MIKRA THIRA
The inspiration
Mikra Thira is the first winery built on Therassia, a small island with raw beauty. It is located in the Cyclades right across Santorini of which it got detached by the great volcanic eruption of the 17th century BC.
Special in its own right, Therassia possesses its own microclimate. The terroir of Therassia shares similarities with Santorini's which has proven to guarantee the quality of some of Greece's most authentic wines. The volcanic soil, the ungrafted vines and the relentless winds that blow across this very arid terrain constitute a unique terroir.
At the same time, the traditional ‘kouloura' or wreath-like basket-shaped vine pruning method that is applied on both islands is considered unique in the world. But what makes Therassia even more special is this tiny island's unspoiled, almost virgin nature. The land shows only minimal signs of human intervention and it offers a wealth of natural riches to whomever is careful to cultivate it with discipline and measuredly.
The Challenge
The idea to establish a winery in Therassia was born in 2007, but only took shape 10 years later when the founders of Mikra Thira, renowned Greek winemakers Vangelis Gerovassiliou, Vassilis Tsaktsarlis and Ioanna Vamvakouri, decided to realise their common dream.
Going against the current, the three winemakers saw the ecosystem of secluded and almost deserted Therassia as a challenge when endeavouring to craft quality wines expressive of the island’s distinct microclimate.
The vineyards
The vineyards of Mikra Thira are situated on both Therassia and Santorini, in different sub-regions. The ungrafted vines, most of them being over 80 years old, are low yielding and almost exclusively planted with the famed Santorni white variety, Assyrtiko. Alongside, the indigenous Aidani and Mavrotragano and Aegean varieties Mandilaria and Athiri are cultivated too. They are grown organically with special care and great attention to detail.
The winery
The winery, situated in the northwestern region of Therassia near the village of Potamos, is surrounded by vineyards and adjoins the Aegean Sea. It faces Folegandros, Sikinos and Ios, the islands on which the famous sundown of Santorini sets.
Its building is assimilated by the natural environment and designed in a traditional Cycladic architectural style based on local materials. The winery boasts modern winemaking and wine ageing facilities as well as a bespoke wine tasting area.
The design of the building and its interior was entrusted to architect Anna Samara, who combined modern winemaking technology with traditional architecture, in order to create a wine unit that highlights the local product, without altering in the least the special natural environment of the area. The building is characterized by simplicity, plasticity of its volumes and materials whilst drawing from the Aegean peculiarity of the island, the colours of the vicinity and the popular anonymous folk architecture.
