Glossary

The vocabulary around Mavrotragano and its volcanic home, in plain terms.

Mavrotragano: A rare indigenous red grape of Santorini and the Cyclades; deeply coloured, structured and age-worthy. The subject of this site.
Assyrtiko: Santorini's signature white grape — high-acid, mineral and saline. The island's most planted variety and Mavrotragano's white counterpart.
Mandilaria: A deeply pigmented Cycladic red grape, often blended with Mavrotragano to add colour and structure (e.g. in Santorini reds).
Aidani: An aromatic white grape of Santorini, usually blended with Assyrtiko.
Kouloura: The traditional Santorini vine-training method: the vine is woven into a low basket or wreath on the ground, sheltering the grapes from wind and sun.
Meltemi: The strong, dry north wind of the Aegean that batters Santorini in summer — the reason vines are trained low in the kouloura.
Phylloxera: The root louse that devastated the world’s vineyards in the 19th century. Santorini’s sandy volcanic soil resists it, so the vines were never grafted.
Ungrafted (own-rooted): Vines growing on their own roots rather than grafted onto American rootstock. Standard on Santorini because of the phylloxera-free soil; some root systems are centuries old.
Aspa: The local name for Santorini’s volcanic soil of ash, pumice and rock — poor, free-draining and low in clay.
Canava: A traditional Santorini winery or wine cellar, historically dug into the volcanic ground.
Vinsanto: Santorini's celebrated sweet wine, made from sun-dried Assyrtiko and Aidani and aged in barrel. (Not to be confused with Italian Vin Santo.)
Nykteri: A traditional, richer style of dry white Santorini, historically picked at night (nykteri = “working through the night”).
PDO Santorini: The Protected Designation of Origin covering the island’s white wines (Assyrtiko-based) and Vinsanto.
PGI Cyclades: The Protected Geographical Indication under which Santorini’s reds — including most Mavrotragano — are usually labelled.
Caldera: The vast flooded crater left by Santorini’s Bronze Age eruption; many wineries overlook it.
Thera: The Greek name for Santorini (also Thira) and its main island.