In the glass
What it pairs with
-
Lobster with butter
Full body matches buttery richness; saline mineral threads through. -
Mushroom risotto
Toasted oak spice and savoury fungi align. -
Aged graviera
Vanilla-spice meets hard sheep-cheese rind.
How to serve Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko
Allow 35 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 30 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 10-12°C. Cellar temperature (10-12°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a medium-sized white-wine glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Lobster with butter, Mushroom risotto, Aged graviera. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Wild Ferment broke Gaia from the stainless-steel-only norm in the early 2000s, fermenting Assyrtiko on natural yeasts in a mixed vessel programme of oak and stainless. Demonstrated the grape's age-worthy potential under oxidative handling.
- 2003 — First Wild Ferment Assyrtiko vintage from Gaia
Facts
- Producer
- Gaia Wines Santorini
- Grapes
- Assyrtiko
- Classification
- PDO Santorini
- Oak
- Wild ferment and ageing in mixed vessels: French oak, acacia oak and stainless steel
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 40-65 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2003
Frequently asked about Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko
What does Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko taste like?
Structurally full-bodied, low tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Wild-yeast fermented oak-touched Assyrtiko. Fuller-bodied, spiced and ageworthy expression with the same saline core.
When should I drink Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko?
Drink 3-15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko?
Lobster with butter is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Mushroom risotto and Aged graviera. Full body matches buttery richness; saline mineral threads through.
What grapes are in Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko?
The blend is Assyrtiko. The wine is classified as PDO Santorini.