Greek winemakers presented in Vinepair
Five Greek winemakers were featured in Vinepair as part of “Greece’s dynamic wine scene”- Douloufakis Winery, Kir-Yianni, Alpha Estate, Domaine Skouras, and Domaine Sigalas.
“Douloufakis Winery was established in the heart of Crete back in 1930, though its modern-day story begins with Nikos Douloufakis,” Vinepair reported, adding that “after studying enology at the Instituto Agrario-Specializzato in Viticoltura e Enologia in Piedmont, Italy, Douloufakis returned to the island in 1993 to take over operations at the estate” and “despite his love for tradition, Douloufakis had bigger plans for the family’s land.”
“Since my first vintage, everything and nothing has changed,” he told Vinepair, noting that “the vineyard has tripled in size, though more importantly, it’s also completely transitioned to organic farming.”
“In addition to implementing more sustainable farming practices, yields have also been lowered, and harvest is done much earlier to preserve acidity and adapt to ever-changing climate conditions,” Vinepair reported.
“Back in the 1930s, my grandfather Dimitris was one of the first winemakers on the island to manage his vineyard in a [commercial] way,” Douloufakis told Vinepair, adding that “today, Douloufakis finds that meshing technology and modern equipment with a traditional mentality is the best way to honor his ancestors’ legacy.”
“I’m following my family tradition, but much like my grandfather Dimitris, I am passionate about innovation,” he told Vinepair.
“In Naoussa and Amyndeon, Stelios Boutaris also cites that his ‘vineyard-focused mentality’ has been the biggest change he’s brought to his family’s estates,” Vinepair reported, noting that “his father Yiannis Boutaris founded Kir-Yianni back in 1997, and after studying and working abroad in both the UK and USA, Stelios eventually returned and took over in 2004.”
“Our philosophy is that innovation builds tradition, both in the vineyard and the winery,” he told Vinepair, noting that “under his oversight, pesticides have been eliminated, yields have been dropped, and unique clones have been planted.”
“In Amyndeon, Angelos Iatridis and Makis Mavridis have been working to advance viticulture and vinification at Alpha Estate,” Vinepair reported, adding that “the pair first planted their vines in 1995 and released their first commercial wine 10 years later.”
“At the time, we were seen as irrational for creating a vineyard that would be a reference for the Amyndeon appellation,” Iatridis told Vinepair, noting that “from the beginning, Alpha Estate has been focused on quality and innovation.”
“In 1995, Alpha Estate was the first winery in all of Europe to install subsoil irrigation and incorporate regulated deficit irrigation in its regimen,” Vinepair reported, adding that “Iatridis notes that 590 miles of irrigation pipes were buried in the subsoil at 40 centimeters deep, and the structures are still used today,” and “in fact, Alpha Estate was the first property in all of Europe to apply this process of regulated deficit irrigation.”
“To monitor the effects of climate change in his vineyards, Douloufakis has implemented microclimatic stations to gather data on soil, humidity, rainfall, frost, and overall temperature,” Vinepair reported.
“I am also using soil analysis and topographic maps to obtain information on the differential features defining our terroir,” he told Vinepair.
Douloufakis also switched from new barrels to mostly used oak. “I noticed that with slightly higher alcohol, the impact of new barrels felt more intense,” he told Vinepair, adding that “today, neutral oak is preferred.”
George Skouras founded Domaine Skouras “in Nemea back in 1986, after studying enology and working in France,” Vinepair reported. “Starting my own winery had many difficulties, like renting vines and facilities and entering the Greek market, but I had so much passion for this that nothing stopped me,” Skouras told Vinepair, which pointed out that “what started with a few leased vineyards has since grown to 40 estate-owned hectares, which are now being passed along to his children, Stella and Dimitris.”
Skouras “always had a passion for native Greek grapes, yet remained open-minded to international vinification and aging methods” Vinepair reported. “This led me to use Stelvin closures for white wines, as well as implement a solera system for dry red wines,” he told Vinepair, noting that “his winery was the first in Greece to release wines under screw cap closures.”
