Achaia Clauss

Located in Patras, this is the oldest winery in Greece and was founded in 1859 by Bavarian nobleman Gustav Clauss. The key to Clauss' success was a local cultivar, Mavrodaphni, a transplant from the Ionian islands. For some centuries before the arrival of Clauss, the black currant had come to dominate the local agricultural landscape. Using the Mavrodaphni, Clauss re-established the wine grape as a viable regional crop (though the currant grape eventually found its way into both the winery's recipe and the eventual laws governing the appellation). With a northern European sweet wine aesthetic, an Iberian approach to vinification and a grape by nature low-producing, Clauss created a fortified wine of deep red colour that was transformed slowly through controlled oxidation into a heavenly caramel nectar. The remarkable suitability of each element in his design well justifies his legendary posture.

Though its core products reside in a virtual lock box, today Achaia Clauss is a machine with a 20,000 unit-per-hour bottling capability, annual production of twenty-five million bottles and exports to nearly forty countries. Its portfolio consists of a staggering seventy labels, running the gamut from bulk-quality products to emerging boutique styles to rare Mavrodaphni that is released from the winery's "Imperial Cellar" for only the most compelling clients and events.

This huge cellar contains casks from every vintage, each dedicated to a head of state or visiting dignitary. The tradition began with the unexpected arrival of the Empress Elizabeth of Austria at the estate in 1885 and led to a steady stream of visitations from Greek and foreign magnates, politicos and royalty. The estate's guest book includes such luminaries as Franz Liszt, Eugene O'Neill, Field Marshal Montgomery, Neil Armstrong, Margaret Thatcher, and Valery Giscard d'Estaing. The cask holding the first vintage is adorned only with the number 601, denoting the page number of the notebook on which the original Mavrodafni recipe was written. The two casks containing 1882 are considered the creme de la creme, topped off annually to the point where the wine has reached a stabile equilibrium. The value of the cellar is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

After the death of Gustrav Clauss in 1908, the winery has passed few many hands and is now controlled by Nikos Karapanos. The goal of the present ownership is to preserve its historic labels and maintain its important production of domestic-oriented products but also develop modern products of more international appeal.

Creta Olympias

Creta Olympias Winery S.A. was established in 1973 at the settlement of Kounavi in the Nikos Kazantzakis municipality of Heraklion/Crete. In the beginning, the winery was mainly focused on the exportation of fresh grapes and bulk wine, while had successfully launched two V.Q.P.R.D. Peza wines, XEROLITHIA and CAVA D’ ORO, both in the domestic and the international markets.

2005 turns out to be Creta Olympias’ milestone due to its 100% acquisition by D. Kontominas’ Group of companies. This change in ownership has brought new inspiration to the company’s philosophy and its activities, by entering into a new phase of dynamic reorganization aiming to position Creta Olympias Winery among the leading producers in the Greek wine industry.

While still maintaining respect for history and tradition yet keeping a watchful eye on international developments and advances in the world of wine, Creta Olympias’ over-riding philosophy and principal concern has been to turn the spotlight on Cretan grape varieties, both white and red, and to take full advantage of the island’s vineyard potential.

Creta Olympias S.A. is today the most dynamic winery in Crete engaged in the production of high quality wines. A major investment program has resulted in the “transformation” of the company’s winemaking equipment, its building installations and the surrounding area into an integral unit that is both functional and pleasing to the eye. The winery is open to the public and visitors can tour the production facilities and underground cellars. They can also enjoy audiovisual projections in the tasting hall on which the island’s history is depicted from the ancient times till today. During the tour, visitors can learn about winemaking and the secrets of wine tasting. They can also purchase wines, books and wine accessories, enjoy local wines & Cretan delicacies.

