Wines made from Assyrtiko grapes of Lebanon
Discover the best wines made with Assyrtiko as a single variety or as a blend of Lebanon.
This is a very old grape variety grown in Greece, particularly in the southern Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea, and more specifically in the Santorini archipelago. It is related to gaidouria and platani. In this country, it is quite often "associated" with other grape varieties such as aïdani, athiri, malagousia, ... . Assyrtiko can be found in Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, the United States, Mexico, South Africa, etc. Little known in France, it is nevertheless registered in the Official Catalogue of wine grape varieties, list A.
Lebanon is a Middle Eastern country with an ancient wine culture that has experienced a renaissance in recent decades. In 2011, about six million bottles of Lebanese wine were produced from 2000 hectares (5000 acres) of Vineyards. Modern Lebanese viticulture has moved inland from the ancient Phoenician port cities to the fertile Bekaa Valley. There are also a handful of vineyards near Jezzine, a few kilometres from the Southern end of the Bekaa, just inland from Sidon.