Alpha Estate, the roots of a fine Macedonian estate
Alpha Estate was founded in 1995 by two wine enthusiasts: Angelos Iatridis, currently the Cellar Master, and Makis Mavridis who now looks after the vineyard. In 2011 the estate began exporting a large amount of its wines and in 2014, Alpha Estate was listed in Wine & Spirit Magazine's Best World 100 Wineries - a title that it also enjoyed in 2019 and 2021. The estate was also voted as European Winery of the Year in 2020 by the prestigious magazine, Wine Enthusiast.
A sustainable and unique vineyard in Macedonia
The expansion of Alpha Estate's land
At the beginning of Alpha Estate, the vineyard covered only 7 hectares. Today, the vineyard spreads across 220 hectares and is divided into six separate vineyards, all are located close to the winery in the heart of the Amyndeon appellation.
The typical Amyndeon climate at Alpha Estate
Amyndeon is the only appellation in Greece that does not have a Mediterranean climate. Winters are cold with rain and snow. It is also one of the driest appellations in Greece, notably during the growing season, which runs from April to September. Very early in the summer, the vines suffer from water stress. Ripening conditions take place in a cool climate from September onwards. The climate is tempered by mild northerly winds and the presence of two nearby lakes.
Heterogeneous soils producing wines with a rich aromatic palette
The soils of the estate are composed of alluvium, sand, clay and limestone and are very well-drained. Depending on the part of the vineyard, the soil is more or less fertile, with more or less water reserves. This range of soil characteristics enables the estate to define precisely which plot is best suited to a certain type of wine and grape variety.
A vineyard that respects the environment
Alpha Estate takes care of its land. The viticultural practices used at the estate pay close attention to the needs of the soil, the plants and the vines in order to preserve the ecosystems. Thanks to the sustainable methods used at Alpha Estate, the estate obtained the "Certified Sustainable Viticulture" label in 2008.
Alpha Estate, an haute couture vinification process leading to great Greek wines
A winery located in the heart of the vineyards
The winery is located in the heart of the Alpha Estate vineyards. This means that the transporting of the grapes from the vineyard to the winery during the harvest is carried out in a short space of time. This close proximity, combined with transport in special refrigerators and harvesting during the coolest hours of the day, highlights the estate's utmost respect for its land. This also ensures that the characteristics of the grapes are preserved.
A State-of-the-art vinification
Gravity-flow, a concept instilled when designing the winery, is used throughout the winemaking process. All building materials are highly inactive and neutral to ensure an utterly neutral atmospheric condition inside the cellar, thus protecting the quality of the grapes, the must and consequently the wine. Much of the cellar and its state-of-the-art winemaking tools are controlled directly online, via modems, to ensure constand and optimal performance levels.
Winemaking in line with the estate's philosophy
In order to produce the Alpha Estate wines, the estate has built a bespoke cellar. The most important and largest space in the cellar is the underground cellar, which houses the oak barrels in which the Alpha Estate wines are aged in ideal conditions throughout the year. Lastly, the tasting room is where the style of Alpha Estate wines is fully revealed and the signature quality of the estate can be fully measured.
