4 and 6 bottle levels    $23 (member price $20)
85% Agiorgitiko, 15% Syrah   13.0% ABV

Gai’a translates to Mother Earth.  Founded in 1994 by Yiannis Paraskevopoulos and Leon Karatsalos, two friends with Agriculture degrees from Bordeaux and New Zealand and a mission to expose the world to the wines of Santorini and Nemea.  (In January’s Somm Smackdown, most of the competitors – including me – thought their Santorini “Wild Ferment” Assyrtiko was high end Burgundy.)  This NOTIOS Red was one of their first wines, coming from the mountainous Koutsi commune of Nemea in Peloponnese.  The Agiorgitiko brings the fruit, and the Syrah adds depth and pepper.  Aged in stainless steel.  Black cherry, black raspberry, black pepper, caramel. 

Food Pairing Suggestions:
This versatile food‐friendly red is excellent served with smoked brisket, roast leg of lamb with Greek fries and creamy Tzatziki, oak wood fire grilled olive oil rubbed steaks served over a chunky Greek herb salad, grilled fish with roasted garlic, sauteed fingerling potatoes, pan roasted chicken drizzed with creamy parsley sauce and lemon thyme jus, beef stew with oven roasted pearl onions and grilled herbed eggplant.  This red will also complement a variety of strong flavored cheeses like sharp Cheddar and feta and gives you the perfect excuse to go Greek and dress up Kasseri cheese with wild mushrooms and white truffle oil.