DOMAINE COSTA LAZARIDI

Domaine Constantin Lazaridi with the distinctive title "Château Julia" was founded in the community of Adriani in Drama in 1992. It evolved from a small company of the Lazaridi family, which 25 years ago started producing small quantities of wine. The love and dedication to vine cultivation and wine, led to the decision to organise and expand this activity.

 

Starting with a small 10 hectare vineyard we cultivate today over 200 hectares with the nobles Greek and international varieties maintaining low yields to ensure the best possible quality of raw material.

 

Our winery covering 13.000 square metres, has to show the most modern equipment in wine making :fully equipped laboratories, pneumatic presses, stainless steel vinification and storage tanks with an electronic temperature control system, automatic bottling machines and all the necessary underground, air-conditioned cellars. We also have areas for the reception of visitors with the necessary audio and visual equipment for seminars and conferences up to 150 people.

 

The estate has 100 full time employees as well as several seasonal staff. We also co-operate with well known French University Professors in the area of vine cultivation and oenology who visit the estate and offer their council in their area of expertise.

 

Similar to the attention we pay to the quality of our wines is the attention we pay to the presentation of our bottles. Our labels are designed by a well known local artist Yannis Nanos. We also make sure that the rest of the packaging materials, from corks to cartons are the best there is.

 

The first bottles were marketed in 1992. Amethystos white, Amethystos Rose and Amethystos Red. Later two more wines were added to the Amethystos family, Amethystos Fume and an aged red, Amethystos Cava, which was followed by a new family of wines the Château Julia with five varietal wines (Chardonnay, Chardonnay Oak, Semillon, Asyrtiko and Merlot. The new addition is the Domaine Costa Lazaridi family with a dry and a sweet Viognier and a Syrah.

 

From the beginning we gave great emphasis on exports in order for our products to compete in the difficult international market. Beginning with Germany we now export to England, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic Romania and Spain as well as the United States, Japan, and Canada.

 

We take part in the most prestigious international exhibitions and competitions and overall we have won over 400 medals and commendations, many of which gold.

 

At the moment we are completing our new major investment in Kapandriti Attica, which will feature a winery, supplied by our 20 hectare vineyard in Marathon, as well as reception and conference facilities.

DOMAIN SPIROPOULOS

History

The Spiropoulos family has maintained close ties with vineyards and wine since the late 19th century. A witness to this relationship is the family's old winery, which is located just a few yards from the main installations in ancient Mantinia. It is estimated that this building was built around 1890 and one can notice two wine presses and underground tanks for the collection of the grape must.

The family has always owned vineyards. Of course, these vineyards provided wine only for the family and were not utilized for commercial activities. This changed, though, in the 1970s. It was then that Epaminondas Spiropoulos, guided more by his instinct and less by logic, evaluated the special conditions prevalent in the area of Mantinia for vineyard cultivation and, more importantly, realized how special the Moschofilero variety of grapes was, as well as its potential. Thus, he purchased land in the area of Artemisio of Mantinia and that is where he installed and cultivated one, if not the first, of the underpinned linear vineyards of Arcadia and Peloponnesus covering an area of approximately 12 stremata (approximately 3 acres). The vineyards grew and the family's production of grapes greatly exceeded their needs. As a logical result, the excess grapes were sold. This was, in essence, the first act that established Domaine Spiropoulos in its current form. Events followed a further course, bringing us to the middle of the '80s when the family then owned approximately 80 stremata (approx. 20 acres) of vineyards.

However, the value of Moschofilero had not yet been recognised. With very few exceptions, this variety of grape was sold at a very low price and was usually mixed with other varieties of white grapes from all parts of Greece for the improvement of plain table wines. That is when Epaminondas Spiropoulos decided, first on his own and then with his two brothers, to create Domaine Spiropoulos. Finally, the family's grapes would receive the recognition they deserved! Consequently, developments followed an upward trend and 22 years after the incorporation of the company, Domaine Spiropoulos is as we know it today. Solely a family enterprise with sales in Greece and countries in all corners of the world and, most importantly with a name in the world and the market of wine.

