Xinomavro wines from Naoussa took on the Big Apple last Thursday and they certainly left their mark. In a remarkable event at Bar Boulud, a total of 13 wines were presented to importers and food/wine writers. I was consulting on the occasion and was more than happy to be there in person, together with the [...]
The stunning series of wine tasting events hosted by the WSPC continued last week. The latest event was a particular treat, as the well known Boutari Group showcased Xinomavro wines covering five decades. The wines were presented by Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, Konstantinos Boutaris (President), Yiannis Voyatzis (the chief oenologist who has been with Boutari for [...]
Xinomavro can capture the dreams and hopes of people far away. Laurens Hartman and his wife Annette van Kampen left their comfortable life in Holland behind and founded the Domaine Karanika in Amyndeo. Within a few years, they have managed to produce a number of fine wines that are marked by their individual character. The [...]
Kostis Dalamaras writes a truly superb blog, albeit it is currently only published in Greek. A few days ago he alerted me to his latest post, a reprint of an article by a local newspaper in Naoussa from 1988. In it, his grandfather Kostas discusses whether vines should be watered or not. It is a [...]
Stellios Boutaris from the Kir Yianni Estate does not really need an introduction. Kir Yianni is one of the best known Greek producers, and their wines are renowned in- and outside of Greece. Founded in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris, the estate is now run by his oldest son. In this Q&A, Stellios gives his personal [...]
Haroula Spinthiropoulou from the Argatia winery discusses direct sales and the importance of personal customer relationships. She also takes a critical look at prevailing attitudes amongst Greek producers and issues a call for unity. The first part of the Q&A can be found here. 3. Do you export part of your production? How do you [...]
Viniculturist Dr Haroula Spinthiropoulou is very well known within the Greek wine industry. Together with her husband Panagiotis Georgiadis she created the small but fine Argatia estate in Rodochori, Naoussa. Whenever I taste their Xinomavro wines, I am deeply impressed by the sheer concentration and depth they offer. They are meant for long term-ageing, and [...]
Xinomavro vintages vary and lead to wines with different characteristics. Use this guide for those vintages that are currently available in the market, or have yet to be released. 2003 *** 2003 was relatively dry and cool until mid-summer. The application of correct plant protection methods contributed to the production of healthy grapes and permitted [...]
1994 ***** 1994 was a particularly hot and dry year. High temperatures during August were followed by a heavy drought in September, which led to a great deal of stress on the vines and finally to the over-ripening of the grapes. The wines are considered to be typical of the variety, with intense, distinct aromas [...]
I have kept the image of my uncle, Kostakis Nitsiotas, on my mind. I used to watch him when I was young, working on the wines and tasting the content of a vaeni, as we used to call the large oak barrels. Back then, we did not use small containers, but 2, 3 and 5-ton [...]
