Wines
Our wines have their own stories to tell. Stories about tradition and good taste.
The Lost Wine of Malvasia
Back in the Middle Ages, the Venetian merchants loved trading this Malvasia wine so much, that merchant wine shops in Venice were known as malvasie. Even today, there are more than enough wineries producing their own Malvasia varieties.
But where did this famous wine come from?
Malvasia is the Italian name for Monemvasia, a Byzantine fortress and -back then- an important trading hub. It was here where Monemvasian or Malvasian wine was first produced, dating even before the 13th century.
The Malvasian wine kept being produced in Monemvasia up until the Ottoman rule in the 16th century. The vineyards were destroyed, resulting in a cease of production.
The precise method of how the Monemvasian wine was made, was lost.
Recreating the Monemvasia-Malvasia wine
While the method was lost, its traces remained.
Using modern technology as well as historical evidence, the Monemvasia Winery Tsimbidi was determined to recover the secrets of its creation, and bring it back.
12 years of research
It took investigating and experimenting with 14 local grape varieties, and different methods of production.
The results however made the effort worth it. In 2010, the Monemvasia-Malvasia wine was recognized as a PDO product.
Today, the wine has claimed over 60 medals and distinctions in international competitions, along with Monemvasia Winery’s other award-winning wines.
Recreating the Monemvasia-Malvasia wine
While the method was lost, its traces remained.
Using modern technology as well as historical evidence, the Monemvasia Winery Tsimbidi was determined to recover the secrets of its creation, and bring it back.
12 years of research
It took investigating and experimenting with 14 local grape varieties, and different methods of production.
The results however made the effort worth it. In 2010, the Monemvasia-Malvasia wine was recognized as a PDO product.
Today, the wine has claimed over 60 medals and distinctions in international competitions, along with Monemvasia Winery’s other award-winning wines.
Wines from the Holy Mountain
Aſter the fall of the Roman Empire, viticulture went through a period of decline -in some areas it was even abandoned altogether.
Clerics and monks played an important role in saving wine-making since they needed the wine for ceremonial purposes. In the Byzantine Empire, the monks took over the cultivation of the vines and the production of wine.
Wines from the Holy Mountain
Aſter the fall of the Roman Empire, viticulture went through a period of decline -in some areas it was even abandoned altogether.
Clerics and monks played an important role in saving wine-making since they needed the wine for ceremonial purposes. In the Byzantine Empire, the monks took over the cultivation of the vines and the production of wine.
Traditional, Pure, and Organic
The outstanding micro-climate of the Athos peninsula is of great assistance to the monks, since it is protected against industrial pollution and any type of human intervention. It also offers ideal soil conditions for the production of high-quality wines with a unique flavor.
The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi has vineyards cultivated with organic methods that have been awarded the DIO Organic Products certification, as well as a state-of-the-art winery, a separate distillery, and a tasting room.
The well-preserved old wooden tanks (paravoutes) and the barrels next to the modern winery facilities of the monastery remind us of Vatopaidi’s Wine tradition. The cultivation and harvest of the grapes, wine-making, and the aging process, take place with the utmost respect for the Monastic and ancient Greek tradition, a wonderful giſt of the holy land of Athos.
