24 of Naoussa’s Best Wineries to Visit in 2024

We went to Naoussa in the course of the last days of the grape harvest and invited the farmers to satisfy us for a bunch photograph shoot. Nearly all of them responded to our name, bringing alongside samples of their most up-to-date Naoussa PDO vintages to be discovered in the marketplace. We tried all of them, accompanied by two sommeliers, Aris Sklavenitis and Afshin Molavi. Beneath you’ll find extra details about the “contemporary” Xinomavro produced by every vineyard. 

Fountis Property

The household’s first winery was planted in 1930 by grandfather Georgios, an Jap Thrace native who had settled within the area. Till 1992, his descendants produced wine and tsipouro from Xinomavro grapes solely for home consumption. Nikos Fountis, a founding member of the Vaeni cooperative, determined to vinify his personal grapes within the early Nineteen Nineties, launching his first label in 1992. Right now, he and his daughter, Georgia Founti, make roughly 50,000 bottles from a 65-acre privately owned winery. Their Xinomavro is produced utilizing conventional pink wine vinification methods and aged for a minimum of 4 years earlier than it’s launched to the market. Small portions are exported to the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, and Belgium. A conventional Naoussa wine, each rustic and refined. 

Melitzani Property 

One of many oldest wineries in Naoussa, it has been vinifying grapes from the natural winery on the hill of Gastra for 4 generations. The fourth era of winemakers, descended from Naoussan cooper Dimitris Melitzanis, are self-taught and skilled, steeped in Naoussa’s conventional winemaking strategies. They maintain the custom alive by producing restricted portions of old-school wines which are well-crafted, tasty, and distinctive. Stelios Yamalidis, his spouse Elisavet, granddaughter of Dimitris, and their two youngsters have been accountable for every part from vine care to gross sales for a number of years.

Kelesidis Property

The small household vineyard, which has been in operation since 1998, produces wines from low-yield natural vineyards which are manually harvested. On the day of our go to, the son was bringing the final crates of grapes from the vineyards for the daddy to type within the courtyard, whereas the mom was serving two guests from overseas of their winery-home. A household that’s devoted to their work, producing wines that strike a stability between conventional and fashionable Xinomavro profiles.

Argyrakis Property

The household vineyard based by oenologist Giorgos Argyrakis in Tripotamos produces expertly crafted wines with a contemporary type and distinctive character, maximizing the potential of Xinomavro. Giorgos’s oenologist son, Konstantinos, now works alongside his father. Regardless of its small measurement, the vineyard was designed to satisfy bioclimatic requirements and cut back vitality consumption by Giorgos’s different son, civil engineer Spyros Argyrakis. Their vineyards have been planted within the limestone-clay soil of the sunny southeast slopes of Mount Vermio. They produce round 20,000 bottles, every bearing their distinctive horse emblem.

Chrysochoou Property

Chrysochoou Property produces daring wines with sturdy tannins that may face up to the take a look at of time. The Chrysochoou household’s vineyard and previous vineyards are in Strantza, whereas the newer ones are in Gastra, on the southeast slopes of Mount Vermio, within the PDO zone. Their wines have been first launched in 1965, they usually at present produce roughly 400,000 bottles per 12 months. Apart from Naoussa, the Prekniariko, a particular white wine produced from the area’s hard-to-find number of the identical title, can be fairly fascinating. The normal vineyard constructing, with its atmospheric areas and museum-like displays, is open to guests.

Kokkinos Vineyard

Stavros Kokkinos purchased his first winery in 1999. The vineyard was established in 2008 on the identical website the place his grandfather and father ran a poultry farm – the three roosters within the vineyard’s emblem are an homage to the household’s historical past. His sons, oenologist George and meals chemist Konstantinos, have additionally joined the enterprise. They produce roughly 30,000 bottles yearly. The youthful era have additionally began experimenting with Xinomavro, and we count on to see the outcomes of their efforts within the close to future. 

Marantidi Vineyard

The small Marantidi Vineyard, owned by a household of oenologists, is situated on the sq. of the Pontic village of Patrida in Imathia, about 4 kilometers from Veria. Their privately owned vineyards are unfold all through the villages of Patrida and Trilofos, producing wines from Xinomavro, Merlot, Mavroudi, and Roditis, one among which is Naoussa PDO.

