Mitzifiris, "Lilas Skin Contact" 2021

In central Greece there is an island so big you could be forgiven for forgetting it is an island at all – the island of Evia is indeed connected to Sterea Ellada (Continental Greece) by several bridges and its westernmost point is a mere 45 minute drive from Athens. As with everywhere in Greece, ancient history can be found in seeming omnipresence on Evia – from the topography to the literal artifacts of human civilizations past. For third-generation Evia winemaker Nikos Mitzifiris, ancient Greek history had some of its most bloody battles on the plains he farms – the Lelantine (Lilandian) Plains of central Evia were both the reason for, and the host of, the ancient civil war between the Greek city states of Chalcis & Eretria. Indeed it was due to the fecundity of the Lelantine Plains that the war was fought in the first place. And so now, nearly 2700 years later, on this same fertile land, Nikos Mitzfiris tends grape vines. 1 mile from the coast / the Euripus Strait, Nikos works primarily with the hyper-local reddish grape variety Vradiano (known as “The Night Grape”) in addition to other specialties of the area such as Savatiano, Moschofilero, & the more broadly planted Roditis. Certified organic for 20+ years, his wines show lift and a pretty aspect in addition to the saltier more seafaring aspects you’d expect of a wine grown in an island’s Mediterranean climate.

Evia Island, Greece. A blend of two gray skin varietals, Moschofilero & Roditis, that get about 6 days of skin contact before being pressed into stainless steel tank. Fermented with wild yeasts and bottled unfined, unfiltered with just a dash of SO2.