Moreover, significant investments are in process aiming in the modernization of the winery’s bottling facilities and the expanding of the visiting area with the creation of a state-of-art convention hall. As a part of the company’s long-term strategy to develop & improve the cultivation & vinification procedures as well as the expansion of its presence in other viticultural regions of Greece, Creta Olympias is also participating in European Certification Programs such as Agro 2.1-2.2 and Eurepgap.

The know-how & expertise of the Oenologists and Agriculturists Team combined with the modern technological equipment constitute one of Creta Olympias’ most important assets and result in the production of high quality wines made of indigenous Cretan grape varieties, which enjoy numerous Distinctions & Awards in the most prestigious International Wine Competitions.

www.cretaolympias.gr

Evharis

By combining their names, Eva and Harry, came up with the name EVHARIS. The word 'evharis' in Greek is used to describe a person friendly and pleasant to other people.

Two leading figures from the business world, Eva-Maria Boehme and Harry Antoniou, relying on the traditional values of Greece's wine-making culture, turned their life-long dream into reality by creating a heavenly vineyard and a state-of-the-art winery on the slopes of the Gerania Mountains, just a few kilometres from Athens.
In a landscape dotted with the abandoned remains of traditional wine presses, Eva and Harry converted the old vineyards into modern linear ones.

The soil, rich in calcium and trace elements, is the raised bed of what was once a fresh water lake, which neighboured the sea. The microclimate of mild winters and cool summers, creates an ecosystem ideal for the cultivation of the vineyard.

The estate's treasure is found in the eight varieties cultivated across the 22-hectare well-tented vineyard offered by the soft hillsides. The vineyard spreads facing the north, enabling the wind to pass amongst the plants and ensuring that the grapes breathe properly, they are properly ventilated, keeping at bay excessive humidity.

Next to the old stone winepress, they have created a state-of-the-art winery. The winery is outfitted with presses, refrigerators, barrels and a bottling facility, which all together, serve the grape and the wine. The spotless stainless steel containers ensure the proper hygienic conditions and thermal control of the fermentation, while the wines mature in the air-conditioned underground cellars with brand-new oaken barrels from France without being aged by time- but to the contrary, being improved. A large area of the winery is devoted to the hosting of wine-tasting events and seminars on wine, its history and culture. It is, therefore, not by chance that, in light of all this, Evharis wines belong to the category of Regional Wine of Gerania and receive awards in Greek and international wine contests.

Dougos

Dimitrios Dougos, a vine nursery owner in profession, initially started wine making as an amateur, driven by his passion for vineyards in 1983. He travelled extensively in V.Q.P.R.D areas and bought the best quality grapes, which he then used to make wine for his own use and that of friends. However, in a small town such as Larissa, good news travels fast. As a result, more and more wine lovers came to taste and eventually bought his exquisite wines.

This great response on behalf of the people, who pretty soon reached far out of the city limits, led him in 1992 to the foundation of a firm, the acquisition and cultivation of private
vineyards and the construction of small traditional winery for the production of bottled wine. The administration of the firm has now passed to the family's son, Thanos, an agriculturist, and his sister, Louisa, a chemist and currently studying to become an enologist.

The vineyards cultivate the Greek varieties; Xinomavro, Krassato, Rapsanis, Stavroto, Limnio, Roditis, Badiki, Ssyrtiko. Also grown are the French Chardonnay, Merlot sirah,Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and Grenach rouge.

Gavalas

Santorini is the jewel among the group of islands of Cyclades. The soil of Santorini has calcareous origin and is covered by ashes, scoria, lava and pumice-stone. The rains on the island are few and winds very strong. Consequently there are small vineyards producing excellent quality wine.

The wine industry Gavalas deals exclusively with the section of wine of Santorini since the end of the 19th century. The first two decades of the 20th century our wine, which is produced in our private vineyards, was largely exported to Alexandria of Egypt, while during the 1930's it entered into Greek market. It was carried by mules in wine-skins and was transported from the town of Santorini to the bay of Fira where it was decanted in barrels of 600 kilos, which were called bombos and in small boats (caiques) it reached its destination.