“It took a lot of time and marketing to make it acceptable to consumers, especially in Greece,” he told Vinepair.
“Domaine Sigalas was founded by Paris Sigalas on the island of Santorini back in 1991,” Vinepair reported, adding that “after receiving a degree in mathematics in Athens and an MBA in France, Paris returned back to his native island, where his family had a small, non-commercial winery, and began experimenting with viticulture” and “found himself becoming more passionate about Santorini’s native grape varieties by the day, specifically Mavrotragano and Aidani.”
“Sigalas also helped the winemaking of Santorini move further from the oxidative character wines had until the ’80s,” Lambros Papadimitriou, the winery’s general manager told Vinepair.
“My key initiative is to develop and push forward the Cretan indigenous varieties,” Douloufakis told Vinepair, adding that “while I am clearly focused on the future, I am also returning to my roots in a way.”
Douloufakis pointed out that “ancient vinification styles (and vessels) are also seeing a renaissance across Greece, specifically at his estate” where he and his sons “recently produced a skin-macerated wine in Greek amphorae — a technique that his grandfather used nearly a century ago,” Vinepair reported, noting that “with the rise of consumer interest in orange wines, he likely won’t be the last to look to this ancient technique.”
Boutaris told Vinepair that “we adhere to the philosophy that ‘we want to grow the pie for everyone, rather than taking the whole of it’ — in other words, we share information and knowledge, train young people who will move on to new ventures, and will therefore be more likely to promote our regions,” adding that “Kir-Yianni was one of the first estates to really invest in wine tourism in Naoussa and Amyndeon, with hopes of turning them into significant wine destinations.”
“Since its beginnings, Sigalas has put in [the] forefront the common good of Santorini’s vineyard,” Papadimitriou told Vinepair, noting that “Domaine Sigalas was also one of the first wineries in Santorini to focus on exports, which both encouraged and paved the way for many others to do so.”
Read more at thenationalherald.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: pixabay.com
02/02 23:16
Geneva court: Fifteen antiquities on their way back to Greece from Switzerland
02/02 23:11
Public Health Organization says fall in Covid infections in weekly report
02/02 22:54
National Observatory: January 2023 one of the warmest on record in Greece
02/02 22:41
Greece-India relations promoted with visit of State Minister to Athens
02/02 22:25
Media report: The old Hilton in Athens will transform into new hotel Conrad
02/02 21:47
Hoteliers' Association of Athens and Attica: 2022 occupancy high, but lower than 2019
02/02 20:35
Smart Attica Digital Innovation Hub for Greece launched at Demokritos center
02/02 19:00
Berlin minister: Greece is ahead of Germany in digitization of public services
02/02 17:06
Greece rises nine places on the Economist’s Democracy Index for 2022
02/02 07:19
EFSF greenlights eighth reduction of step-up interest margin for Greece
01/02 23:24
National Archaeological Museum will host 125,000 ancient treasures in Athens
01/02 19:14
Cyprus and Greece sign deal on mutual academic recognition of university degrees
01/02 18:34
IOBE report: Greek economic sentiment index rose to 104.9 points in January
01/02 18:04
Greece and Japan ink MoC on improving business networking and investments
01/02 17:11
Eurostat report: Greek inflation rate to slow down to 7.2% in January
01/02 15:46
Greek Foreign Minister received United Arab Emirates Ambassador in Athens
01/02 14:20
01/02 10:59
Greece reaches target of slashing road fatalities by over 50% in 2020
01/02 09:31
One bid for long-term lease of Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Center property
31/01 23:07
Historic First Synaxis of Orthodox Hierarchs of Ecumenical Patriarchate in USA
31/01 19:13
‘Friends of the Kastro of Siphnos’ host gathering in Greek capital of Athens
31/01 19:10
