GAI'A Estate Agiorgitiko
Wine Description
One of the pioneers of the modern Greek wine revolution, Gai’a Estate (pronounced Yay-ya) was established in 1994 by Leon Karatsalos and winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos. Their mission was to capture the best that Greece’s indigenous grapes have to offer by merging traditional viticultural and production methods with innovative techniques. The estate is named after “Mother Earth,” in honor of the unique terroir that gives birth to these world-class wines.
Acclaim
Vineyard & Production Info
Winemaking & Aging
Analytical Data
Wine Production
After harvest, the grapes are destemmed, crushed and cold soaked (53°F) with the skins for 2-3 days in order to maximize extraction of the dark red-black color of the fruit and well-structured tannins. The wine is aged in new 225L French oak casks from the Nevers and Allier forests, during which time the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. The final wine is bottled without filtration in order to preserve the exceptional personality of the ripe Agiorgitiko varietal and the character of the Nemea terroir.
About the Vineyard
The grapes for the Gai’a Estate come from a 40-year-old estate vineyard, located in the Koutsi region of Nemea, at an altitude of 1,800ft. The climate is moderately cool at this mid-level elevation, resulting in grapes that are concentrated in flavor with well-developed tannins and balanced acidity. The 17.3 acre vineyard is located on a Southwest facing slope, and is closely monitored so that yields remain low.
