Description

Gaia wines were founded in 1994 by agronomist Leon Karatsalos and oenologist Yiannis Paraskevopoulos. In 1996 they acquired their own vineyard and winery in the Koutsi region of Nemea. Their first wines were the Thalassitis from Santorini followed by the Notios (‘the southerner’) white, which quickly received wide acclaim in the Greek market. Gaia has expanded its range to include red wines based on the indigenous Greek variety Agiorgitiko.

“A deep red-black colour, complex aromatic profile, good structure and great volume. Without a doubt, under proper cellar conditions it continues to evolve into an even better and more highly structured wine for at least a decade. Someone should be patient with this wine, if he wants to discover its real personality.” – Gaia Website

Nemea 

Considered the crown jewel of the new wine industry in southern Greece. There is tremendous agreement that no matter what its potential may be elsewhere, the Agiorgitiko is perfectly adapted to Nemea. Especially to the middle of three zones of different elevations, the so-called ‘semi-mountainous’ zone, at elevations of between 450 and 650 metres, where the overlap of ideal conditions result in good fruit, acidity, body and colour.

Peloponnese

The most historic and diverse region of Greece. The North-Eastern corner around PDO Nemea makes red wines from Agiorgitiko. The higher altitude PDO Mantinia makes whites and sparkling from Moschofilero. There is also PDO Patras where four appellation wines are produced a dry white, two sweet whites and a fortified red.

Agiorgitiko

“St. George’s” A red variety that has traditionally been grown in the Nemea region of the Peloponnese, this can make claim to be Greece’s noblest. It is one of the more commercially important indigenous Greek varieties, and it can take on a large range of characteristics, from soft to very tannic, depending on factors in the growing and winemaking processes. Characteristically dark cherry coloured wine with wonderful bouquets of damson, and berry flavours on the palate. Agiorgitiko is one of the two widely-grown heat-resistant Greek wine-making grape varieties, the other being Xinomavro.