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OENOPS
“Apla” Rosé
Oenops (ΟΙΝΩΨ, meaning “the face of wine”) was founded in 2015 by Nikos Karatzas and it is the most newly established winery in the region of Drama. Its main purpose is to produce highest quality wines in limited quantities. The grapes come from personally selected vineyards from Drama and Macedonia in general, that are cultivated from ambitious winegrowers.
Wine has been a part of Greek culture for thousands of years, represented in mythology and in agricultural history.
In the twentieth century there was a gradual recovery of the viticulture with the creation of model vineyards covering thousands of hectares and modern vinification facilities, resulting in the production of internationally recognized quality wines.
In the ancient world, Greece was once one of the foremost producers of wine. However, in contrast to the country’s important wine heritage, modern Greek wines are only recently reaching the rest of the world.
These days, Greece offers outstanding wine value and new varieties to expand your palate!
— Madeline Puckette, Wine Folly
The demarcated area for the production of PGI Drama (Protected Geographical Indication) wines comprises the entire prefecture of Drama in the north-eastern tip of Macedonia.
Drama’s quintessential style is set apart from the rest due to its soil types, the selection of grape varieties grown, and the specific production methods of winemakers in the area. These elements contribute to a style of wine found nowhere else in Greece, or the world for that matter.
The winegrowing area of Drama is inland and it is one of the few wine-growing regions in Greece that does not border the sea. The vineyards extend at an altitude ranging from 80 to 1,000 meters, with most of them located between 200-400m. The Mediterranean climate is moderated by the region’s more inland position and the higher elevation that the three surrounding mountains, Falakro, Menoikio and Pangeon, provide. As a result, the northern part of the region, due to its higher elevation, is cooler with a greater continental influence.
The European Union ensures the quality of its products through a set of strict requirements and regulations, guaranteeing the standards of all European agricultural products and manufacturing processes.
The EU definition of a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product is one closely linked to the geographical area in which it is produced, processed or prepared, and has specific qualities distinctive of that specific geographical area.
Thus, when enjoying a PGI wine, you know that you are enjoying a high quality product, traceable to a specific area of production, produced with the highest standards throughout all stages of its vinification.
There are three levels of PGI designation, each with a more established specificity and restriction in what grapes can be used, where they come from, and how they are made into wine.
PGI Regional (broadest regulation; e.g. PGI Macedonia)
PGI District (more restrictive; e.g. PGI Drama)
PGI Area (most restrictive; there are 58 of these sub-regions within 28 of the Districts)
The PGI of Drama was established in 1995.
A complete list of all PGI regions can be found here.
Read more on the broad agricultural laws in Europe that govern wine, here.
“Following the micro-négociant system, Oenops aims to produce high quality, great value wines. Rather than owning vineyards, the company sources grapes from selected plots across Greece’s best terroirs, with a focus on cool-climate sites and old vines of indigenous varieties. At the core of the company’s philosophy is the close partnership with ambitious growers who share a same sustainability-focused approach.”
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Xinomavro is sometimes hailed as “The Barolo of Greece,” where it grows in the regions of Naoussa and Amyndeo. This wine can taste strikingly similar to Nebbiolo (hence the correlation with Barolo), with dark cherry fruit, licorice, allspice, and occassionally subtle tomato notes. Xinomavro has high-tannin and medium-plus acidity.
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Derived from the Greek word mavro (meaning "black), it is native to Greece and Bulgaria; characterized by heavy aroma, intense body with forest fruit and herbal notes, high acidity, and robust tannins, with a long-lasting aftertaste of spice, tobacco, and leather.
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Once nearly-extinct, it is a red variety that is both elegant and powerful. Ιntensely coloured, it has aromas of strawberry and raspberry, herbal and floral notes (roses or violets) and sweet spices with a peppery twist. The silky rather than velvety tannins and its lively perfumed character are characteristic of this variety. Limniona might be the Greek equivalent of a Beaujolais Cru, Moulin a Vent or Morgon - structured at its best - and productive as a high-quality rosé wine. A rising star in Greek winemaking.
Oenops mission is to source great fruit and craft wines that fully express its quality and sense of time and place. By using simple methods, led by the profile of the grapes rather than by any winemaking protocols, the company has built a range of authentic, fruit-forward wines that bring out the best of each variety, terroir and style. By vinifying each plot and variety separately the team has grown an understanding of the specificity of each vineyard and of the work done each year, in turn allowing for improvement in each vintage.
2023 vintage
50% Xinomavro, 30% Mavroudi, 20% Limniona
Vineyards are farmed by the Apla family in Macedonia, Thessaly, Thrace
Age of Vines: 14-45 years old
Winemaking: a small percentage of whole clusters, across individual fermentation;
Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and concrete tanks, keeping each vineyard plot separate;
After 2-4 months of aging on its fine lees, the wine is ready for bottling
ABV: 12.9%
Sustainable farming; family-owned and small production
Elegant notes of tangerine, ,orange, strawberries and white cherries dominate the nose followed by a fine hint of tomato, one of the unique aromas of Xinomavro. Full-bodied and layered yet crispy, with aromas of strawberries and raspberries with a long, refreshing finish.