more on Nemea, Peloponnese.

Zacharias Vineyards – Oinotechniki ltd. is one of the major wineries of Nemea region and Peloponnese in general. Despite the fact that Zacharias Vineyards – Oinotechniki ltd. is a rather new brand, it is one of the fastest growing companies in the wine industry. Zacharias Vineyards offer a wide variety of products, which have been awarded a plethora of medals at major world wine competitions (such as Decanter world wine awards, International Wine Challenge, International Wines & Spirits Competition, etc.).

Although it was only in 2002 that our first vintage was released, the history of both the family’s winery and vineyards dates back many years.   First of all, the winery of the company is the largest and the most historical private winery in Nemea, with continuous productive operation since 1960. It has been built in various phases, the most recent of which completed in 2004 by the Zacharias family, where the winery was fully modernized and re-constructed.

 

 

 

 

 

Nowadays, the winery combines harmonically traditional elements, such as French type concrete tanks, and state of the art technology, such  as stainless steel Ganymede tanks, cross-flow filters, pneumatic presses, etc.Furthermore, Ilias Zacharias, the winemaker, is the mind behind the company and he has already exceeded thirty five years of continuous offer to Nemea wine, as the major agriculturalist of the region. He studied atAgricultural University of Athens and from 1974 he has been working with Nemea’s vineyards and wine as the major agronomist of the area. However, the most significant part of the history, the present and the future of the company is the earth and the vineyards! The first Zacharias family vineyards were planted in 1962 on the slopes around the Leontio village, in the heart of Nemea area. Nowadays, the vineyards cover about 40 hectares, while the grape varieties planted are 13, including Greek indigenous varieties, some of them rare, and international varieties.

Please see HERE the official website of Zacharias Vineyards.

Please click HERE for prices and retailers of Zacharias wines.

The Zacharias Vineyards wines tasted by GrapeRover:

2011 Zacharias Vineyards Alegro white, table wine. 81 points.

60% roditis, 40% moschofilero.

Dio organic certified.

Regional: Gavros sakanaki. World: fried squid, light salads, mussels, fried cheese, fruit deserts.

Pale yellow. Light viscosity. Apple and citrus on the nose, spicy vegetal as well as floral notes. Light-bodied and straightforward on the palate, vegetal notes and delicate spicy floral notes, fairly moderate acidity, light tannic touch, attractive finish.

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2011 Zacharias Vineyards Moschofilero, PGI Peloponnese. 84 points.

100% moschofilero.

Dio organic certified.

Regional: Bianco Corfu. World: sole, crustaceans, shellfish, grilled sardines, fish pastas, cured pork, fruit, cream cheeses.

Light yellow/green. Light viscosity. freshness and intense acidity as its main characteristics. It’s fruity, with aromas of rose, citrus fruits and lemon flowers. It has a light body in mouth, in order to bring forth the exquisite fruity aromas and taste of Moschofilero grape variety.

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2011 Zacharias Vineyards Levko 2, PGI Peloponnese. 86 points.

50% assyrtiko, 50% sclava. ??????

Dio organic certified.

Regional: Artichokes ala Polita.  World: sole, crustaceans, shellfish, grilled sardines, fish pastas, cured pork, cream cheeses.

Bright golden. Medium+ viscosity. Gooseberries, pineapple and green apples on the nose with a  touch of medicinal herbs. Medium-bodied, rather high in tartaric acids and herbaceous notes, mineral traces, firm aftertaste, good finish. Curious, although pleasant wine.

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2011 Zacharias Vineyards Albino (Blanc de noir), PGI Peloponnese. 84 points.

100% agiorgitiko

Dio organic certified.

Regional: Green rice & shrimp. World: grilled fat fish, smoked fish, charcuterie, veal liver, spicy salads, matured cheeses.

Agiorgitiko in a unique white version… albus means white in Latin. Albino wine expresses the metamorphosis of the red agiorgtiko grape into a white wine. This metamorphosis offers a fruity wine, with balanced acidity and an intense and long aftertaste of the agiorgitiko variety.

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2011 Zacharias Vineyards Chardonnay. PGI Corinth. 83 points.

100% chardonnay.

Dio organic certified.

Regional: Stuffed calamari. World: oysters, grilled fat fish, spicy fowl, grilled asparagus, artichoke, rich salads.

A full bodied wine, with a bright yellow – green colour, characterized from intense aromas of pear, citrus fruits, pineapple and butter. It is well balanced in the mouth, with a long gentle aftertaste.

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2011 Zacharias Vineyards Ampelos Fos Rose, PGI Peloponnese. 82 points.

100% agiorgitiko

Dio organic certified.

Regional: Pork Gioulbasi. World: Spicy chicken or gambas (Piri-piri), asian food, sushi, paella, pizza, appetizers, cream cheeses.

Bright dark pink. Medium viscosity. Lively fresh aromas of granberry, strawberry and cherry. Zippy and easy flavors of likewise fruit. Rather gutsy and firm structure. Reasonable finish.

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2010 Zacharias Vineyards Ampelos Fos Red., PGI Peloponnese. 84 points.

100% agiorgitiko.

Dio organic certified.

Regional: Kebapia. World: pork-chops, meatballs, pizza, pasticcio, light pastas, grilled vegetables, asian food, young cheeses.

Bright light ruby. Medium viscosity. Zippy nose, red berries and cherries. Uncomplicated, slightly tart jammy red berry fruit and cherries on the palate, light herbaceous,  integrated tannins, fairly uncomplicated, soft spicy style, good finish.

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2009 Zacharias Vineyards Symmetry Red, PDO Nemea. 85 points.

100% agiorgitiko.

Dio organic certified.

6 months French oak.

Regional: Pork chops. World: grilled or roast meat, grilled vegetables, spicy sausages, oven pastas, matured cheeses.

Bright dark ruby. Medium+ viscosity. Spicy nose with red berries, stalky. Herbs and spices on the palate, a bit stalky and some cedar, tart red berries, light mineral traces, good varietal character, integrated, but robust astringent tannins, attractive finish.

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2008 Zacharias Vineyards Ambelones, PDO Nemea. 87 points.

100% agiorgitiko.

Dio organic certified.

12 months French oak.

Regional: Roast quail. World: Leg of lamb or kid, prime red meat, boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, roast vegetables, veal  or lamb liver, matured hard cheeses.

Deep dark ruby. Medium+ viscosity. Elegant nose of red berries and ripe cherry (amarena), mineral notes and some mellow vanilla. Compact, fairly prominent polished red currant and cherry fruit on the palate, herbaceous and mineral components, delicate bitter notes, elegant acid bite, integrated acidity, excellent grip and backbone, characteristic, wholesome finish.

2007 Zacharias Vineyards Mavro 3, PGI Peloponnese. 88 points.

50% agiorgitiko, 40% merlot, 10% mavrodaphne.

Dio organic certified.

12 months new French oak.

Regional: Greek Rib-eye. World: Leg of lamb or kid, prime red meat, boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, roast vegetables, veal  or lamb liver, matured hard cheeses.

Deep dark ruby. Dense viscosity. Alluring nose of jammy plums and berries, round vanilla, light herbaceous notes and some garrigue. Prominent round flavors of matured berry fruit on the palate,  mediterranean herbs, some cacoa and cinnamon, elegant substance and individual character, well developed tannins, pleasant earthy notes on a good finish. Intriguing blend.