A wine journey through the vineyards and winery of Alpha Estate — the estate that placed Amyndeon on the World Wine Map
There is a particular joy in tasting wine where it is born: walking between vineyard rows, touching the soil, feeling the wind that shapes the vines — and then discovering in the glass the purest imprint of that land. Wine tourism is more than a tasting; it is an initiation into the essence of terroir.
After an early flight from Athens and a drive from Thessaloniki’s airport, we arrived in Amyndeon, home to Ktima Alpha. Morning is the best time for tasting — before noon, when the palate is fresh and receptive. Excitement was palpable among our group: visiting this estate is considered almost a pilgrimage for wine lovers.
Location and Terroir
The estate’s modern, red-hued winery stands out against the lush plateau, next to Lake Petres and encircled by three mountain ranges: Vora (Kaimaktsalan), Vitsi, and Vermio. The setting is both beautiful and strategically ideal for viticulture. As export manager Kostas Arvanitakis explains, thousands of years ago this land was covered by Lake Ordea, leaving sandy soils with excellent drainage and natural resistance to phylloxera.
The microclimate is semi-continental — rare in Greece — with constant, cooling winds that reduce disease pressure and extend the ripening season. This slow, gradual maturation produces wines of high acidity, firm structure, and remarkable aging potential.
The People Behind the Estate
In 1997, seasoned viticulturist Makis Mavridis and cosmopolitan oenologist Angelos Iatridis, trained in Bordeaux, envisioned Ktima Alpha here. They built a state-of-the-art winery that today ranks among the jewels of Greek viticulture, and the second most visited in the country after Katogi Averoff in Epirus.
Their philosophy combines innovation with a “low intervention” ethos: Europe’s first underground irrigation system, satellite-assisted precision from two weather stations, research on nine different Xinomavro clones at Xino Nero. Sustainability is central, with solar panels, biodiversity in the vineyards, and certified vegan wines.
Signature Wines
The tour includes a stop at the estate’s oldest vineyard, where century-old Xinomavro vines yield exclusively the Xinomavro Reserve Old Vines label — now considered one of Greece’s finest wines abroad.
The experience culminates in the tasting room, overlooking the vineyards. Among the 16 labels we tasted: the Sauvignon Blanc, crisp and aromatic, alongside a “fumé” version with extra depth and complexity; the SMX (Syrah – Merlot – Xinomavro), the estate’s flagship blend, dense yet balanced with spice and velvet texture; and Axia, once made only for local consumption, now an export success story.
The highlight remains the Xinomavro Reserve Old Vines — a rare expression of “old DNA” with profound depth and decades of cellaring potential. The Single Vineyard “Hedgehog” is celebrated for its layered complexity: ripe red fruit, herbal nuances, and refined tannins. For connoisseurs, it is perhaps the clearest articulation of Amyndeon’s terroir.
International Acclaim
Today, Ktima Alpha exports to 64 countries, with Germany, the USA, Canada, and Australia as key markets, while around 60% of production remains in Greece. Reviews are consistently glowing, with accolades from Decanter, Wine Spectator, and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. The estate’s style is described as “modern yet authentic,” delivering polished international varieties alongside powerful, terroir-driven expressions of Xinomavro.
Leaving with a few bottles in our bags and the conviction that Ktima Alpha is not merely a destination for wine enthusiasts but living proof that Greece stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s great wine regions, one line comes to mind. Robert Louis Stevenson’s phrase, “Wine is bottled poetry,” feels almost literal here.
INFO
Visiting hours: Daily & weekends, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (by appointment)
Reservations: +30 23860 20111, +30 23860 20112, or email visit@alpha-estate.com
