLover seminar dedicated to the 7 Villages collection by Paris Sigalas. Seven expressions of Assyrtiko offered a chance to taste how wines from different parts of Santorini can speak with distinct voices.
One island, many expressions
The idea behind 7 Villages was simple and compelling: taste wines made from the same grape on the same island, with the different villages as the point of comparison. Assyrtiko is closely associated with Santorini’s volcanic landscape, dry conditions and strong winds. The tasting invited guests to look beyond a single description of the variety and pay attention to the differences between the glasses.
According to the original seminar account, the collection presented seven separately vinified wines from villages within Santorini’s wine area. The side-by-side format made those differences easier to discuss than a series of unrelated bottles would have done.
The seminar at Cinque Psyrri
Graduates of the #WineLover seminar gathered at Cinque in Psyrri to taste, compare notes and share their impressions. As each glass was poured, attention turned to structure, aroma, texture and finish. Some distinctions were subtle; others surprised the group.
What made the evening memorable was the conversation. Each participant brought a different perception to the table, and the seven wines became a shared lesson in tasting with care.
Understanding place through wine
Terroir becomes more tangible when wines can be compared side by side. A tasting like this gives people a way to explore how place and winemaking decisions may shape a wine’s character, without reducing the experience to a single tasting note.
Santorini’s Assyrtiko can be a starting point for a wider Greek wine journey: one variety opens the door to its villages, growers and the landscape around them.
A story worth revisiting
This 2016 seminar belongs to Cinque’s archive of wine education in Athens. As we prepare new wine presentations, it remains an example of what happens when curiosity, a thoughtful selection of bottles and conversation come together around one table.