AN ICONIC
VOLCANIC TERRAIN
SANTORINI’S VINEYARD, WITH ITS UNGRAFTED ASSYRTIKO VINES AND 3500 YEARS OF WINEMAKING HISTORY IS AMONG THE WORLD’S OLDEST. THE ISLAND’S HARSH CONDITIONS—POROUS, MINERAL-RICH, VOLCANIC SOILS, STRONG WINDS, SCARCE RAINFALL, AND INTENSE SUNLIGHT—PUSH THE VINES TO THRIVE. THIS UNIQUE COMBINATION PRODUCES WINES WITH DISTINCT MINERALITY, SHARP ACIDITY, AND A DEEP CONNECTION TO THEIR HISTORIC ORIGINS.
A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
SKAFIDA
The premium single-vineyard label SKAFIDA is introduced, named after its origin in Pyrgos. Made in extremely limited quantities from ancient vines over 150 years old, SKAFIDA embodies the essence of Santorini’s viticultural history and terroir.
Nykteri
Akra Chryssos releases its first Nykteri, honoring tradition and the renowned Lourous vineyard. Spyros stays true to gentle practices, allowing spontaneous fermentation in new barrels, where the wine ages for at least nine months.
Planting Mavrotragano at “Vouno”
The rare Mavrotragano grape is planted in the steep Vouno vineyard in Pyrgos at 380 meters altitude. With fine white pumice soil, this unique site is set to yield its first promising wines in the coming years.
A New Era: AKRA Chryssos
The renowned Akrotiri, with its significant viticultural history, inspires the name of this new venture. That same year, Spyros’s vision comes to life with the release of the first Santorini PDO wine under the AKRA Chryssos label.
Santorini PDO
Spyros Chryssos crafts his first PDO Santorini wine using grapes from his vineyards in Pyrgos, Megalochori, and Akrotiri, embracing mild intervention winemaking, indigenous yeasts, and minimal sulfites to showcase the terroir.
THE BIRTH OF AN IDEA
SPYROS CHRYSSOS, INSPIRED BY HIS FAMILY’S VITICULTURAL HERITAGE, EMBARKS ON A WINEMAKING JOURNEY TO HONOR HIS GRANDFATHER’S CRAFT WHILE SHOWCASING A NEW GENERATION OF SANTORINI WINES.
A volcanic mix of basalt, ash, sand, and pumice forces the vines to root deeply, creating the characteristic minerality in the aromatic bouquet.
The sea breeze sweeps through the vines, imparting a distinct salinity and hints of wet stone on the nose.
The strong Aegean breeze cools the vines, shielding them from disease and shaping wines with distinct character.
Ungrafted vines in the island’s most famous vineyards, still cultivated organically to this day.
EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF ANCIENT
WINEMAKING HERITAGE
PHILOSOPHY
Akra Chryssos is the natural continuation of the family’s deep connection to the vineyards of Santorini, envisioning the future by skillfully balancing tradition and innovation. Drawing inspiration from the island’s centuries-old winemaking history, our philosophy is shaped by a remarkable family legacy, now carried into the fourth generation under the leadership of vigneron Spyros Chryssos.
Taking advantage of the ancient Assyrtiko vines, trained in the traditional basket-shaped “kouloura,” rooted in volcanic soils amidst strong Aegean winds and high temperatures, we craft wines that express the unique terroir of Santorini.