Vertical wine tasting Pithari red / white

Discover the varieties Fokiano and Begleri, cultivated since ancient times on the island of Ikaria and are a trademark of the area.

In this tasting, you have the opportunity to understand the “aging potential” of these two varieties, as four different vintages of exceptionally fine wines are sampled, aged in jars buried in the earth. The concept of aging is important for wine. The ability of wine to evolve over time and not just survive is a sign of quality and the winemaker’s expertise. Ιt takes patience and faith to wait for a wine to mature. One of the best ways to get a complete picture of a wine’s evolution year by year is to try several vintages in a row. This type of tasting is called a “vertical” tasting in the wine world because it “descends” through time to observe the transformation of the same wine as it ages.

Take a tour of the estate starting from the “pithostasi,” where the traditional clay jars used for the fermentation and aging of Afianes wines are buried in the earth. Get to know the winemaking methods of the ancient Ikarians and see up close the granite wine press where grapes are pressed by foot.