Assyrtiko from Santorini paired with Greek Mac and Cheese #WinePW

This Assyrtiko is crisp, bright and acidic.  It comes from Santorini, a Greek Island that was devastated in the 16th Century BC creating a rugged landscape and giving the native wine grape, Assyrtiko, it's minerality.

The Wine Pairing Weekend Group are traveling to the Greek Isles this month.

Deanna of Wineivore invited us to join her in a virtual trip to Greece.  You can learn more in her invitation post.  Then head over to her preview post and learn why she chose this destination.  Finally, if you are reading this post early enough, visit with us on Twitter Chat this morning at 11 AM ET.  You will find us by following #WinePW.  Here are some of the topics we'll be discussing......

• Wendy is tasting “Assyrtiko from Santorini paired with Greek Mac and Cheese” at A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Camilla is “Waiting for the Temperature Drop: Still Eating al Fresco and Pouring Moschofilero” at Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Andrea asks “Do You Know Fokiano?” at The Quirky Cork
• David is having a “Greek Spaghetti Recipe and Wine Pairing” at Cooking Chat
• Cindy is exploring how “Xinomavro Thrives in Naoussa Where Key Elements Define Its Character” at Grape Experiences
• Deanna is testing an “Almost Paleo Greek Menu + an Aged Sparkling Zitsa” at Wineivore
• Gwendolyn is pairing "2 Organic Greek Wines with Grilled Fresh Fish" at Wine Predator
• Nicole is showcasing “Three Off-the-Beaten-Path Pairings for Holiday Cheese & Charcuterie Platters” at Somm’s Table

I actually did my pairing back in October when my Eat the World Group traveled to Greece and I made Makaronia me Yiaourti, a delicious cheesy Greek Pasta.  I had already ordered up my bottle of Assyrtiko from wine.com for this event when it was first announced so it worked out perfectly.

The pairing was lovely with the wine cutting through the richness of the cheese and complementing the tartness from the Greek yogurt added to the sauce for the pasta.  I think this wine would also be lovely with another of my favorite Greek dishes, Spinach Pie.  

But you don't have to make a Greek dish to pair with this bright, acidic white wine.  It would make a great pairing with your next fish dinner or with roasted chicken too.  Or perhaps a nice crisp salad to counteract all the rich foods and heavy wines we tend to consume over the holidays.  

Whatever you pair it with, make sure you take the time to sit back, relax and dream or plan that trip to the Greek Isles.  Cheers!!!!