Jim Barry Assyrtiko

Ass-y-what? It’s pronounced “ah-SEER-tee-koh” and it’s story that started with a family holiday in the Greek Islands and ended up some 17,000km away in Jim Barry’s iconic Lodge Hill vineyard and Australia’s first (and currently only!) producer of Assyrtiko.

In 2006 Peter Barry (son of Jim and second generation winemaker) was on holiday with his wife Sue in Santorini when they tried a glass of the native white variety Assyrtiko.

“The crisp, acidic qualities reminded me of our Clare Valley Rieslings and yet it was a flavour I had not experienced before. Intrigued with this newfound variety, I began the process of importing cuttings into Australia through quarantine. In August 2012 we planted Australia’s first Assyrtiko at our Lodge Hill Vineyard, a special and unique site treasured by my family and suited to this variety. Our Assyrtiko journey has been fascinating and has enabled us to produce a wine which, I believe, is a true expression of the variety. I hope you find the flavours as interesting as I did in 2006.”

First produced in 2015 – this is the 2025 vintage and it’s another beauty. Or as Peter himself puts it – “The palate shows powerful fruit weight with generous fruit flavours, and a clean acid line. A very long drive with slight salinity on the finish. This could be the best Assyrtiko we’ve produced yet.“

When it comes to Assyrtiko and food pairing – think Mediterranean! We’re talking fresh fish, fresh seafood, Greek salads and dishes with feta cheese. Drink this now to 5-6years from vintage.