Domaine Sigalas, Santorini, Aegean Islands

The winery of Domaine Sigalas was initially located in the traditional canava of the Sigalas family. Paris Sigalas, a professor of mathematics, professionalised and modernised the winery, with a new building near the village of Oia in 1998. The soil of Santorini, along with the ancient pruning techniques employed in the vineyards (the ‘giristi’ and ‘koulouri’ or ‘klada’), combine to make their grapes unique the world over. The soil is sandy — a mixture of volcanic ash and pumice — the spring wind is fierce, and the summer sun scorching, factors which have combined to create a peculiar and unique method of cultivation and a powerful, full-bodied white wine, with famous minerality and acidity. Domaine Sigalas is one of the best wineries on the island, producing a range of both PDO Assyrtiko wines, along with vinifications of other indigenous Santorini varieties, including Aidani, Mavrotragano, Mandilaria, and Athiri. Since 2022, Paris Sigalas is no longer involved in Domaine Sigalas and is now making wines as ‘Oeno Π’, in the original family canava.