The Lyrarakis family founded their winery in 1966 and now works with 100 small, independent growers on the island of Crete - in addition to farming their own vineyards. This is a gentle orange wine of 50% assyrtiko (especially well-known on the island of Santorini but now grown all over Greece) and 50% vidiano (an indigenous Cretan variety). The skin maceration lasts for 12 days. The wine is golden in color and quite vinous in the nose - i.e., this is not a super cidery or funky orange wine. The palate is stone fruit and citrus, with just enough texture and grip in the mouth to complement a white range of food, from fish to meat and tapas to main dishes. Cretans love herbs (preferably wild-harvested); herb-roasted chicken or salmon would do the trick.