Bank of Greece: Demand for loans by Greek enterprises to increase in Q1
31/01 18:45
Greece wins "Best Tourism Destination for 2023" title at Grand Travel Awards
31/01 18:17
UNWTO announces winning start-ups for global "Awake Tourism Challenge"
31/01 16:55
Extra four flights from Belgrade to Greek tourism destinations this year
31/01 15:59
Foreign Minister: Greece and Israel forged enduring partnership at strategic level
31/01 15:55
Revenue from tourism at €2.4 billion in Cyprus for Jan-Nov 2022
31/01 14:22
Prime Minister: Greece is now an attractive destination for foreign investments
31/01 13:04
Athens taxi drivers stage downtown protest over ‘pauperization cocktail’
31/01 12:50
Electricity subsidy set at 40 euros per MWh for Greek households in February
31/01 00:11
Booking.com: Greek region of Epirus among most welcoming places on earth
30/01 22:22
Credit ratings agency Fitch upgrades credit rating of three systemic Greek banks
30/01 19:11
Greek Foreign Affairs Minister to visit officially Israel on Tuesday
30/01 18:26
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to get plenty of funding in Greece
30/01 17:15
Traditional Greek handicrafts get their own museum in the center of Athens
30/01 16:21
Greek PM and Japanese counterpart sign Joint Statement of Strategic Cooperation
30/01 11:39
Four Greek ports get European Union financing for infrastructure upgrades
30/01 11:27
29/01 00:33
Israeli Ambassador at Economist event: Greece-Israel relations at their highest point
29/01 00:00
Ambassador to Athens: Even more United States investments coming to Greece
28/01 14:14
Finance Minister at Economist event: Greece has turned a page
28/01 14:11
Private sector deposits up by 5 billion euros in Greece during December
28/01 14:06
Ambassador to Athens: Greek and American interests are identical
28/01 13:59
Fitch upgrades Greece's credit to BB+ a mere one step below investment grade
28/01 09:03
27/01 15:09
Minister: Crete plays a key role in Greece's new and active foreign policy
27/01 14:48
Greek Tourism Minister: In 2023, direct flights from the USA will bring over €1 billion
27/01 13:01
SNF support assists students put affordable housing theory into practice
27/01 10:57
Hellenic Parliament displays slogan 'We remember' for Holocaust victims
27/01 09:03
EU Commission calls on six member states to apply nvironmental directives
26/01 21:58
26/01 21:53
Finance Minister presents six priorities of Greek economy to ESM's new head
26/01 21:47
Monica Bellucci at Greek Consulate in New York to promote "Maria Callas" movie
26/01 19:23
New European Union rules for drone traffic management come into effect on Thursday
26/01 18:43
Supreme Court hears arguments between funds and defaulted borrowers in Greece
26/01 18:12
Drop in coronavirus and flu infections agency records in weekly report
26/01 12:33
Stormy weather warning sent to residents of Attica region via 112 phone line
26/01 09:27
Flights extended from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to Mykonos and Santorini islands
26/01 08:38
Athens to host two European football finals over the coming 16 months
26/01 07:16
All 22 flights to and from Cyprus to be affected by Thursday's island-wide strike
26/01 03:19
Media report: Hamptons to bring New York-style luxury to Northern Greece
26/01 03:12
Greece to transform "green" commercial shipping fleet with new fund
26/01 03:01
AIRDNA: Average price of Airbnb in Greece at €193 in 2022 up by 35% from 2019
25/01 20:50
1.7 million pensioners to see 7.75% pension rise in Greece this month
25/01 19:46
IATA welcomes restoration of ‘Class A’ ATC services over Somalia airspace
25/01 19:34
Greek FM: MoU with Mozambique opens communication between the two countries
25/01 17:53
UNWTO and partners advance shared accessibility agenda for tourism industry
25/01 17:16
Dangerous weather warning sent to residents of Greece's Achaia via 112 phone line
25/01 16:07
Quake near Greek island of Rhodes had a magnitude of 5.9 Richter
25/01 13:57
INSIDE-A six-hour visual meditation event in the Athens Concert Hall
24/01 21:30
Passenger traffic in summer 2022 rises 4% from 2019 at 24 Greek airports
