Gai'a Wines was founded in 1994 by Leon Karatsalos (an agronomist from the University of Thessaloniki) and Yiannis Paraskevopoulos (an agronomist from the University of Thessaloniki and a Doctor of Enology from the University of Bordeaux). "Gai'a" in Greek means "earth." Their goal is to state-of-the-art technology and techniques to capitalize on the great potential of indigenous Greek grapes.

I should also note that their Notios Red was one of my top ten wines under $15 for 2008.

The Thalassitis is a white wine made from 100% Assyrtiko and the vineyard is located on the southeastern slopes of Episkopi. The vines are 70-80 years old, ungrafted and with a very low yield. I found the wine to be dry with a bit of tartness as well as citrus flavors and a decent finish. It has its own unique flavor though, almost a strange fruit flavor, that makes it distinctive. This is definitely a wine that pairs best with food, something to mellow its tartness.
The 2005 Gai’a Estate Red is from the Koutsi region of Nemea. This red wine is made from 100% Agorgitiko, the St. George grape, and is a limited limited production wine. The vineyard is about twenty-five years old and is intentionally monitored to ensure a low yield. The wine is aged for 12 month in new French oak casks and is unfiltered.
This was a dark, big and powerful wine, with ripe black fruit flavors, plenty of spice and a long, satisfying finish. Yet there was a unique flavor within the complex flavors of this wine, something that set it apart from similar international wines. This was a very impressive wine, showcasing the high quality you can find in Greece. Pair this up with beef!
These wines are available through Athenee Importers.
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