Style: Red Wine

Producer: Alpha Estate

Grapes: 50% Syrah & 50% Xinomavro

Where: PGI Florina, Amyndeon, Macedonia

Country: Greece

Taste: "Chocolate, ripe cherries, blueberries and hints of mint on the nose, followed by a full-bodied and juicy palate. Lovely creamy texture. 50% syrah and 50% xinomavro. Vegan." - JAMES SUCKLING

Certified Vegan

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Additional Info:

About the Wine: 

A blend of 50% Xinomavro and 50% Syrah from “Petres” (“Rocks”) and “Dromos” (“Road”) sub-region of the Amyndeon plateau.  Destemming, light crushing, cold soak – skin contact, alcoholic fermentation at gradual increase temperatures, maintenance of wine “sur lie” for seven months with regular stirring. Twelve months in Allie oak casks medium to light toast and twelve fifteen months in bottle.

Alpha Estate, founded in 1997 by renowned enologist Angelos Iatridis, is one of the most respected estates in all of northwestern Greece. Situated at very high altitude (600-700m ASL) in the sandy Amyndeon plateau, the estate’s vines deliver wines of vivid, punchy fruit and bright, crisp acidity, especially in the hands of Iatridis’ laser-precise farming and winemaking. Amyndeon is noted for its Xinomavro (and in fact is the only historical appellation for rosé in Greece), but Iatridis also excels with XMS (Xinomavro-Merlot-Syrah, Greece’s answer to ‘GSM’) red blends and, naturally, given the climate, whites. His Malagousia is a delight and his Sauvignon Blanc is the most sought-after in Greece, hands down. (Not surprising, given that his Bordeaux university thesis was written on it!)