Since 1998 we have been bottling the wines of "Gavalas vineyard" in our modern wine factory in Megalohori of Santorini. George Gavalas, owner and third-generation winemaker, is personally responsible for the quality and making of the wine.

Boutaris

The company I. Boutaris & Son SA, founded by Ioannis Boutaris in 1879, launched its career with a wine so successful that it was to become a legend in the history of Greek wine: Naoussa Boutari - a bottled Greek red wine, one of the first of its kind at that time on the Greek market and a remarkably bold undertaking. The public appreciated the quality and novelty of the company’s product and received it warmly. Naoussa Boutari rightfully acquired the title of ‘king’ of Greek wines - a worthy forerunner in the long line of other fine wines the company would go on to produce.

In 1906 the company acquired its first winery and cellars, at 35 Zafeiraki St. These premises have been restored and declared a listed building.

Company headquarters had already been established in Thessaloniki, at 75 Solomou St. In 1935 Stelios Boutaris, took over from his father Ioannis, bringing youthful energy and new ideas to the already well- established business. His vision for the company extended beyond the frontiers of Greece and Boutaris wines now began to make their way into foreign markets (Austria, Hungary and Egypt were among the first) where the original Naoussa Boutari, as well as the company’s newer products were appreciated and enjoyed. Stelios Boutaris left an indelible stamp on Greek winemaking in the post-war period: he extended the company’s activities to Athens and to many European countries. He opened the company’s second winery in Naoussa, at 2 Vryssakiou St. Born into a family dedicated to the business of wine production, he was also gifted with brilliant commercial acumen and ideas often far in advance of his time. It was Stelios Boutaris who made the company the undisputed leader in the Greek market, its products known the length and breadth of the country.

In the late 1960"s his two sons, Yannis and Konstantinos Boutaris, took over the reins, building on the achievements of their father and grandfather to expand and develop the company even further. This was the time when the Naoussa vineyards were menaced by the disease phylloxera. Determined to treat the danger as a challenge, the two brothers decided that the company should embark on the cultivation of its own vines - a great turning point in the company’s history, second only to the original decision to bottle the Boutaris wines. Turning once again to innovation and development, the company now entered on a period of great investment, purchasing its own vineyards and equipment and investing in a properly trained and skilled workforce.

The year 1967 saw the opening of the Boutaris Winery at Stenimachos, Naoussa, still the heart of the company’s wine production. It was around this time, too, that the necessary framework was put in place for the production of Greek VDQS wines.

The Boutaris company was the first to establish vineyards dedicated to the production of Vins De Qualite Superieure, paying particular attention to the cultivation of Greek varieties of grape. Thus the company’s viticultural activities extended to Goumenissa, Santorini, Paros, Nemea, Crete and Mantineia. At the same time it established the first wineries at the site of its own vineyards in selected vine-growing areas of Greece.

The Boutaris wineries are all provided with the latest in winemaking equipment. They play an active part not just in the viticultural life of their region, but also in its social, economic and cultural development. Moreover, the Boutaris company was the first to encourage the involvement of the general public in guided tours of the wineries, allowing visitors to watch the wine-making process, to see the cellars and vineyards and to watch multi-media shows dedicated to the world of wine thus making a visit to the winery a rich aesthetic and cultural experience.

During the 1980"s the Research and Development arm of the company eagerly followed international developments in the field, experimenting with the cultivation of foreign varieties of grape and producing limited editions of the new series known as Peiramatika Boutari - experimental wines.

This initiative was warmly received by the consumer and led to the production in larger quantities of the more successful of the experimental series of wines. These, known as the Poikiliaka, are a superb combination of Greek and foreign varieties of grape. Meanwhile, the company’s investment in new wineries, vineyards and oenological research had established the necessary infrastructure and the company was ready to market wines from its own vines - the range known as Ktimata Boutari - the Boutaris Estates.

