Harvest 2020

A late ripening year in general. Winter was mild without extreme low temperatures and no snow. However, its long duration had as a result the delay of the breaking of the buds for about 10 days (third week of March).

In April important rainfalls occurred, that delayed flowering (mid- May), but luckily supplied the plant with enough water for its optimal fruit setting. From May till mid-June there was no rain and unseasonably high temperatures prevailed, while from mid-June and the whole of July, temperatures did not rise over 28-30 ^oC during daytime and 18-19 ^oC during nighttime.

In August, temperatures rose in favour of earlier maturation of the French grape varieties. On the contrary, the Greek grape varieties we harvested with a 10-day delay than usual.

Harvest rolled along. It started on August 14, with Chardonnay. It carried on with Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, while Malagousia was picked end of August and Assyrtiko beginning of September. The harvest of the French red grapes (Merlot, Syrah) started on August 20, and ended mid to late September, when Greek grape varieties (Limnio, Mavroudi, Mavrotragano, Xinomavro) were picked. Generally, weather conditions during harvest favoured phenolic maturation and that even helped Xinomavro, a late-ripening grape variety, to reach ideal maturation.

Harvest 2020 was very good with optimal growing and maturation conditions. It gave slightly bigger production for the whites and the same for the reds. The white wines are full-bodied with excellent acidity and rich in primary aromas, while the reds have excellent phenolic ripeness, great structure, and concentrated varietal aromas.