3 Wines Made in Ikaria, a Hotspot for the Longest-Living People in the World

I’m no sommelier, but I dare say that any wine hailing from Ikaria, Greece, (home of some of the longest-living folks in the world) will feature a “full-bodied,” longevity-promoting “bouquet” worth sipping. People in Ikaria know that red wine in small doses has been linked with higher life expectancy and better cardiovascular health. Which is why, next time you’re on the market for libations, the red wines from Ikaria deserve a spot in your grocery cart.

Rumor has it that Ikaria was the birth place of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, so if you needed any other reason to pour one out, make it that an immortal did the very same. Below, you’ll find the finest pours Afianes Wine, an organic and biodynamic vineyard in Ikaria, has to offer.

3 red wines from Ikaria to drink for longevity

1. Afianes Wine Icarus Black Dry Red 2014, $33

Afianes Wine, which offers tours in normal, non-COVID-19 times, describes this particular bottle as “a complex, rich, warm and tannic character.” The beverage has an almost brassy color. Dry wines often go best with dessert or with a fancy-schmancy charcuterie board. You can pour yourself a glass and imagine that you’re gazing out at the pristine blue waters of Ikaria.

A dietitian explains the nutritional profile of wine and champagne:

2. Icarus Black Dry Red Anniversary Bottle, $100

This pricy, classy bottle of wine comes from a local grape to Ikaria called Fokiano. The grapes have a dusty, red hue that yields both dry and sweet reds. If you’re in it for the long game, the experts at Afianes Wines highly recommend letting the bottle age for 10 years once it arrives at your doorstep. In 2030, you can sit down with the Icarus, uncork it, and reminisce on the strange time that was 2020.

3. Icarus Dry Red, $24

If you like a floral, fruity flavor in every sip, look no farther than this delicious bottle that won’t set you back too much money. The folks at Afianes write that this Icarus is “susceptible to aging of at least five years with surprising result”—and I, for one, am intrigued.