The company’s overall strategy for development led to the decision to branch out into other areas of the beverages market. For example:
• Collaboration with multi-national companies producing alcoholic beverages (United Distillers Boutaris 1989-1993).
• Purchase of a majority shareholding in the traditional wine and beverages company Andreas Kambas - one of the few Greek wine-producers actually older than the Boutaris company (1991).
• Expansion into the brewing market with the purchase of Henninger Hellas SA (now known as MYTHOS ZYTHOPOIIA SA). In 1997 the company launched a new brand of beer under the name MYTHOS - and indeed, it rapidly acquired the status of a myth among connoisseurs of fine beer (1992).
• The importing and exclusive marketing of products from top foreign wine and beverage producers - companies like Antinori from Italy, Montes from Chile and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin from France.
Today the Boutaris Winery is fully integrated into the Boutaris Group (a holding company listed on the Athens Stock Exchange). Following the departure of Yannis Boutaris, it is managed by Konstantinos Boutaris, Chairman of the company and of the Boutaris Group. Since 1995 the fifth generation of the family has taken its place in the business. Marina Boutari, daughter of Konstantinos is now playing an energetic role in the company as Director of Corporate Communication.

It was the quality, dynamism and prospects of the Boutaris company which, in 1999, played a key role in the decision of a group of institutional investors, led by the company Venture Capital GLOBAL FINANCE, to increase the share capital of the company - assisting it to continue its dynamic growth and development both here and abroad.

Reinforced by the personal vision of Constantine Boutaris - a staunch defender of the company’s traditions as well as the inspiration behind many of the most decisive and successful changes in the company’s history - the business continues to pursue ambitious goals, and the strategy adopted to attain these objectives is being fully vindicated by continuing success.

The objectives of international growth, high quality and innovation are attained through an approach which never ignores the human factor. It is this focusing on the human perspective which lies at the heart of the Boutaris company’s mission as it embarks on the challenge of the new millennium.

Cambas

The Cambas company is the oldest winemaking company in Attica. Its history began in 1869 when Andreas Cambas set up a small production unit for the making of brandy in Rigillis Street, Athens. It expanded at the turn of the last century creating new production facilities for wine and ouzo at Kantza, Attica. In 1920, a second company of the branch was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.

In June, 1991, the Boutari Group acquired a 67% stake in the Cambas company from its main shareholder at the time, the National Bank of Greece, and immediately set about the company’s revival. In 1997, the Boutari Group sold its share in the Athens Stock Exchange listed company "A. Cambas Ltd." To a group of investors, retaining the winemaking branch of the company and its logos. The winemaking company was named "Andreas Cambas Winemakers Ltd."

As of January, 2000, the production of "Andreas Cambas Winemakers Ltd." wines has taken place at the facilities of the Pikermi Winery and bottling is undertaken at the winery of "I. Boutaris & Son Winemakers Ltd." at Stenimacho, Naoussa.

"Andreas Cambas Winemakers Ltd." offers a wide range of wines, as well as the company’s historic brandy and Cambas ouzo. It produces 10 different types of wine, 4 kinds of brandy and the traditional Cambas ouzo.

Cambas products are well known and popular abroad. They are exported to 30 countries, with demand being particularly high in the USA, the UK, Belgium and Germany.

Biblia Chora

On the barren slopes of Mt Pangeon, at Kokkinohori near Kavala, the enologists Vasilis Tsaktsarlis and Vangelis Gerovasileiou have joined forces and combined their experience in wine production to set up a model vineyard covering 150 hectares.
The long viticultural tradition of the area has its roots in ancient times. Theoktitus and Michael Psellos referred to the region as Biblia Chora, whence the name of the estate.
The contours of Mt Pangeon, the cool breezes from the Strymonic Gulf and the flinty soil of the region all provide ideal conditions for cultivation of the vine.

