more on Mount Olympus, Thessaly.

Domaine Katsaros is a small family enterprise established in 1985 in the traditional vine country of Krania, Mount Olympus, in Northern Greece.

Dr. Dimitrios Katsarós opened his winery above the village of Kraniá, Larissa in 1978. Dr. Katsarós pursues his devotion to winemaking with the full support of a talented family. The twenty-acre privately owned vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay crops, with a small, state of the art winery situated on the eastern slopes of lower Mount Olympus at an altitude of 750 meters, just outside the village of Krania.

The main factors contributing to the superior quality of these award winning wines are the regions’ mild winters, the sun blessed, yet cool summers, and the biological care at the vineyard coupled with the limited yield (5000-6000 kilos per hectare).

Evripidis Katsaros

The white wine, made exclusively with Chardonnay, ferments in fresh barrels and stays sur lie for seven months, given periodic stirrings. It is bottled and made commercially available the second year following vinification.

The Flagship red wine, made with a combination of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot grapes, is traditionally vinified and kept in French oak barrels (50% new wood) for 12 months. It is then bottled and stored in the Krania cellars at the Domaine itself.

The Katsaros Merlot is recently introduced: 100% merlot is aged for 12 months on new French oak.

The white and the red Domaine Katsaros wines are “vins de gardes”, with notable ageing potential.

Please see HERE the official Domaine Katsaros website.

Please click HERE for prices and retailers of Katsaros wines.

The Domaine Katsaros wines tasted by GrapeRover:

100% chardonnay. organic

5-6 months, 50% new French oak.

Regional: Lavraki. World: grilled fat fish, lobster, oysters, spicy fowl, cured pork, mature cheeses.

Bright golden yellow. Dense viscosity. Impressive bouquet of ripe lychee and mango mingling well with soft cedar, butter and nuts. Opulent and voluptuous, complex flavors that are rarely experienced outside of Burgundy. Firm body, well structured, with a long juicy finish. Amazing chardonnay that will certainly baffle Burgundy connaisseurs……

85% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot. organic. (32 hl/ha)

12-18 months new (50%) French oak.

Regional: Slow roast goat. World: lambs-rack, game, prime meat, spicy vegetarian dishes, spicy Asian dishes, roguefort, aged Gouda.

Deep dark ruby. Rich viscosity. Attractive bouquet of black currant, plum and elegant spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Powerful, expressive round flavors of dark fruit, coffee and mellow tannins. Great lasting finish. Awesome quality!

100% merlot. organic.

12 months new French oak.

Regional: Roast quail. World: Bordeaux style entrecote or rib-eye, game, meat stews, spicy casseroles, steak & kidney pie, aged Gouda.

Deep dark red. Complex aromas of ripe cherry (amarena), prune and plum. Elegant notes of spices, cinnamon and vanilla. Voluptuous, lively flavors of dark fruits and attractive tannins. Fleshy, smooth texture. Endless (almost) finish.