Discover the unknown wine capital of old vines & award winning wines
A Day tour full of history, beautiful scenery and charismatic 3rd generation wine makers. Enjoy a day trip in the Athenian country side and taste award winning wines from the oldest vineyard in Europe, producing non stop quality wines for the last 3,000 years. Athens, is the 2nd European capital with such close proximity to wineries. The most popular wine variety planted is the ‘Savatiano’, with old vines 60+ years old. Varieties that we will taste include: Savatiano, Roditis, ‘retsina’, Assyrtiko and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Duration: 6 hours
Distance: 50 mins drive
Booking: 48 hours in advance
9.00am Meet your tour host and the private car/mini van at hotel and start tour. Approx. travel to the Attica Mesogeia wine region time is 40 minutes.
10.00am Arrival to the 1st winery. Tour of the facilities and wine tasting.
12 noon Continue to selected taverna for lunch.
13.30 Arrive on the 2nd winery. Visit the vineyards, taste their wines.
14.30pm Start journey back to Athens city center. Drop off to your hotel
Includes:
- English speaking Tour Host with wine knowledge
- Transportation with modern mini van and professional licensed driver
- Wine tastings in 2 wineries
- Lunch in traditional taverna
- Toll fees and Greek Vat tax
Not Included:
- Extra travelers insurance
- All personal expenses and shopping
This wine day trip can be combined with a guided visit of the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion or the Vravron sanctuary, with a licensed guide. Please ask for the rate.
Travel to the North of Attica will take a total of 7 hours and rates are slightly different.
Terms & Conditions apply
Considering joining?
Let’s talk about it!
Rate
150 euros per person (min. 6 travellers)
History of the region
Attica peninsula is a truly blessed land. Even from antiquity, ancient Athenians realized the strategic location, favorable climate and fertile earth and established the capital city of Athens, where great politicians, philosophers and artists lived. Athens was inhabited even from Neolithic times (2,600 BC), making Athens one of the oldest and greatest cities of the world.
Attica and Wine making
Attica is one of the oldest vineyards of Europe. Known to be systematically cultivated for wine making from ancient times, Athenians enjoyed drinking wine in “Symposia” and religious ceremonies. Homer and other great philosophers have documented the wine making process and the etiquette of wine consumption.
The Greek Independence – 1880
In more recent years, after the Ottoman occupation, some Greek businessmen realized the potential in viticulture in the Attica area. They brought equipment and personnel from France and started producing wines that soon exported in continental Europe, some labels even won awards in international competitions! Meanwhile, in the late 19th century, Athens population started to increase, creating a large market for wine consumption. The Greek Railway company, would commission specially designed wagons to carry grape must from Attica vineyards to the city center. The grape Must Wine-Day would turn into wine at the huge barrels of the local tavernas and small city wineries.
The ‘phylloxera’ vine disease and the 2 World Wars took a toll to the region’s wine making history.
Post WW2 – The Revival
In the early 1960, the Greek government starts replanting the Attica vineyards with international grape varieties and the local Savatiano variety.
In the 80’s, some young winemakers, educated in French wine schools, return to the homeland. Along with the knowledge, they bring much needed equipment and techniques. Together with their fathers and siblings, they lead the family wineries, gain international recognition and win prestigious awards for their wine making and their wines.
Recent Years
In 1990, we observe a return to the cultivation of indigenous grape varieties: Savatiano, Malagouzia, Roditis, Assyrtiko.
The Attica mild climate of short and mellow winters and long, sunny summers with the cooling sea breezes, make Attica an ideal wine making region. Most vineyards are bio certified. The use of pesticides is minimal, even unnecessary due to the perfect acclimatization of the indigenous grape varieties in the Attica soil and climate. Some vineyards feature 50 to 60 year old vines, with the youngest being 30 years old. Many wines in Attica are winning gold and silver medals in international wine competitions.
Wineries in the Attica Region
AOTON
(ΑΩΤΟΝ the ancient Greek word that defines the finest specimen of its class)
Stelios Gkinis is the oenologist and winemaker in this petite winery in the heart of the village Paiania. Built to the authentic local architectural style of the region, the winery is built to purposely produce high quality wines. The winery holds over three generations’ worth of experience, memories and traditions. Stelios winemaking has a clean, fresh take on the indigenous grape varieties, the Savatiano, Roditis and Mandilaria that he cultivates in the family vineyards. There are about ten hectares of vineyards cultivated, making their boutique production very sought after. His mastery in winemaking has caught the attention of many internationally acclaimed wine writers that sense his future will be very promising.
www.aoton.gr
MARKOU VINEYARDS
The family tradition in winemaking started some 150 years ago. Markou brothers, founded a modern winery in Paiania in 1983, continuing the family tradition. They cultivate ten hectares in Attica and ten in the Peloponnese. Most of the cultivation is biologically certified cultivation. Nowadays, the 4th generation has stepped up in continuing the family tradition with more innovative winemaking methods, while maintaining the family wisdom. They also have a small Wine Museum in their premises.
www.markouwines.gr
DOMAINE VASSILIOU
The story starts in 1905, when grandpa George Vassiliou made his first wine. Now in its 3rd generation, the winery is run by the Bordeaux educated grand son, George Vassiliou. The vineyards are situated in Koropi area, a total of 15 hectares. The winery prides in blending tradition with modern winemaking methods. Their portfolio includes zesty and crisp whites from Savatiano, Roditis and Assyrtiko grapes. In 2004, George acquired some vines in the Nemea region of the Peloponnese and started making high quality reds from the Agiorgitiko variety. Both wineries are open to visitors.
www.vassilioudomaine.gr
DOMAINE KOKOTOS
The vineyards are beautifully situated around the winery and main house of George and Anne Kokotos, in the slopes of Mount Skarpa, north of Attica, in the village of Stamata.