Ktima Kir-Yianni 

The Kir-Yianni Property’s historical past is inextricably linked to that of Naoussa and the evolution of Greek winemaking. Kir-Yiannis established the property in Giannakohori in 1997, leaving a legacy and an formidable purpose for wine as a nationwide product, with Xinomavro serving because the flagship selection. Right now, the winery adheres to the ideas of built-in administration, step by step implementing regenerative farming practices. The property’s 415 acres produce 280,000 bottles and 11 labels, eight of which include Xinomavro. Experimentation and microvinification have been ongoing for the previous thirty years, and Antonis Kioseoglou is at present the property’s head oenologist. The wines are exported to 50 international locations.

Diamantakou Property

Mademi, some of the privileged areas within the Naoussa PDO zone, is situated on the jap foothills of Mount Vermio, at an elevation of 200-240 meters. There, within the small household vineyard, oenologist George Diamantakos produces solely two labels from privately owned vineyards: one from Xinomavro and the opposite from the uncommon native selection Preknadi. Each wines are fashionable but conventional, including a brand new dimension to the established character of Naoussa wine, whereas retaining the distinct identification of the terroir and grape varieties.

Karydas Property

Konstantinos Karydas planted 30 acres with Naoussa Xinomavro at an altitude of 205 meters on the sloping terrain of the hill of Gastra in 1978. His son Petros continues to handle the winery, which is among the greatest within the area, and produces a single label and 12,000 bottles per 12 months.

Kastaniotis Property

In 1976, Georgios Kastaniotis, a wine service provider with a wine store in Naoussa, determined to replant a winery in Gallika Marinas, like his father earlier than him. His son, Dimitris, discovered the craft of viticulture whereas working alongside his father and in addition took chemistry lessons at a technical college. He now owns a 100-acre winery because of his household’s legacy and the expertise he acquired. He sells a part of the harvest to bigger wineries, and produces 5 to 6 tons of Xinomavro from the rest. Regardless of the speedy adjustments within the vinification of this specific grape lately, he has managed to take care of a particular type and retain the variability’s typical traits. Every bottle is aged for a minimum of two years previous to launch.

Thymiopoulos Vineyards

Apostolos Thymiopoulos, a charismatic oenologist and self-made winemaker, produces inexpensive wines which are in excessive demand in Greece and all over the world. Based mostly in Trilofos, the place his dad and mom owned vineyards, he expanded the household property and established their vineyards inside the Naoussa PDO zone. His motto is “massive vineyards needs to be vinified individually,” and, as a self-proclaimed terroirist, Apostolos produces numerous variations of Naoussa, one among which is the acclaimed “Earth and Sky,” produced from previous grape vines. Dedicated to natural farming, he works with the purpose of “serving to the winery discover its personal symmetry as an autonomous and distinct ecosystem,” producing a number of the nation’s greatest wines. He doesn’t adhere to protocols, preferring to reply to circumstances as they come up annually. Roughly 90% of the manufacturing is exported.

Boutari

The Boutari Firm started its journey in 1879. During the last 144 years, it has made quite a few accomplishments, together with pioneering new wine paths and experiences, similar to wine tourism and the primary experimental labels, in addition to establishing itself as a key participant within the evolution of Greek winemaking. In 2022, the corporate was acquired by the Sterner Stenhus Greece funding group. It produces greater than 35 labels from its 5 wineries.

Tazoglidou

Eustratia Tazoglidou was born in Melbourne. She studied agronomy on the Aristotle College of Thessaloniki and has since lived and labored amongst vineyards. Right now, she produces 4 labels, totaling roughly 10,000 bottles, from Xinomavro, Montepulciano, Vidiano, and Kydonitsa grapes from privately owned vineyards.

Marras Vineyard

Wine has at all times been current within the house of Socrates and Thanasis, in some type or one other. They keep in mind the scent of alcoholic fermentation within the alley outdoors. Their father labored as an oenologist on the cooperative for 25 years, so their future was considerably predetermined – Socrates, 27, studied oenology, whereas Thanasis, 32, studied agronomy. The household planted their first winery in 2000 and 15 of its 20 acres are devoted to Xinomavro. They produce pink, rosé, and white wines from organically grown grapes. “Our purpose is to make good wine with as few interventions as doable.”

Vaeni Cooperative

The winemaking cooperative has been in operation for 40 years and has 250 members, who contribute almost half of the Naoussa area’s manufacturing to the vineyard. Its wine cellar is a veritable treasure trove. Among the many 40 labels they produce, 5 are Naoussa PDOs, demonstrating the area’s wealthy selection. Their freshest Naoussa is aged for six months within the barrel and 6 within the bottle. The cooperative exports to 40 international locations throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and America.