The grape varieties which have been planted are the Greek Asyrtiko and Agiorgitiko and the foreign Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillion, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are all grown in compliance with the established standards fon the organic viticulture.

Work began on construction of the winery in June 2001 and is expected to be completed in the next few months.

The winery and vineyards of the estate lie at an altitude of 350m above sea level and at a distance of only 110 Km from the city of Thessaloniki. Setting off from the beautiful Thessaloniki we head north towards Kavala. On reaching Strimonas River, and just over the bridge, we turn left taking the old national road. The Biblia Chora Estate is located a short fifteen kilometres away, on the outskirts of Kokkinohori at the foot of Mount Pangeo.

INO S.A.

INO was founded in 2001, and is the natural continuation of the Association of Thebes, the local association of winegrowers, which had been producing wine from the early 1960’s. Staged in Thebes, constitutes the corporate cooperation of EVOIKI S.A. and the co-operative organisation of winegrowers of Thebes.
The foundation of INO contributed in:

-The rescue of a historical co-operative organisation,
-The upgrade and utilization of her facilities,
-The ensuring of the winegrowers’ support
-The preservation and the support of the region’s employment.

INO constitutes an exemplary enologic centre that develops winning over an important place in the Greek winemaking industry. The new dimension in the collaboration of private enterprising initiative and co-operative organisation, innovating and pioneering for Greece’s standards, constitutes a combination completely harmonised with the modern conditions of economic activity’s and competition’s growth.
INO today is the most rapidly developing wine industry in Greece, with a development that exceeded 100% annually (CAGR) in her first three years of operation, offering more than 87 different products not only in the market of Greece but also in those of Europe, Asia, America and Australia.


The evolution

INO was founded in July 2001. From that day until today she has succeeded the goals she had set:
-New products were planned and successfully placed in the market aiming at its part with the biggest consumption, combining premium quality with large production. In this category lie retsina Yortassi and the INOpoiimata wineboxes. The technological excellence of INO’s facilities and the overall production planning, provide a vintage superiority in INO’s products, a superiority that is rewarded by the consumers.
-Already existing products in the category of bottled wines were upgraded.
-With the help of a collaborators’ network, INO created a sales’ network that does not only cover Greece from one end to another but also the most significant markets abroad.
-INO and her main products were made known and recognizable to all consumers through a big advertising campaign in TV.
-INO updated and supplemented the facilities and the equipment of the winery and continues to do so in order to keep up with the needs of her development’s program.
-INO recreated the relations that were based on confidence and trust between INO and the region’s winegrowers.
The foundation and the development of the company rescued a historic co-operative organization, utilized its facilities, ensured the support of the viticulturists and strengthened the region’s employment.
INO S.A. and EVOIKI S.A.
INO as a member of EVOIKI, that is the main shareholder, exploits the advantages that this relation provides her. EVOIKI S.A. is a dynamic company in the wine sector that has demonstrated high productivity and exploited new pioneering fronts. In the thirteen years of her activity she showed her faith that the enterprising activity should not be static but should constantly extend the horizons of the economic and productive action. Thus, she developed new products that can be produced by grape, such as Concentrated Refined Must and Grapes’ Juice. EVOIKI has ultramodern and large capacity facilities of wine production and produces large quantities of qualitatively excellent wines. The close collaboration of JNO with EVOIKI ensures to JNO unlimited possibilities of growth, through the exploitation of her technological infrastructure and her experience.

Tsantalis

The Tsantalis Company traces its roots to late-nineteenth-century Thraki, where the family first began its production of wine and spirits. The company's founder, Evangelos Tsantalis, was born in Siderohóri, Thraki in 1913. The wave of political upheaval that engulfed the region during the first half of the twentieth century caused the migration of the family first to Kavala, then Seres, then finally to Thessaloniki. In 1945, Evangelos Tsantalis opened a commercial distillery that came to be a major supplier of ouzo to the Greek market.