Lantides Little Ark White 2019

In the south of Greece, the Lantides estate is the project of oenologist Andrea Lantides and is now managed by his son Simon. This wine originates from the Peloponnese peninsula and is a 50/50 blend of Assyrtiko and Malagousia, 2 indigenous Greek grape varieties. Malagousia is a Greek white grape variety that was virtually extinct until oenology professor Vassilis Logothetis rediscovered it in the 1970s. Assyrtiko is a Greek white grape variety native to the famous island of Santorini, planted in arid soils rich in volcanic ash. This wine comes from vines located on a plateau at an altitude of 600 meters. The grapes are harvested and sorted manually to guarantee optimal fruit quality. On the palate, it is very delicate with aromas of ripe fruits such as peach , banana , pear , pineapple , grapefruit and lemon peel . The wine is lively and mineral, slightly floral, salivating, almost iodized with a fresh and tasty finish.

Long known as small table wines, notably with Retsina, a white wine infused with pine resin, Greek wines have increased in quality over the last 20 years. The history of wine is as old as that of Greece. More than 3000 years ago, traces of the oldest grape presses in the world were found on the island of Crete.



After stagnation throughout the 20th century, Greek wines experienced a dazzling improvement from a quality point of view thanks to its entry into the European Union, the training of young oenologists in very good European schools and particular attention to international demand. She does not want to take the easy route by using mainly great French grape varieties such as Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon which would greatly facilitate export. Nowadays, Greece wants to continue to cultivate and introduce its ancient grape varieties, which number around 300 in the territory.



The very first thing to understand is that Greece is much more diverse in terms of climate than most people think. The country clearly has everything from arid Mediterranean islands to humid, mountainous pine forests that receive snowfall in winter. With such a diverse climate, you can expect Greek wines to be very varied as well. So, one of the best ways to get an idea of ​​Greek wine is to divide the country into four overall wine-growing zones based on their climate: Northern Greece (humid climate), Aegean Islands (arid climate). ), Central Greece and Southern Greece (Mediterranean climate). The potential and reputation are greatly underestimated today in the eyes of the general public, which may bring pleasant surprises!