Wine Enthusiast – October 2019

104 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | OCTOBER 2019

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Tetramythos Winery

Ano Diakopto, Peloponnese

Ensconced in his mountain lab or poking around vines in deep and murmuring thought, Oenologist and Winemaker Panagiotis

Papagiannopoulos evokes a combination of mad scientist, naturalist and poet. The experimental vintner sits atop a wide-ranging,

largely indigenous varietal selection produced in sky-high vineyards overlooking the Gulf of Corinth, and he’s just the man to

wrangle these plots and grapes into organic wines that win awards. The 34 total acres of Tetramythos plots are planted between

1,968–3,444 feet and range from just under an acre to a little over four acres in size. Varieties like Malagousia, Roditis, Muscat

Mikrorago, Agiorgitiko and Black Kalavrytino make up more than 85% of the overall production. Cultivating grapes here requires

organically managing high natural acidity as well as a variety of soils that range dramatically from rocky to limestone to clay,

says Papagiannopoulos. Beyond incredible views, he insists the location offers more triumph than trial. “The gulf provides a nice

salinity to the wines, and the main mountains of the Peloponnese behind us protect from hot summer south winds from Africa.”

Wines of note include the Retsina, 40% of which is fermented in clay amphorae; the Mavro Kalavrytino, made from a single grape

variety and the only of its kind in Greece; and the Malagousia.

Tetramythos

Vineyards

overlooking the

Gulf of Corinth