Alpha Estate was founded in 1997 by the experienced viticulturist Makis Mavridis and chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis, who, after years of experience in various locations of Greece and abroad, chose the Amyndeon region to create his own wine.
The knowledge and love for winemaking was passed on to the next generation. Angeliki Iatridou and Emorfili Mavridou carry on the tradition today, aspiring to evolve, while participating in the team’s common vision.
Human factor is indispensable to the expression of all elements, gracefully offered by the unique ecosystem of the privately owned 220 ha vineyard in the production of our wines. Main feature of our work is the ‘’soul’’ of the people that contribute every day to this dream, with respect to nature, combined with high quality and deeply eco-friendly growing practices of sustainable viticulture and winemaking, based on the most recent international standards. Professional know-how, experience and the team’s effort, throughout all stages of production and promotion, are necessary conditions to the desirable result: wines sealed under the Alpha Estate label.
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.
The winery is designed in such a way to exploit gravity in the best possible way throughout the winemaking process, applying the minimum possible stress to the raw material. All construction materials are highly inactive and neutral in order to secure completely neutral atmospheric conditions inside the winery, protecting the quality of the grape, must and wine.
Managing the winery is simplified by applying a totally integrated Building Management System at all levels, from the winemaking process to the machinery and all mechanical functions, which can be monitored even remotely, from any part of the world. The winery establishment is based upon the winemaker’s philosophy: “Absolute respect to the Ecosystem, with human in the epicenter”.
One of the most important parts of the winery is the underground cellar, which houses the oak casks were Alpha Estate’s wines are aged, at ideal and optimum conditions throughout the year. A specially designed path has been created for the winery visitor in order for them to be able to visit the underground cellar without disturbing the wines ageing quietly in the barrels, while the experience of the visitor is completed with a wine tasting in specially designed rooms. It is guaranteed that a visit to the vine growing area of Amyndeon will reward you.
Managing the winery is simplified by applying a totally integrated Building Management System at all levels, from the winemaking process to the machinery and all mechanical functions, which can be monitored even remotely, from any part of the world. The winery establishment is based upon the winemaker’s philosophy: “Absolute respect to the Ecosystem, with human in the epicenter”.
One of the most important parts of the winery is the underground cellar, which houses the oak casks were Alpha Estate’s wines are aged, at ideal and optimum conditions throughout the year. A specially designed path has been created for the winery visitor in order for them to be able to visit the underground cellar without disturbing the wines ageing quietly in the barrels, while the experience of the visitor is completed with a wine tasting in specially designed rooms. It is guaranteed that a visit to the vine growing area of Amyndeon will reward you.
The privately owned vineyard of the Estate is situated in the heart of the viticultural zone of Amyndeon, on a plateau with an altitude of 620-710 m, covering a total area of 220 ha.
Vineyard topography shows a great homogeneity, with gentle slopes ranging from 5-15%, and its exposure is northwest. The local climate is characterized as semi-continental, with cold winters with sufficient rainfall and snow, which provide the vines with the necessary water supplies to endure the relatively dry summer. Additionally, two neighboring lakes contribute to the mild regulation of the weather extremes, which favors the cultivation of foreign and indigenous, red and white grape varieties. During the summer season, a high diurnal range is frequently observed (the difference in temperature between day and night), while the prevalence of northwesterly winds is very characteristic all year round.
The soils are of low fertility, sandy-clay loamy, with a relatively neutral pH and an ideal drainage of the rain water, and along with the appropriate viticultural practices they offer the favorable conditions for the production of wines with an intense and complex aroma, excellent finesse, good structure and balance. The limestone subsoil has accumulated traces of pre-existing lakes, which reflect in the minerality of the wines. Vineyards follow the VSP (Vertical Shoot Position) trellis system with planting densities 0,80 x 2,10 m, and they have been established upon the principles of sustainable viticulture to highlight the unique ecosystem of the Amyndeon viticultural zone. The density of plantation is 5900 vines/ha and the yields are always adapted to the balance of each plant (0.9-1.1 kg/plant).
Alpha Estate’s vineyard consists of international and greek varieties like Xinomavro, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tannat, Malagouzia, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer & Assyrtiko.