The Present

In its current form, the company has been incorporated since 1987 under the name ARKAS SA by the brothers Epaminondas Spiropoulos (dentist), Robertos Spiropoulos (electrical engineer, employee of OTE) and Yiannis Spiropoulos (teacher of mathematics). Since the late 1990s, the sons of Epaminondas and Robertos, Apostolos E. Spiropoulos and Apostolos R. Spiropoulos have also participated in the capital stock of the company. The vineyards of the estate are located in the center of Peloponnesus in the Mantinias plateau at an altitude of approximately 650 meters, as well as in the area of the ancient Nemea at an altitude of 400 meters. In total, more than 500 stremata (125 acres) are cultivated with varieties of grapes such as Moschofilero, Agiorgitiko, Lagorthi, Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, as well as other varieties. DOMAINE SPIROPOULOS has, at the moment, a basic production unit (winery) in the area of ancient Mantinia of the prefecture of Arcadia within the zone of OPAP of Mantinia, which is also the 'headquarters' and primary site of the company. In September of 2007, the new winery of the Domaine began operating in the area of ancient Nemea, prefecture of Corinthia, in the zone of OPAP of Nemea on a privately owned tract of land belonging to the company which covers an area of 100 stremata (approx. 25 acres). The first phase of operations, concerning two buildings for production, maturation and storage, as well as smaller areas for wine tasting and customer service, is 100% complete. The construction of the third building for administration purposes, but mainly for areas to provide services to visitors to Domaine Spiropoulos, has been planned for the near future.

All facilities and operations of Domaine Spiropoulos have been awarded certifications in accordance with ISO 9002 between 2000 and 2003, ISO 9001, ISO 22000 (HACCP) and ISO 14001 since December of 2006. Since 1993, all vineyards of the company have been certified by the Organization of Control and Certification of Biological Products (DIO) (organic cultivation in accordance with regulation 2092/92 of the EU) and since 2003, they have been certified by BIO-SUISS with the standards DELINAT, which are privately established and very strict and determine not only strict standards for organic cultivation of vineyards (much stricter than regulation 2092/92), but also very strict standards for all phases of production in the winery, from the use of raw materials up to the use of detergents, etc. Also, Domaine Spiropoulos has been entitled to use the BIO marking of the German Department of Agriculture for all its organic products since 2004. Currently, Domaine Spiropoulos is in the process of certification by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to the American standards of organic cultivation and wine making.

From all the above, the commitment of Domaine Spiropoulos to the protection of the environment is more than obvious. Other elements supporting this fact are:

• The recycling of paper, glass and plastic, which takes place in the production areas at the expense of the company itself (since there are no recycling programs in the nearby cities).
• Provision for the collection and utilization of rainwater at the new unit in ancient Nemea, etc.
• Etc.

Domaine Spiropoulos also places great emphasis on the utilization of technology and innovation in all aspects of its activities. Some examples are:

• The importation of special vineyard equipment from other countries during the '80s and '90s, when such equipment was not available in Greece.
• The utilization of cutting edge equipment in all phases of production, which is also reconfigured and renewed each year with significant investments.
• A small but modern laboratory for quality assurance.
• The purchase of the ERP system in 2004, which includes all activities of the company, from the vineyard itself up to sales, in full harmonization and conformity with all ISO systems.

The permanent staff of the Domaine includes 18 employees, of which 7 hold higher education degrees, 2 of which hold degrees from technical schools and Professional Education Centers (IEK) and the rest are high school and lyceum graduates. These 15 employees do not include members of the Spiropoulos family who participate in the operations of the company. It is noteworthy that to this day, no employee has been terminated and only 4 employees have resigned for personal reasons (relocation, positions in the public sector, etc.). The senior employee of the company was also the first to be hired when the company was incorporated in 1987.

As far as sales, great emphasis is strategically placed on the international markets and as a result, 25-30% of the sales of the Domaine take place in more than 10 foreign countries, in Europe, Asia and North America. As far as the Greek market, Domaine Spiropoulos entered into a strategic cooperation with the company V. S. Karoulias in 2005 for the exclusive distribution of its products throughout Greece. Domaine Spiropoulos strives for and is highly active in the area of research, although no separate R & D department exists due to the small size of the company. Thus, the company participates in research programs with the Agricultural University of Athens, the Organization of Control and Certification of Biological Products (DIO) and the National Research Institute in programs funded by the EU or the General Secretariat for Research and Technology. In recent years, Domaine Spiropoulos has made 5 original announcements at 5 different international scientific conventions (Turkey, Italy, Greece, etc.) and during the period from 2007-2008, two of its publications were accepted in accredited scientific magazines of international reputation and prestige.

Since its incorporation, the company has participated, and still actively participates, in organizations and unions of its industry that participate in the shaping and modification of policies and strategies for the sector of wine in Greece and abroad (Greek Wine Federation ΣΕΟ), Inter-Professional Organization for Vineyards & Wine (ΕΔΟΑΟ), Association of Wine Makers of Peloponnesus (ΕΝΟΑΠ), Association of Wine Makers and Vineyard Owners of Nemea (ΕΝΟΑΝ), Association of Organic Farmers, etc).

Finally, Domaine Spiropoulos participates, with a percentage of 30%, in the capital stock of the company of organic dairy products ECOFARM OF PELOPONNESUS SA.

Vision

Our vision is for Domaine Spiropoulos to be the most successful and well-known boutique winery of Peloponnesus, in Greece and abroad, and that it becomes a model for the industrial food production units in Greece and Europe.

Our values include:

• Honesty and integrity
• Passion and creativity in all expressions of our work, as well as our lives
• Absolute respect and protection for the environment
• Innovation.

more in : www.domainspiropoulos.com

ΚΤΗΜΑ ΑΛΦΑ

Το οινοποιείο της ΚΤΗΜΑ ΑΛΦΑ βρίσκεται σε άμεση γειτνίαση με τον ιδιόκτητο αμπελώνα του κτήματος. Γεγονός που σημαίνει ότι η μεταφορά του τρυγητού είναι χρονικά η συντομότερη δυνατή. Αυτό σε συνδυασμό με την εφαρμογή ψύξης κατά την μεταφορά του και με την διεξαγωγή του στις δροσερές ώρες της ημέρας υποδεικνύει τον απόλυτο σεβασμό και προστασία των οργανοληπτικών χαρακτηριστικών του κρασοστάφυλου.

Η κατασκευή του οινοποιείου εκμεταλλεύεται την βαρύτητα έτσι ώστε καθ' όλη την οινοποιητική διαδικασία υπάρχει η ελάχιστη δυνατή επιβάρυνση της α' ύλης. Τα υλικά που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την κατασκευή του είναι ιδιαίτερα αδρανή και ουδέτερα έτσι ώστε να διασφαλίζουν απόλυτα ουδέτερη ατμόσφαιρα στον εσωτερικό χώρο του οινοποιείου, λειτουργώντας προστατευτικά για την ποιότητα του σταφυλιού, του γλεύκους και του οίνου. Η διαχείριση του οινοποιείου απλουστεύεται με την εφαρμογή και λειτουργία ολοκληρωμένης διαχείρισης (building management system) τόσο σε επίπεδο οινοποιητικής διαδικασίας όσο και σε επίπεδο μηχανικών και μηχανολογικών λειτουργιών μέσα αλλά και από απόσταση από το οινοποιείο. Μεγάλο μέρος του βασικού εξοπλισμού μπορεί και ελέγχεται η ορθή λειτουργία τους από την κατασκευάστρια μέσω εγκατεστημένων modem.
Ο οινοποιητικός εξοπλισμός που έχει εγκατασταθεί ικανοποιεί την φιλοσοφία του οινοποιού: ΑΠΟΛΥΤΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΜΟΣ ΣΤΟ ΟΙΚΟΣΥΣΤΗΜΑ, ΣΤΟΝ ΑΜΠΕΛΟΥΡΓΟ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΝ ΟΙΝΟΦΙΛΟ.

Αλλά ο σημαντικότερος και σπουδαιότερος χώρος του οινοποιείου είναι η υπόγεια κάβα, η οποία φιλοξενεί σε ιδανικές συνθήκες καθ' όλη την διάρκεια του χρόνου τα δρύινα βαρέλια όπου παλαιώνει το κρασί του κτήματος.  Υπάρχει ειδικά σχεδιασμένη διαδρομή για τον επισκέπτη του οινοποιείου, έτσι ώστε να μπορεί να ξεναγηθεί στις υπόγειες κάβες του κτήματος χωρίς να αναταράσσει την ησυχία των κρασιών μέσα στα βαρέλια. Περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες όμως μπορείτε να ανακαλύψετε εσείς οι ίδιοι στην προγραμματισμένη επίσκεψή σας στο κτήμα.

