NEMEA, A BLESSED LAND
PRESTIGIOUS WINERY IN HIGH ALLTITUDE
The winery was built in 1997 at the heart of the private vineyard in Koutsi, Nemea, at an altitude of 550m. The choice of the location of our winey depended on the location of our vineyard. So, we chose Koutsi which has lower yield than the other parts of Nemea in combination with chalky, good drainage soils and cool temperatures. We strongly believe that Agiorgitiko grapes cultivated in Koutsi have higher quality than the rest zone of Nemea and are ideal for producing high-extract and oak-aged wines.
Our winery in Koutsi is a contemporary industrial building with magnificent views of the plains of Nemea and the valley of Asopos River, lying approximately 250m below.
Its capacity is 3,060 hl of wine and its equipment and quality controls provide the oenologist the possibility to produce high quality wines. Yiannis Paraskevopoulos and his team manage every step of the winemaking process with the sole intention of producing only top-quality wines. The winery strictly functions in accordance with international standards of the ISO 22.000 quality guarantee.
The winery is open to visitors throughout the year upon appointment.
A VINEYARD WITH GREAT VARIATION AND RECOGNITION
In NEMEA P.D.O. appellation of Greece, the vineyard is extended in a 250 m to 850 m altitude and has a great variance in the soil and climate characteristics.
There is a large variation of environmental conditions inside the P.D.O. area. Hillsides on calcareous soils and stony soils on foot slopes are considered the best for long-ageing wines.
Historically, the Nemea vineyard has roots in pre-Christian times, when the plain of Nemea was called FILISION PEDION. In 1971, it was recognized as P.D.O in accordance with the modern legislation of the P.D.O. The area of Nemea is the largest wine-growing zone in Greece and contains the areas of the central valley, Archaies Kleones, Gimnou-Leontiou, Malendreni. Archaia Nemea, Nymenou-Leontiou, Asprokambou-Psariou, Malandreniou, and of course, Koutsiou.
It consists of a shallow (70-80cm) clay layer that lies upon the lime mother soil with relatively neutral ph. Low organic content, like most of the limestone soils in Greece. On the slopes of the hills where most of the vineyards are located, the soils drain quite well but are exposed to erosion.
Cold and humid winters with low temperatures that rarely drop below the freezing point. Summers are warm, without excessively high temperatures and with few showers during June. Typically, a long Indian type autumn follows the summer. The warm September days with significantly colder nights and the dry conditions synthesize an ideal weather pattern for a good maturation. The total rain precipitations (600-700mm annually) occur mainly between October and March.
NEMEA P.D.O is the biggest Protected Destination of Origin for red wines in Greece, home of Agiorgitiko.
A historical variety with a great genetic variation. Its main characteristics are medium-sized berries with relatively thin skin, intense deep color and a high phenolic and sugar maturity that do not always coincide with time. Agronomists and Oenologists of our company work systematically by searching ways and practices that will lead to the simultaneous maturation of phenols and sugars.
