Kontozisis 'Sun White' Malagousia Thessaly 2021

Press 4 White • April 2023 Direct Press Selection

Kontozisis Organic Vineyards is an organic grower in Karditsa, a rural town in the region of Thessaly about 300 km or 190 miles north of Athens. Karditsa is known as the bicycle capital of Greece, and the homeland of the impressive Limniona red grape. The winery and vineyards are on the foothills of mount Agrafa, in two distinctive terroirs between Kanalia and Dafnospilia. Kontozisis has been practicing certified organic agriculture and organic vinification since 1991, one of the first to get such a certification in Greece. His long term commitment to organic practices shows his honest approach to sustainability.

Andreas Kontozisis and his partner Aphrodite Tousia are working passionately with the area’s indigenous red grape, Limniona, among others, for which they have developed proprietary vineyard techniques to get as much concentration as possible from the variety’s large grapes. All grapes are hand harvested and pruned from the low-yield (28 hectoliters / ha) estate-owned vineyards of 11 ha. Kontozisis uses no press (only free run wines) and no commercial yeasts.

Kontozisis Sun White wine showcases the indigenous Malagousia Grape. These vines are a relatively youthful 22 years old. The wine is pre-fermented with cold extraction around 7-10℃ for 22 hours, then extraction with no pressing and only free run juice is then fermented in concrete with indigenous yeast for 20 days. The wine is then allowed to rest in concrete for 2 months and is bottled with minimal sulfite additions.

This elegant white wine showcases aromas of white flowers, sea spray, green grapefruit, pomello, and gooseberry. The palate is reminiscent of a delicious sauvignon blanc with distinct mediterranean influences. Initially I was met with pomelo, under ripe citrus lychee, cantaloupe, and finished with a bit of savory olive oil brine and a hint of dirty martini. Jeremy Hernandez