2022 Karanika "Cuvée Speciale" Extra Brut, Amynteo, Greece

ABOUT THIS WINE

Made from organically farmed Xinomavro (with occasional small additions of Assyrtiko or other local varieties depending on vintage), the “Cuvée Spéciale” is sourced from old, high-elevation vineyards in Greece’s cool Amynteo PDO, where sandy soils and dramatic diurnal shifts preserve acidity and aromatic lift.
Fermentation is with native yeasts in stainless steel, followed by tirage and secondary fermentation in bottle. The wine rests on its lees for extended aging (often 12+ months) before disgorgement with no dosage or at most a minimal Extra Brut style. The result is a sparkling wine of striking finesse and regional character—bone-dry, textural, and driven by citrus, crushed rock, and subtle oxidative complexity. Pair with oysters, dolmades, or feta-laced mezze.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Karanika is one of Greece’s leading sparkling wine producers, founded by Laurens Hartman-Karanikas and Annette van Kampen, a Dutch-Greek couple dedicated to crafting world-class méthode traditionnelle wines from indigenous Greek varieties. Based in the mountainous region of Amynteo in northwestern Macedonia, Karanika farms biodynamically, focusing on old-vine Xinomavro grown at high altitudes (600–750m) that naturally yields grapes with high acidity and complex aromatics.
Their cellar work is deeply traditional—minimal intervention, wild ferments, gravity flow, and long lees aging—yielding sparkling wines that are precise, age-worthy, and expressive of both terroir and grape. The “Cuvée Spéciale” represents the estate’s most refined Extra Brut expression, bridging Greek authenticity with Champagne-like elegance.