Τέλος η αίθουσα γευστικής δοκιμής αποτελεί τον χώρο όπου ολοκληρώνεται ο σχεδιασμός και αρχίζει η απόλαυση των προϊόντων του κτήματος. Συνεπικουρείται από μία αίθουσα θεματικών παρουσιάσεων και μία αίθουσα-πωλητήριο κρασιών βιβλίων και μικρών αντικειμένων που σχετίζονται με το κρασί.

Μια επίσκεψη στα αμπελοτόπια του Αμύνταιου θα σας ανταμείψει.  more in
www.alpha-estate.com

ALPHA ESTATE winery is located at the neighboring to the privately owned vineyards of the viticulture exploitation. That means that transport of the grapes from the vineyard to the winery during harvest is done at the shortest possible time. Close proximity, in combination with transport in special refrigerators and harvest at the coolest hours of the day underline the outmost respect and protection of the organoleptic characteristics of the wine grapes. 
Natural gravity, a concept applied from the design of the winery, is exploited throughout the winemaking process, with the minimum possible stress to the first material. All construction materials are highly inactive and neutral in order to secure absolute neutral atmosphere conditions inside the winery, protecting the quality of the grape, the must and the wine. 
Managing the winery is simplified by applying a totally integrated building management system at all levels, from the winery process to the machinery and mechanical functions both inside the winery and from distance, from any part of the world. Large part of the winery and its state of the art machinery of the latest available winemaking technology are monitored directly by the suppliers of this equipment on line, through modems, in order to secure optimum performance.
The winery equipment installed satisfies the winemakers philosophy: ABSOLUTE RESPECT TO THE ECOSYSTEM, THE VINEGROWER AND THE WINELOVER. 
But the most important and greater space of the winery is the underground cellar which houses at ideal and optimum conditions all through the year the oak casks were ALPHA ESTATE's wines are aged. A specially designed path has been designed and created for the winery visitor in order for him to be able to visit the underground cask cellar without disturbing the quietness of the wines ageing inside the casks. Details can of course be obtained at first hand with a prescheduled visit to the winery.
 Finally the tasting room consists the point were design ends and pleasure begins for ALPHA ESTATE wines. The tasting room is completed by a thematical presentation room and a shop, were not only ALPHA wines but books and wine related articles will be available. All three in the area of the underground oak casks cellar.

It is guaranteed that a visit to the vine growing area of Amyndeon will reward you .more in www.alpha-estate.com

Domaine Gerovassiliou

Domaine Gerovassiliou is the brainchild of Vangelis Gerovassiliou. In 1981, he started reviving the family vineyard that spreads over 2,5 hectares at Papamola region in Epanomi, 25km approx. to the south-east of the city of Thessaloniki. In this unique ecosystem, he planted mainly Greek, but also foreign grape varieties. The first vinification took place in 1986 at the modern winery that was built in the vineyard. All Domaine wines are produced from grapes cultivated in the private vineyard now stretching over 56 hectares.
Vangelis Gerovassiliou was born in Epanomi. He descends from an agricultural family. After completing his studies in the School of Agriculture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, he was specialised in Oenology, Viticulture, Wine Degustation and Technology of Oenological Equipment at the University of Bordeaux. During his studies, he worked together with the eminent Bordeaux University Professor, Emile Peynaud
From 1976 to the beginnings of 1999, he worked as an oenologist at Domaine Porto Carras, where some of the most renowned wines in Greece were produced. It was there that he first got involved in vinification, that he revived and rescued from oblivion the long forgotten Greek varietal of Malagousia, an attempt made feasible due to his personal efforts and valuable help from the top viticulturalist, Vassilis Logothetis.
In 1981, urged by his love, knowledge and experience in vine-growing and good wine, Vangelis Gerovassiliou started renovating the family vineyard and created the Domaine Gerovassiliou.
A few years ago, together with the oenologist, Vassilis Tsaktsarlis, he created the Estate Biblia Chora, in Kokkinochori of Kavala region. The 35 hectares private vineyard stretches over the slopes of Mount Pangaio and surrounds the modern winery, where the famous Domaine wines are produced.
His last venture is Escapades Wines. Not long ago, Vangelis Gerovassiliou, Vassilis Tsaktsarlis and wine marketer, Takis Soldatos, created a small winery, Escapade Winery, at Stellenbosch in South Africa.
Vangelis Gerovassiliou and his wife, Sonia Tziola -who is actively involved in Domaine Gerovassiliou- have imparted their love for wine and vine-growing both to their children and the Domaine's employees.
http://www.gerovassiliou.gr/en/domaine/history