Patistis Winery, Pelion, Central Greece

A small family winery in the Pelion peninsula making natural wines from 4ha of organic Assyrtiko, Roditis, and Xinomavro vineyards. The region is a beautiful orchard of apple, olive, and walnut trees in-between the vineyards, lying to the south of the Pelion mountain range and surrounded by the sea with the Aegean on one side and the Pagasitic Gulf on the other. The two seas have different temperatures, creating continuous thermal winds through the summer that aid organic viticulture.

Andreas and Konstantinos Patistis practice in true low-intervention winemaking (aka the zero-zero approach) with organic cultivation since 1980, indigenous yeasts, and no fining, no filtering, and no use of sulphur or any other additives. Andreas studied viticulture and oenology in Montpellier and has extensive experience working in wineries around the world—from Sonoma and Napa to Barossa and Clare Valley via Portugal and the Médoc. He has taken something from each of these regions while also experimenting extensively with solera and oxidative ageing within their zero-zero philosophy.

The aim is to explore the potential of the indigenous varieties in their narrow schist soils while producing wines guided by taste and purity. Their blanc-de-noir is a unique solera-aged white vinification of Xinomavro, while their orange brings out the aromatic side of Roditis.