Dalamara Vineyard

The household vineyard was established in 1991, though written sources and tales from Kostis Dalamaras’ grandmother attest to the household’s business exercise as wine producers and retailers in Naoussa because the late nineteenth century. Persevering with the household winemaking custom, Kostis took over the household enterprise in 2010, after learning viticulture and oenology in Beaune and dealing in well-known vineyards in Burgundy, Catalonia, and Tarragona. This wealth of expertise in the manufacturing of nice pink wines is obvious in his personal Xinomavro.

In 2019, he drew the eye of high New York Occasions wine critic Eric Asimov because of the attractive tannins of his wines and was featured in an article that targeted solely on indigenous Greek varieties. And with good purpose. 13 years after his first official harvest as “captain” of the vineyard, he has produced wines that proceed to replicate his private type. He retains intervention to a minimal, admitting that a lot of the work is finished within the winery, the place he practices natural farming and fertilizes along with his personal compost. His Paliokalias, made with grapes from the realm’s prime winery, is a masterpiece.

Oenos Mittas

Yiannis Mittas doesn’t come from an agricultural background or household. His research as an agronomist in Florina led to an internship with the Vaeni Cooperative in 2016. On the finish of 2017, he bought his personal eighteen-acre winery on the hill of Paliokalias, producing some 1,000 bottles in 2019. Final 12 months’s classic produced 3,400 bottles, and this 12 months’s is predicted to yield twice as many. His scrumptious Xinomavro, grown organically with few components, is a pleasant new addition to the area’s collection of wines. 

Argatia Vineyard

“Argatia” means “cooperation” in Pontic, expressing the significance of the collective spirit. Dr. Haroula Spintharopoulou, an oenologist, and her husband, Panagiotis Georgiadis, based the vineyard in Rodohori, and have just lately handed over the reins to their youngsters. Oenologist Christoforos, together with Konstantinos Georgiadis and Theodora Dagalakou, produce round 15,000 bottles yearly. Six of the seven labels they bottle are Xinomavro-based. Their standout wines are the Naoussas, that are fashionable, peppery, well-structured, and have important ageing potential.

Taralas Vineyard 

What the daddy did as a interest, the son become a career. In 2006, the Taralas household established a vineyard in Fitia, and Christos now produces 50,000 bottles from the household’s personal natural vineyards, that are grown on a plot of land measuring roughly 70 acres. They use indigenous yeasts and need their Xinomavro to retain its identification.

Kappa Vineyard

Till 2019, Tasos labored as an government advisor. He took over the household vineyards along with his accomplice, Eleni, and constructed the vineyard in Aggelohori Imathias in 2021. Right now, he manages 25 acres of vineyards planted with Xinomavro, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Assyrtiko, and Malagousia. The X/Loco tastes as loopy because it sounds, whereas the Kokkymelo 2021 is a Xinomavro with strawberry and pink fruit flavors, earthy aromas, and delicate barrel notes. That is the one label we tasted outdoors the PDO zone, because the vineyard is virtually adjoining to the area and a few of its vineyards are situated inside it.

Markovitis Vineyard

Markos Markovitis carries on his father’s and grandfather’s legacy in the midst of nowhere. The winemaker and viticulturist took a threat when he determined to replant the 120-acre household winery with solely Xinomavro after finishing his research in Germany. His “much less is extra” philosophy – he produces solely two labels and 80,000 bottles – yields spectacular outcomes. His wines are expressive, and discerning customers will acknowledge in them the hand of a really expert winemaker.

Klonas Vineyard

Scattered throughout a hill in Vermio, the vineyards of Klonas Vineyard are situated within the middle of the PDO zone. Their wines benefit from Paliokalias’ excellent terroir, highlighting the Xinomavro and white Preknadi grape varieties, whereas concurrently exploring the winemaking potential of different varieties similar to Syrah, Merlot, Assyrtiko, and Malagousia. They bottle six wines, together with a particularly limited-production Naoussa PDO, which is maybe probably the most elusive wine in its class.

Lousis Vineyards

In 1981, the Lousis household from Thessaloniki acquired its first vineyards on the outskirts of Vermio, at an altitude of 280 meters. Right now, George Lousis produces three labels from the organically grown winery: a Retsina, a white Vidiano and Roditis mix, and a conventional Xinomavro, in portions of 6,000-7,000 bottles.