Mylonas Sterea Ellada Savatiano 2014
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Mylonas Winery is a third generation (since 1917) boutique winery located 30 miles south of Athens. The petite but contemporary winery is built in the village of Keratea with the 12ha of their vineyards being scattered in Attica's peninsula. They farm traditionally, mainly Greek grape varieties, with respect and trust to the terroir. Attica's has a unique terroir rich in minerals and limestone soils. The mild Mediterranean climate acts as an ally and the old vines produce their most concentrated grapes in low yields. Mylonas philosophy is based on minimum intervention from the vineyard to the bottling. When you have great vineyards that produce high quality grapes of distinctive individual character, this is not only environmentally and socially responsible approach, it's also the best way to consistently make fine wine.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
A picturesque Mediterranean nation with a rich wine culture dating back to ancient times, Greece has so much more to offer than just retsina. Between the mainland and the country’s many islands, a wealth of Greek wine styles exists, made mostly from Greece’s plentiful indigenous varieties. After centuries of adversity after Ottoman rule, the modern Greek wine industry took off in the late 20th century with an influx of newly trained winemakers and investments in winemaking technology.
The climate—generally hot Mediterranean—can vary a bit with latitude and elevation, and is mostly moderated by cool maritime breezes. Drought can be an issue for Greek wine during the long, dry summers, sometimes necessitating irrigation.
Over 300 indigenous grapes have been identified throughout Greece, and though not all of them are suitable for wine production, future decades will likely see a significant revival and refinement of many of these native Greek wine varieties. Assyrtiko, the crisp, saline Greek wine variety of the island of Santorini, is one of the most important and popular white wine varieties, alongside Roditis, Robola, Moschofilero, and Malagousia. Muscat is also widely grown for both sweet and dry wines. Prominent red wine varieties include full-bodied and fruity Agiorghitiko, native to Nemea; Macedonia’s savory, tannic Xinomavro; and Mavrodaphne, used commonly to produce a Port-like fortified wine in the Peloponnese.