Ajit Balgi interviews Paris Sigalas of Domaine Sigalas in Santorini, a wine region in Greece that pre-dates Plato
Santorini’s wine story began even earlier than Plato, around 4,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest continuously planted wine regions in the world. Its volcanic soils, the result of a volcanic eruption in 1,600 BC, made it immune to phylloxera – an immunity that continues to protect it till today. However, all that beneficially endowed land was used for making wines solely for personal consumption. It is only during the last 40 or 50 years that the region has seen the rise of a modern wine industry – with traditional grapes like aidani, assyrtiko and athiri. One of the pioneers of the quality wine scene in Greece is mathematicianturned-winemaker, Paris Sigalas of Domaine Sigalas, a winery in Oia, Santorini.
How did you, a mathematician, become a vintner?
My grandfather was from Finikia, Santorini. In the 1920s, when people were leaving the island for better prospects he decided to stay back. Winemaking, on a yearly basis, was an inherent part of the family duties and it was passed on from generation to generation. I learnt winemaking from my father and I practised it whilst I was a high school mathematics teacher. I made wine for my family and also took it for tastings when I met friends. It was whilst drinking my wine at a tavern one day, that my friends praised the quality of my wine, finding it exceptionally good. That’s when my craving to take the next step was born. I went commercial in 1991.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July/August 2017 من Sommelier India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July/August 2017 من Sommelier India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Uncorking The Past: Exploring The Fascinating World Of Wine
Shalini Singh takes us on a tour of four unique wine museums that create an interactive and immersive wine experience
Cure, fine Irish cuisine at its best
Chef Andrew Walsh draws on his Irish roots to create his own brand of Nua Irish Cuisine at Cure restaurant
SARPOSH - A Kashmiri Oasis in Bengaluru
An unusual restaurant, styled after a living room in a Kashmiri home, Sarposh presents a new style of dining as it explores a vast and nuanced regional cuisine. Sarposh introduces a different kind of restaurateur. Azmat Ali Mir, an engineer by training, left corporate life to take on the challenging role of showcasing a cuisine that is frequently misrepresented. Her interest lies in sourcing the best ingredients and presenting a menu that is embedded in the wider culture of Kashmir. Kaveri Ponnapa speaks with Azmat Ali Mir, who is slowly changing people’s perceptions of Kashmiri cuisine and through it, of Kashmir itself.
Indian whiskies to the fore
Indian single malt whiskies have come into their own winning international awards. Here, Gagan Sharma lists the whiskies to keep in your drinks cabinet
WINE AUCTIONS - The Collective Napa Valley program raises funds year-round
The wine fraternity in Napa Valley is known for giving back to the community generously, reports Mira Advani Honeycutt who attended its latest Auction
Historic Wine Cellars
Britain’s famous universities have long held prized wines, estimated at millions of pounds in their venerable cellars
The Women in Wine Network
The international Women in Wine Expo brings women from around the world together to collaborate and exchange experiences. Ruma Singh attended the Expo in London this year
Spring frost - A Burgundian winemaker's singular cross
Raymond Blake on winemakers’ battle against dreaded spring frosts in Burgundy – just one of the many nasty curveballs that nature hurls from time to time
BORDEAUX EN PRIMEUR BORDEAUX 2022 - A Collectors Vintage
Namratha Prashanth shares her personal experience of the wines at the 2022 En Primeur tastings in April
WINES OF HUNGARY - LIQUID GOLD
Tokaji Aszú is a sweet botrytised wine from northeastern Hungary, prized by connoisseurs around the world.