Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Located in the Peloponnese, the Giannikos Winery cultivates its vines near the historic city of Corinth, in the heart of a hilly landscape influenced by the Saronic Gulf. The plots for the Pegasus cuvée benefit from a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot summers tempered by sea breezes and cooler nights. The soils, composed of limestone, clay, and stony elements, promote good drainage and regular ripening of the grapes, yielding red wines that are ripe, structured, and retain freshness.
This wine reveals notes of ripe red fruits, black cherry, and plum, complemented by delicate floral touches and spicy accents reminiscent of pepper and Mediterranean herbs, with a subtle woody nuance. On the palate, the texture is full and supple, supported by fine tannins, balanced acidity, and a persistent finish that leaves an impression of freshness and harmony.
Where are we traveling?
Peloponnese
It is located in southern Greece, forming a vast peninsula attached to the mainland by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth — pierced by a canal in 1893 — and bathed by the Ionian, Mediterranean, and Aegean Seas. The vineyards are spread over a huge and rugged territory, from the scorching coastal plains to the high-altitude plateaus of Mantinia and Nemea, passing through the steep slopes of Taygetus and the verdant valleys of Arcadia, between sea level and over 800 meters in altitude. The viticultural history delves into the very roots of Western civilization: it is here, in Mycenae and Tiryns, that the first traces of winemaking in Europe were discovered, dating back more than 3,000 years BC, and it was in the Peloponnese that the cult of Dionysus gained full momentum. The birthplace of the Olympic wine served during the ancient Games and a major export land under the Byzantine Empire, the region fell into viticultural oblivion during centuries of Ottoman occupation, before experiencing a slow renaissance in the 20th century, accelerated since the 1990s by a new generation of winemakers trained abroad, determined to restore the former glory of this historic cradle. The climate varies considerably according to altitude and exposure, from frankly hot and dry Mediterranean on the coasts to semi-continental and cool on the high plateaus of the interior, where cool nights and mountain winds offer the grapes a slow maturation and natural acidity that the coast does not allow. The soils are just as diverse, from the ferruginous red clays of Nemea to the limestones and marls of Mantinia, including the alluvium of the coastal plains and the schists of the mountain slopes. The Peloponnese has established itself as the driving force behind the Greek viticultural renaissance thanks to its Agiorgitiko from Nemea, velvety and generous reds with aromas of black cherry, spices, and laurel, its Moschofilero from Mantinia, aromatic and sparkling whites with notes of rose, lychee, and white pepper, its Mavrodaphne from Patras, sumptuously rich fortified sweet wines, and a growing constellation of ambitious cuvées from rare grape varieties such as Kydonitsa, transplanted Assyrtiko, or Mavroudi, testifying to a peninsula that is finally claiming the place that five millennia of viticulture destined for it.
The little history of the country
Greece
Long known as simple table wines, notably Retsina, a white wine infused with pine resin, Greek wines have seen a significant improvement in quality over the last 20 years. The history of wine is as ancient as that of Greece itself. More than 3,000 years ago, the oldest known grape presses in the world were discovered on the island of Crete. After a period of stagnation throughout the 20th century, Greek wines experienced a dramatic improvement in quality thanks to Greece's entry into the European Union, the training of young oenologists in top European schools, and a focus on meeting international demand. Greece is not content with the easy route of relying primarily on major French grape varieties such as Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, which would greatly facilitate exports. Today, Greece aims to continue cultivating and promoting its ancient grape varieties, of which there are approximately 300 across the country. The very first thing to understand is that Greece is far more diverse in terms of climate than most people realize. The country clearly has everything from arid Mediterranean islands to humid, mountainous pine forests that receive snowfall in winter. With such a diverse climate, you can expect Greek wines to be equally varied. Therefore, one of the best ways to get a sense of Greek wine is to divide the country into four broad wine regions based on their climate: Northern Greece (humid climate), the Aegean Islands (arid climate), Central Greece, and Southern Greece (Mediterranean climate). Its potential and reputation are greatly underestimated by the general public today, which is likely to lead to some pleasant surprises!