A great discovery in Greece (for male #winelover-s only): Mount Athos vineyards

Last month I had the opportunity to visit Greece for the first time. Ted Lelekas (a good friend and fellow #winelover from Greece) organized a trip for a few male* #winelovers and we were able to visit Mount Athos. Not only the place is truly amazing, but also the wines being made at the Saint Panteleimon cloister by Tsantali are impressive.

The main varieties cultivated in their vineyards are: Athyri, Assyrtiko, Roditis, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Limnio, Syrah, Xinomavro, Cabernet sauvignon, and Grenache rouge.

The vineyards of the Metoxi (Domain) of Chromitsa, property of the St. Panteleimon monastery, extend across an area of 80 hectares and are cultivated by TSANTALI using organic methods. The benevolent climatic and geographic parameters enable organic farming without problems, as on the one hand the relatively dry climate and on the other hand the sandy soil and strict isolation of the vineyards from other cultivations offer an excellent basis for organic farming. The results are lower yields of grapes, which make for more concentrated, complex wines. 

In this blessed strip of land, in the midst of this immaculate ecosystem, the low yield per hectare, the careful choice of varieties that optimally accentuate the characteristics of the terroir. And the beautiful thing about it? It shows in the glass!

 

Do you want a wine that is fresh and delicious?  Their AGIORITIKOS ROSE is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Limnio. 

 Or do you prefer a wine that can age beautifully? Their METOXI CHROMITSA red is also a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Limnio. 

A little bit about the Tsantali winery history:

>>> Over a hundred years ago, the TSANTALI family began making wines and distilling ouzo and tsipouro in eastern Thrace.

>>> Evangelos Tsantalis founded the company out of deep respect for the beauty of the land and a strong commitment to quality. The spirit and tradition of nurturing the vines to yield the most precious grapes and of a proud winemaking heritage continued to evolve through the passage of time.

>>> Today, the third generation of the TSANTALI family shows the same dedication to the values of the founder, continuing to create exceptional wines and spirits and taking pride in their constant commitment to only the finest vineyards and winemaking skills.

#winelover tip: If you ever go, make sure you don't miss the sunset!

* This place is for "men only"! This piece of land (a peninsula in Macedonia, Greece) is a World Heritage Site and self-governed state in the Hellenic Republic, Athos is home to 20 stavropegial Eastern Orthodox monasteries under the direct jurisdiction of the patriarch of Constantinople.

 

To see more pictures of the visit you can visit our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/TheWineHub/390783022052

Cheers,
Luiz Alberto, #winelover

www.thewinehub.com
One of the  pillars of TheWineHub is Wine Tourism. Whether you are a wine maker, or a wine drinker, we all enjoy having discoveries... TheWineHub exists to help you with that.