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Located in Greek village of Neochori, in the heart of the larger Mantinia wine region, Moropoulos is a boutique, family-owned and operated winery. The Moropoulos’ have a long tradition of vine growing in the region, producing high quality fruit for the last several decades. More recently, the family’s siblings decided to establish their own winery, focusing on making only two wines, both from the native and renowned grape, Moschofilero. Their 12 hectares of vines are planted on well-drained rocky clay and loamy soils and are farmed organically. Despite its relatively southern latitude, the property is located on an elevated plateau (700m), making the climate more Continental than Mediterranean. The warm, dry days and cool nights results in fresh and structured wines.
Region
Mantinia is one of the crown jewels of the mountainous, cloud-covered Central Greece and Peloponnese area, in the region of Arcadia. This historic plateau was where the largest and most famous battle between Athens and Sparta was fought during the Peloponnese War in 472 A.D. Surrounded by the stunning peaks of Mainalo, Artesimo and Parnon Mountains, the foothills and plateau are home to the indigenous Moschofilero grape. Having been cultivated continuously for over 3000 years, Mantinia is one of the coolest and highest elevation wine regions in Greece.
Vineyard
These estate vineyards are located at some of the highest elevations of any winegrowing region in Greece. This region is also one of the coolest, despite its proximity to the Aegean Sea. The rocky soil sits on a bed of sand and clay. The old vines are double spur trained to help get the most out of the afternoon sun and assure full ripening. Most of the vineyards have already achieved Organic certification, with the rest due to achieve that status in the upcoming vintages.
Varieties
Moschofilero is a grey-skinned variety, prone to some mutation, allowing winemakers the option of crafting rosé as well as white wines. It is an ancient Greek grape that can be accurately traced in the mountainous Peloponnese region back to antiquity. Aromatic with high acidity, it is known for being quite difficult to work with, but when done well can create floral, peppery and lively aromatic wines of great quality.
Winemaking
2021 was a very challenging vintage. A particularly mild, dry winter was followed by an equally dry spring. Cooler weather in early September helped minimize the influence of summer heat waves but picking started a week earlier than usual. Hand-harvested grapes were selected for their darkest pigment. Long pre-fermentation cold-soak to extract colour and aromatic compounds. Classic white fermentation in stainless steel tanks is followed by 6 months aging on lees, with frequent lees stirring to add layers of complexity.
Tasting Notes
Attractive pale rose colour with orange hues. Very aromatic with crunchy cherries, pomegranate and mint, along with floral and crème patisserie nuances. Lively on the palate, with punchy fruit and a vein of citrus acidity, providing intensity and lift. Serve this dry-styled rosé at 10–12 °C with tomato-based pasta or sweet and sour Chinese dishes.