Producer Spotlight - Domaine Papagiannakos

Don’t let these be “All Greek to you”

Ancient & Modern
Greece, the cradle of European civilisation, has a rich and ancient tradition of viticulture. Though its modern wine industry might not match the scale of the likes of France, Italy, or Spain, it is home to a wealth of top-notch producers crafting wines that are increasingly attracting attention. One such is Domaine Papagiannakos, whose wines have long been regulars on our shelves and certainly deserve putting in the spotlight.

Focussing on the Indigenous
Their home is in the Attica region, on the mainland not far from Athens. Founded in 1919 by Vassilis Papagiannakos, the estate has remained family-owned and operated for over a century. Each generation has made its mark, with the most significant strides occurring since the 1990s under the leadership of another Vassilis Papagiannakos, the founder’s grandson. His tenure has seen the expansion of vineyards and the construction of a state-of-the-art winery in 2007, which combines modern architectural elegance with well-designed efficiency.

The focus here is firmly on native Greek varieties, particularly Savatiano, which thrives in the area’s limestone-rich soils. This grape, often associated with traditional retsina (which they do make, but is a bit of an acquired taste), is capable of producing wines of real depth and complexity when handled with care. They also cultivate other native varieties, including the white grapes Assyrtiko and Malagouzia, and Greece’s signature red, Agiorgitiko. Each of these bringing along its own unique characteristics, offering a palette of flavours that are both distinctive and reflective of the region's terroir.

Driving Awareness
While part of the challenge for Greece lies in the unfamiliar grape varieties and the often tricky-to-pronounce names, there is a growing awareness and appreciation for their unique qualities and Papagiannakos have been one of the leaders driving this momentum.

Throughout August there’s 10% off Papagiannakos wines, which hopefully will give you a good excuse to give them a try.