24/01 21:04
Greek Foreign MInister concludes Johannesburg visit before heading to Mozambique
24/01 19:37
Mexico's Yucatán State joins global Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories
24/01 18:44
24/01 18:00
Deal for the operation of the WHO Office in Cyprus to be inked on Friday
24/01 17:13
Finance Minister: Greek government secured rise in households' income
24/01 17:08
First credits on market pass cards handed out in Greece by March 3
24/01 16:56
24/01 15:46
Media report: Pistachios from Greek Island of Aegina are top in the world
24/01 11:23
Irish writer claims tourism and development may be the end of Corfu island
23/01 23:32
Report: Athens’ Lycabettus Hill offers stunning views of Acropolis, Saronic Gulf
23/01 22:56
IATA: Aviation welcomes pause on roll-out of new border system for EU
23/01 19:48
Shipping Minister hails Royal Caribbean’s plans to open office in Cyprus
23/01 19:29
Culture Minister: Deal on Parthenon Marbles' return 'difficult, but not impossible'
23/01 16:28
Bank of Greece: Travel receipts soar by 68.5% during January - November 2022
23/01 15:44
Greek Prime Minister: Greece's image abroad is now very positive
23/01 14:23
23/01 14:00
E-car subsidy program underway in Greece with 10,500 filed applications
23/01 12:40
Solar power capacity projected to increase further in Greece during 2023
22/01 14:07
Greek soprano featured in tribute to legendary Maria Callas in Athens
22/01 13:08
Greek Prime Minister in Davos: We will not go to war with Turkey (video)
22/01 10:07
Greek Minister briefs 27 ambassadors on effective protection of EU's borders
22/01 09:01
7.75% hike will start being paid out with February's pension checks in Greece
21/01 23:23
UNWTO at FITUR 2023: Investing in a diverse, sustainable future for tourism sector
21/01 22:10
Significant reduction in power bills coming in Greece during February
21/01 17:06
Prime Minister: Greece will receive investment grade right after elections
21/01 15:02
New York Consulate General of Greece honors the victims of the Jewish Holocaust
21/01 13:58
Northern Greek city of Kastoria presents new all-seasons tourism promotion logo
21/01 11:50
Municipal construction workers announce strikes from January 23 - February 13
20/01 13:04
United States Secreatry of State Blinken likely to visit Athens on February 21
Berlin minister: Greece is ahead of Germany in digitization of public services
Geneva court: Fifteen antiquities on their way back to Greece from Switzerland
Greece-India relations promoted with visit of State Minister to Athens
Hoteliers' Association of Athens and Attica: 2022 occupancy high, but lower than 2019
Greece rises nine places on the Economist’s Democracy Index for 2022
Public Health Organization says fall in Covid infections in weekly report
Smart Attica Digital Innovation Hub for Greece launched at Demokritos center
National Observatory: January 2023 one of the warmest on record in Greece
Media report: The old Hilton in Athens will transform into new hotel Conrad
EFSF greenlights eighth reduction of step-up interest margin for Greece
Cyprus and Greece sign deal on mutual academic recognition of university degrees
UNWTO and partners advance shared accessibility agenda for tourism industry
Greek Foreign Minister received United Arab Emirates Ambassador in Athens
Eurostat report: Greek inflation rate to slow down to 7.2% in January
Deputy FM conveys best wishes for New Year to Greeks of Diaspora
Greece wins "Best Tourism Destination for 2023" title at Grand Travel Awards
Greek government lists items for 'shopping basket' with zero or low price hikes
Ai Stratis to become the first completely green island in Greece
National Archaeological Museum will host 125,000 ancient treasures in Athens
Electricity subsidy set at 40 euros per MWh for Greek households in February
Four Greek ports get European Union financing for infrastructure upgrades
Fitch upgrades Greece's credit to BB+ a mere one step below investment grade
Finance Minister at Economist event: Greece has turned a page
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to get plenty of funding in Greece