When it comes to wine, perhaps no wine region has the longevity of Greece.  While we may enjoy wine now, the old greeks have been at it since 8000 B.C., and haven’t looked back since.  While beer was more common in the ancient world, the cultivation of grapes by the greeks helped to make wine affordable for everyone.  It is perhaps this that explains why the ancients created the deity Dionysus, who among other things, was the god of wine.  While the U.S. enters into the celebration of our independence, it seems important to remember that the vines we’ve planted have a far longer history than just our shore.  So to celebrate, let’s try a bottle of the famed Athiná Santorini

Sight:  Pouring a medium amber, borderline orange and caramel.

Smell:  A hint of nuttiness on the start belies a good mix of stone fruit and citrus hiding in the background.  There are plenty of pops of ripe peach and nectarine, with touches of tropical fruit and oranges.

Sip:  The body is full, round, and bright.  There are nice pops of peach and orange at the start, and the flavors have a touch of nuttiness.   Lemon pith is pronounced at this point, and there’s a little bit of creaminess to compliment.

Savor:  The ending leans into more nuttiness, and lots of peaches and lemon.

Wines from Santorini are known for their soaring acidity, a characteristic that makes them potentially age worthy.  In the case of Athiná Santorini, it’s a visibly old wine, with some of the initial touches of oxidation.  Those oxidation notes though are minimal, and don’t detract from the overall experience of nice stone fruit and citrus.   That said, Athiná Santorini is on its last legs, and probably won’t last much beyond the year.   Pop it open, and enjoy.

Verdict:  Peach, Lemon, Nutty, Bright
Rating: 74
Price: $11
Santorini, Greece