Aegialia Vineyard

The vineyard of Egialia is one of the most beautiful vineyards in Greece, the only ones - with those of Samos - that have a northern orientation and face the sea. In fact, according to the great lady of Greek wine Stavroula Kourakou, it is one of the most interesting viticultural zones in the world.

Developed on the gentle northern slopes of the mountains Panachaikon, Klokos and Helmos of Achaia, they receive the cool sea winds of the Corinthian Gulf, in the summer heat, while the mountains themselves protect them from the hot and humid winds of the South. They are located at altitudes from 250 to 850m. (mountainous and semi-mountainous vineyards), while the soils vary, from white limestone to fertile sandy loam, but with good drainage. The mild climate is also due to the abundance of ravines, with rich natural vegetation and small torrents that flow into the sea. The vineyard of Egialia has 50.000 acres of which 40.000 are raisins, 9.000 rhodites and another 1.000 acres of various other varieties.

The reddish variety Roditis is one of the oldest indigenous varieties, which can be proud of its uniqueness.

Although the variety is cultivated in many parts of Greece, often with other names, such as Rogditis (Chania), Violento (Zakynthos - Ilia), Kanelato (Megara), in Central Greece (Boeotia, Evia etc.) and in smaller degree in Thessaly, the largest concentrations of Roditi are located in the Peloponnese, Thessaloniki and Halkidiki.

Angelos Rouvalis speaks to us, the man who gave the impetus to her Roditis in the 1990s Aegialia.

"Roditis has been misunderstood in recent decades. In recent years, the nurseries have indiscriminately supplied the Greek vineyard - which was obligatorily renewed due to phylloxera - with the most productive green Roditis, which gives very high yields, but moderate wines. There are Rodites who give 4.000 kilos per acre, while ours do not exceed 800 kilos.

Roditis of Egialia gives wines of high demands. It combines a rich body with sufficient acidity, withstands time and has a great aging ability. Aromatic, without being excessive, like many aromatic varieties, it has fruity complex aromas, food friendly. That is why it is primarily a food wine that goes well with a large number of dishes (salads, oily, legumes, pasta, fish, white meats). It is impressive that abroad its taste is appreciated much more than here. The best results are given by Roditis at an altitude of over 300-400 meters ".

The wineries of Egialia that make Roditis, but also other local varieties, such as Lagorthi, Sideritis, Mavro Kalavritino and other foreign ones, are the following: OinoforosThe PurchaseThe CavinoThe Achaea WineryThe Tetramythos and Karanikola.