Sigalas Wine Tasting @ Santorini

We were encouraged to pay their wineries a visit and there are a number that open for wine tastings - off we headed to Domaine Sigalas, located in the plain of Oia. The company was founded in 1991 and since 2002 they started to create experimental vineyards of 20 hectaresm applying modern viticultural practices by planting the autoctonous cultivars such as Assyritko, Aidani, Athiri and
Mavrotragano.



Grape vine leaves all over.



For the first time in my life, I saw the vineyard that grapes are harvested. It would be great if I saw them in season.



They have a designated Wine Tasting room with an option to pair the wines with delicacies from all over Cycladic Islands. Our wines came with a complimentary basket of freshly baked bread drizzled in olive oil.



Glasses arranged in a grape formation.



We were taught none of the swigging that the wine appreciation here taught us.



Aidani
Vintage:2013
Vineyard's Age: 8-10 years
Type: Dry White Wine
Colour: Lemon, with golden hues
Taste: Soft, balanced with flavours of flowers and herbs. Medium acidity and minerality mild in intensity.

There were 2 years served for this - 2013 and 2011. I found the former frutier to smell with a lighter ending as compared to the 2011 version.



Assyrtiko-Athiko
Vintage: 2013
Vineyard's Age: Over 60 years old
Type: Dry White Wine
Colour: Pale lemon with green hues
Taste: Refreshing acidity, delightful after-taste. Minerality is evident as a result of Santorini's uniquie terroir: flavours of citrus fruits and peach.



Santorini
Vintage: 2013
Vineyard's Age: Over 60 years old
Type: Dry White Wine
Colour: Pale lemon with green hues
Taste: Flavours of citrus fruits and peach. Long lasting aftertaste.

I thought this was raw yet very light.



Kavalieros
Vintage: 2012
Vineyard's Age: Over 60 years old
Type: Dry White Wine
Colour: Lemon with golden hues
Taste: Full bodied with flavours of citrus fruit and herbs.

This is from a vineyard in Imerovigli and easy to like.

Santorini Barrel
Vintage: 2013
Vineyard's Age: Over 60 years old
Type: Dry White Wine
Colour: Lemon with golden hues.
Taste: Full bodied with hints of ripe citrus, peach, honey, combined with the refreshing acidity of Assyritko and minerality. Long lasting aftertaste.

Heavy at first sip but it dissipated soon after.

Nychteri
Vintage: 2010
Vineyard's Age: Over 60 years old
Type: Wine of late harvest
Colour: Deep lemon with golden hues
Taste: Full bodied with complex flavours, acidity, balance and some residual sugar content that give special character. Long lasting aftertaste.

With 50% alcohol and its intense woody flavours, the Hubba declared this a favourite. This is a case of a white wine tasting like red.



Ean
Vintage: 2013
Vineyard's Age: 8-10 years old
Type: Dry Rose Wine
Colour: Light Salmon
Taste: Soft tannins and longlasting aftertaste.

Sweet smelling and very fruity, I love roses for their pretty pink mainly.



Krisi
Vintage: Table Wine
Type: Dry Red Wine
Colour: Pale purple colour with violet hues
Taste: Red fruit, violet and spices with tannins and acidity in balance

I considered this floral and light.



Mm
Vintage: 2012
Vineyard's Age: Over 60 years old
Type: Dry Red Wine
Colour: Medium purple, with violet hues
Taste: Rich with flavours similar to those of ripe red fruits and spices.



Vinsanto
Type: Naturally Sweet Wine
Vintage: 2004
Classification: Protected Denomination of Origin «Santorini».
Taste: Bright orange-golden color. Rich and complex aroma with dominant scents of dried and sugared fruits. Exquisite structure, acidity and finesse, with a strong aftertaste.

This was my favourite Vinsanto the whole trip, nectarine sweet and had depth. 


 

So good, I had to have a full proper glass of it.

It is great to share the tasting platter (EUR 13.80) so you can pick your favourites and get them in individual glasses thereafter. I wish Santorini were my last stop and I can pick up a bottle of the favourite Vinsanto.

That, calls for a revisit isn't it?