The Wines of Greece by Konstantinos Lazarakis

Author:Konstantinos Lazarakis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Infinite Ideas
Published: 2018-01-15T16:00:00+00:00

Producer

Argyriou Winery

33051 Polidroso Parnassos, Fokida

Tel.: +30 22340 51667

www.argyriouwinery.gr; [email protected]

vineyards owned: 27 hectares; annual production 150,000 bottles; farming conventional

Nikos Argyriou was the first to establish a winery in Fokida, putting the region on the modern Greek wine map. The winery is at the north-east tip of Fokida at Polidrosos on the slopes of Mount Parnassos and belongs to the area of Arahova. The vineyard was planted with a number of French varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah, as well as Malvasia and Malagousia. However, the main focus is Arahovitikos, or Mavroudi Arahovas, the dominant variety of the region. Vigorous and productive, with a relatively deep colour, it ripens in early September and easily reaches sugar levels above 13° Baumé. The smartly dressed Tango Rosé is pure Arahovitikos, while Erohos also contains 40 per cent Merlot. In addition, Argyriou produces hands down the most typically Greek Pinot Noir.

FTHIOTIDA

Fthiotida, in the north of Central Greece, borders Thessaly to the north, Evritania to the west, Fokida and Viotia to the south and the Evoikos Gulf to the east. The capital of the region is Lamia. Fthiotida is a valley basin; starting from the sea it extends inland towards Karpenisi and is totally surrounded by mountains: Oiti and Kalidromo to the south, Othris to the north, and the solid Pindos range to the west. The southern part of the prefecture includes Atalandi, Livanates and Martino and has a complex topography, with hills, mountains and low fields. Although this is the northern part of Central Greece, it is almost as warm as Viotia, except for the higher-altitude regions or areas influenced by cool winds flowing down from the Pindos Mountains or, further south, from Mount Parnassos.

History, grapes and legislation

Fthiotida has a long viticultural history, especially around the area of Atalandi, where wine production was present from ancient times until phylloxera arrived after the Second World War. The shrinking and ageing population didn’t take up the challenge of re-establishing such historic vineyards until Dimitris Hatzimichalis arrived in the early 1970s. In one stroke, he revived the vinous side of Atalandi, creating one of the great success stories of Greek wine. Domaine Hatzimichalis was the region’s first winery but others followed. Terroirs vary widely, from hotter to cooler regions, and from highly fertile to infertile soils. Fthiotida can be very rewarding for any viticulturalist who has a clear idea of what he or she needs.

In Fthiotida, the Savatiano land of Central Greece comes to an abrupt halt. A large number of current plantings have been developed in the ‘post-Hatzimichalis’ era, and therefore non-traditional varieties play an important part in the overall picture. Sporadic older vineyards contain many well known varieties as well as a significant proportion of Mavroudi varieties. (Mavroudi is a blanket name for a number of dark-skinned varieties found throughout Greece which, most of the time, are interplanted with other vines or other types of Mavroudi.) Another variety found in the area – as well as in other regions of mainland Greece – is the white Kontokladi.

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