Greece · Peloponnese · Ano Diakopto
On the slopes of Mount Helmos in the northern Peloponnese is Tetramythos, an organic winery based in Ano Diakopto in the mountainous Aigialeia. The story began with brothers Aristos and Stathis Spanos, who grew up in the area and worked with vineyards and wine production from a young age. In 1999, they met local oenologist Panagiotis Papagiannopoulos, and that same year, the first bottles under the name Tetramythos were produced. New organic vineyards followed, and in 2004, their new winery was completed.
The vineyards are located high on the slopes of Helmos, at around 450 to 1,000 meters above sea level, where the altitude and the cool winds from the Gulf of Corinth help moderate the warm Greek climate. The soil varies between stony, calcareous, and clay soils, among others, and the combination of altitude, exposure, and climate provides good conditions for wines with natural freshness and acidity.
Tetramythos works organically and has a special focus on Greek grape varieties. Here you will find Roditis, Malagousia, Agiorgitiko, and Mavro Kalavrytino, among others, with the latter being a rare local blue grape with strong ties to Kalavryta and the mountainous Aigialeia. A few international varieties are also worked with.
In the cellar, Panagiotis Papagiannopoulos plays a central role. He works with spontaneous fermentation and a low-intervention philosophy, while also having a great curiosity about the area's old wine traditions. Tetramythos has worked with amphorae, among other things, and has helped to showcase a more serious and terroir-driven side of Retsina, based in part on the local Roditis.
Tetramythos thus combines modern organic wine production with old Greek grapes and traditions. The result is an exciting picture of modern Greek natural wine, where the heights of Aigialeia, local varieties, and minimal intervention are allowed to play the leading role.