The first vines were planted in the early 80’s, mostly the international varieties of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The cultivation is biologically certified. The winery also makes Savatiano, Roditis and Assyrtiko. The grounds are open to visitors year round. They keep beehives in the vineyards and make their own honey.
www.ktimakokotou.gr
DOMAINE ROXANI MATSA
A historical vineyard and estate, located in the area of Kantza. It has been cultivated from the late 19th century, by Roxane’s great grandfather, the famous Alexander Cambas.
Roxane, a gifted woman with great determination against many misfortunes, managed to cultivate the family vines and produce award winning wines. She is well known for reviving the Malagouzia cultivation in Attica that started in 1994 and tutored many Attica winemakers how to treat the variety. She is affectionally referred to as ‘The Mother of Malagouzia”, a title she cherishes. She is found tending the vines and welcoming visitors in her historical estate.
www.boutari.gr
MILONAS
The Milonas ‘micro-winery’ is located in the area of Keratea. Their story starts in 1917, making wines in clay amphorae. Nowadays, the family owned winery is well in its 3rd generation, working on showcasing the Savatiano wines that age in clay amphorae. Their 12 hectare vineyards are in the surrounding area. The Milonas brothers produce award winning wines from low yield vineyards that average 50 years in age.
www.mylonas-wines.gr
GEORGA’S FAMILY
Dimitris Georgas and his family produce bio certified wines and grape products: juice, pulp, water and vinegar of the highest nutritional value and quality. Their life philosophy is respecting the land of their forefathers (4th generation) and experimenting in natural wine making methods. All their products are vegan and are awarded in internationally acclaimed food and beverage competitions. They family winery and vineyards are located in the area of Spata, very close to the airport. They also run an educational program that welcome schools from all over the country to introduce the students in bio cultivation.
Their products are stocked in bio supermarkets in Athens. They participate in weekly farmer’s markets around Athens.
www.geowines.gr
DOMAINE PAPAGIANNAKOS
The first BioClimatic winery in Greece, is located in Markopoulo area, in the heart of a beautiful vineyard. Their family tradition starts in 1919 with the first pressing of Vassilis, the grandfather. Today, the grandson with the same name, Vassilis along with his 2 daughters, continue their family legacy, creating elegant wines with respect to the land and their family history. Vassilis was one of the first winemakers in Attica that believed in the power of quality retsina and invested in re-introducing the famous wine of the region. They produce award winning Savatiano, Malagouzia, Assyrtiko, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Agiorgitiko. Vassilis shares graciously many stories from his grandfather and his father.
www.papagiannakos.gr
ALLAGIANNIS
Dimitris Alagiannis founded the winery in 1970. Together with his children he realised his dream and love for quality wine by producing high quality wines that continue to this day by his grandchildren. Situated in the Markopoulo area, the family has a beautiful wine tasting area open to visitors. Their award winning portfolio includes wines from Savatiano, Assyrtiko, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and dessert wines.
www.allagiannis.gr
ENOTRIA GI -Kostas Lazaridis
The Lazaridis family started this historical winery in the northern Greece region of Drama, in the early 80’s. Kostas was a pioneer and a visionary in modern Greek winemaking. In the early 2006, Kostas came to north Attica and created another iconic winery the Enotria Earth. A bio certified vineyard of some 20 hectares surround an impressive winery that features a wine museum, tasting rooms and vinegar ageing vaults. Many award winning wines, both whites and reds.
www.domaine-lazaridi.gr
NIKOLOU
IN 1875, the winery is founded by Vassilis Nikolou, in the center of the Koropi village. The family tradition of viticulture and winemaking continues to this day, with 5th generation winemakers that respect their family legacy and traditions. The winery is rebuilt and operated in the same premises, by Vassilis Nikolou junior, with more experimental winemaking methods that have led in the development of the award winning Retsina sparking wine called Botanical. They also produce the regional traditional dessert wine.
www.nikolouwinery.gr
GIKAS WINERY
Another family winery with a long history of winemaking of the Attica region. Their winery is located in the North part of Spata, near the airport. The vineyards have been transferred to a more cooler climate, on the slopes of mountain Kitherona, some 40 minutes away from Athens.
They produce award winning wines in the style of the region, with a twist: their retsina is made from the Assyrtiko variety and not from the usual Savatiano. Their portfolio includes Malagouzia, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon.
www.gikaswinery.gr/en