Lyrarakis Assyrtiko 2018

Considering Crete is on a similar latitude to Casablanca, most people would not pick it out as an obvious location for quality white wine production. If you've seen the film Casablanca, you can attest that after delivering the line "of all the gin joints, in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine;" Humphry Bogart doesn't go and check on his Sauvignon Blanc plantings.

Despite having a similar latitude to 1940s' classics, it is in fact an ideal place to grow the white grape Assyrtiko. Both the Mediterranean breezes and the altitude of the Lyrarakis vineyards allows the grapes to have a much longer ripening period, preserving the grapes aromatics and acidity resulting in a wine with wonderful floral freshness, crisp citrus notes and a delicate mineral finish. Perhaps Humphry should've packed in the gin joint and opened a vineyard in Crete!