Greece may not be your first thought when discussing the world’s greatest white wines, but experiencing the top expression of Assyrtiko from the volcanic island of Santorini will vault it toward the top of your list. For years, we’ve proudly supported Domaine Sigalas for their accessible, everyday Assyrtiko releases—wines that overdeliver in purity, minerality, and food-pairing versatility. But this new release is something else entirely. The 2022 “7 Villages Epta” bottling is not just a step up—it’s a seismic leap forward. This is the Assyrtiko that changes everything.

“Epta” means “seven” in Greek, and this wine is a tribute to the seven historic villages that define Santorini’s viticultural soul: Oia, Fira, Megalochori, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Vourvoulos, and Akrotiri. Crafted from the volcanic soils of Pyrgos, this single-village expression captures the breathtaking essence of the island—sun-kissed fruit, smoky minerality, and a whisper of sea spray. The island’s dramatic terroir—formed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in Earth’s history—infuses every drop with salinity and tension. With no groundwater on the island, the vines survive on mist from the Aegean Sea, absorbed drop by drop, creating an utterly inimitable flavor profile. Sigalas’ 60-year-old “kouloura” vines, trained in protective bird’s nest shapes, yield fruit of rare intensity, and the wine’s 80% whole-cluster fermentation and stainless steel aging preserve its purity and precision.

This is the culmination of Paris Sigalas’ legacy—the mathematician-turned-winemaker who applied technical rigor to ancient traditions and elevated Santorini’s wines to global stardom. His philosophy, “the dynamic evolution of tradition,” is fully realized in this bottling. And the critics agree: Wine Advocate awarded it a staggering 95 points, calling it “a brilliant wine that combines precision, depth, and mineral intensity in a way that rivals the world’s greatest whites.”

If you’re seeking out the most compelling terroir-driven whites on the planet—wines that pair brilliantly with food and rival the finest cellar-worthy whites—this is as compelling as it gets. Allocation is extremely limited, and this is a bottle that belongs in every serious collector’s lineup. Cheers!

Tasting Note: 

• Explosive aromas of peach, lime peel, pineapple core, and salt-preserved lemon mingle with crushed volcanic earth and a whisper of white smoke, evoking the windswept terroir of Santorini. On the palate, it’s both mouthwateringly fresh and richly textured, with brilliant acidity and a lingering mineral finish that promises graceful aging over the next decade.

Press Accolades:

95 Points, Wine Advocate:

• “The Domaine Sigalas 2022 Santorini Assyrtiko 7 Villages Epta is made in stainless steel only with a small 5% part that ages in Manetti amphorae from Tuscany. This wine is rich, intense and gorgeous. Lemon zest, honeydew melon, wet stone and crushed sea shell give the wine concentration and razor-sharp focus. Sadly, this wine was not made in 2023 or 2024 because drought conditions and vine stress meant that there was not enough fruit available.”