Producer: Alpha Estate
Wine region: Florina, Amyndeo
Colour: Red
Style: Dry
Grape: Xinomavro 55%, Montepulciano 45%
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol percentage: 14.6% vol
Closure: Cork
Unit Quantity: 750ml
Wine maker’s notes
Variety Composition: The wine maker’s choice. The best 17 barrels of each harvest were the winemaker selects to present the absolute expression and dynamic of the Amyndeon viticulture zone.
Region / Location / Vineyard: Amyndeon plateau. Amyndeon viticulture zone. North-western Macedonia. “Hedgehog” sub-region. 690m altitude, with northern exposure, facing Lake Petron and Mount Voras. 69ha of Linear, privately owned vineyard situated at an altitude of 620-710m.
Vinification Method & Ageing: Destemming, no crushing, cold soak – skin contact under controlled conditions, alcoholic fermentation at gradual increase temperatures, maintenance of wine “sur lie” for eight months with regular stirring. Thirty-six months in Allie – Bertrange at 200% (18+18) new oak casks medium toast. No treatment or filtration before bottling and eighteen months in bottles.
Tasting Characteristics: Fine, rich, intense. Some black fruit, spices, cassis. Quite complex, and very long. Develops in the mouth very well.
Harmony: Well paired with rich meat dishes, grilled or with rich sauces, cooked with vegetables, roots, and wine. Marinated game, with chestnuts and plums. Full body mature creamy cheeses with intense and full flavor.
Best served at 16-18ο C.
Tip: The shipping cost per bottle drops significantly the more bottles you buy. Join forces with friends and family to buy more bottles and bring the cost down.
Important notes:
-It is an offense to purchase or attempt to purchase alcoholic liquor if you are under the age of 18.
-The price includes safe packaging cost
About Alpha Estate
ALPHA Estate is located in the northwest part of Greece, the Amyndeon, Florina region. 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, chose the Amyndeon region to create his own wine.
About the vineyard
The privately-owned vineyard of the estate is situated on a plateau at an altitude of 620-710 m with a northwest exposure, covering a total area of 180 ha. The local climate is characterized by 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 existence of a mild semi-continental climate, favoring the cultivation of foreign and indigenous, red and white grape varieties. The sandy-clay texture of the soil, assuring ideal drainage of the rainwater, the favorable climatic conditions during maturation and harvest periods, and finally, the appropriate viticultural practices contribute to a complete fruit ripening thus offering the possibility of producing wines of exquisite quality and rich aromas. The density of the plantation is 3900 vines/ha and the yields do not exceed 4000 kg of grapes per hectare (250hl/ha). In order to avoid extreme water deficits during summer, “root zone drying irrigation” is applied to assure the optimum conditions for the maturation of grapes. As the vines became old enough (green harvest procedure was applied on the third and fourth year of each parcelle-variety) the grapes from the vineyard were used exclusively for the core blend of a typical Vin de Garde of VQPRD Amyndeon (ALPHA XINOMAVRO). Today, a popular blend of Syrah/Merlot with ungrafted Xinomavro is the estate’s red flagship (ALPHA ESTATE RED), while a classic barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc (ALPHA ESTATE WHITE) and several other wines of limited production (ALPHA SYRAH, ALPHA PINOT NOIR, ALPHA ONE, ΩMEGA) complete the estate’s varietal portfolio. The wedding of an ancient local variety with a noble international one arose not only by the demands of modern markets but also by the spirit of progress that distinguishes Angelos Iatridis’ winemaking. Alpha Estate’s vineyard consists of the following varieties: Xinomavro, Mavrodapnhe, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tannat, Montepulciano, Negro Amaro, Barbera, Malagouzia, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & Gewürztraminer.