Grape: Riesling
Region: Peloponnese, Greece

Distributor's Notes:

"Rouvalis Winery was founded in 1990 by Angelos Rouvalis. He comes from a vinegrowing family of Aigion, studied in Bordeaux, and graduated to become an enologist. The winery was one of the pioneering establishments that contributed to improving the quality of Greek wines in the nineties. The gravity fed winery was built in 1994 and Angelos started his first experimental vineyard the same year. Today, the winery is run by Theodora Rouvalis. She has a Master in viticulture & enology and gathered professional experience working in many vineyards around the world. The estate aims to produce authentic, harmonious and value-oriented wines that express the unique terroir of the slopes of Aigialeia. The slopes of Aigialeia are situated in the northern Peloponnese, just 120km (74 miles) from Athens, in the mountainous region above the town of Aigion. They are uniquely beautiful, terraced vineyards that overlook the Corinthian Gulf and they constitute one of the most interesting vinicultural regions in the world:

- they are one of the very few north-facing regions in Greece (because of the Corinthian Gulf fault) so the vines benefit from the cooling northern breezes of summer.
- the vineyards are protected from the hot summer winds coming from the south by the high east-west mountain ridge of central Peloponnese that acts as a natural barrier.
- the soil is fertile, due to the old geological deposits, and it is well drained because of its inclination.
- the vineyards are at high altitude (500 to 1050 metres - 1640 to 3445 feet - above sea level), with an important difference in temperatures between day and night - a condition for high quality fruit in a hot climate.
- the region benefits from the high rainfalls of western Greece as well as from the climate of the Corinthian Gulf.
- the slopes are very steep and near to the sea, and the air currents prevent diseases to develop, creating conditions favorable to organic viticulture.

Rouvalis Winery, in addition to its own vineyards, has long-standing contracts with pioneering vine growers in some of the best-suited areas, among which Greka, Arahova, Pyrgaki, Fteri and Trapeza. The grape varieties cultivated are both indigenous - Roditis, Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Mavrodaphne, Malvasia and Kydonitsa - and international: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah."