Malagousia Palaiochori

The Apostolidis family began its winemaking journey in 1958, in the small village of Dialekto, making it one of the northernmost coastal wineries in the country. The tiny village “Eklekto” is right next to it, and both are right outside of Kavala, the hometown of our core team. We have always wanted to represent an area from our birthplace, since it is also at the epicenter of winemaking history in the area, with the Orthopetra site hosting the oldest indication of wine production of Europe (4,300 BC). Today, the region is unfortunately known for industrial wines, mainly made with international varieties.

The Apostolidi estate, is the bright and pleasant departure from this pattern, so it was only natural that we would cross paths. Now led by the third generation of the family, siblings Efthymios and Vasiliki recently returned to Greece after completing their viticultural and oenological studies in Germany, and there are many changes under way. Perhaps the most important was the transition from organic farming to a religious implementation of full biodynamics in the vineyard and the winery, with a complete Demeter certification. There is an increased emphasis on the production of natural wines with meticulous precision, including two of the classiest and most extensively aged sparkling wines of Greece. At the same time, there is an appetite for experimentation with different methods and materials. The young duo is testing the limits of the local terroir with amphorae buried in the sand (and partially under water), right next to the oldest traditional shipyard of Europe, ferments Assyrtiko retsinas in amphora with zero additives or sulfites, makes fun pet nats, and is about to release the first bottling of a light red from the local and forgotten Karapapas variety, which they discovered and saved from obscurity.

Considering they are still in their 20s and some of the nicest people we have come across, we expect a lot more down the road.

Kavala, is a picturesque port town in northern Greece. Its geographic position, its natural port, and its proximity to the gold mines of the Pangeon mountain,  deem Kavala one of the most ancient coastal towns in the general area, with its origins lost in the depths of history.

Kavala is amphitheatrically built on the slopes of mountain Symvolo, but is also surrounded by the mountains Lekani and Pangeon, making it mountainous by 55%. It is also the second largest port of Macedonia (after Thessaloniki), and one of the most strategic ports of northern Greece.

Kavala’s ancient history is linked to the nearby “Philippoi” town, the “Orthopetra” site that hosts the oldest pressed grapes in the world, the Pangeon mountain that funded Alexander the Great’s military expeditions with its gold mines, and the journey of apostle Paul who baptized Lydia, the first Christian of Europe there. The homonymous mud baths of Lydia are also world famous and attract visitors from around the world for their unique therapeutic properties.

In its modern history, Kavala is synonymous with its tobacco production and commerce, with its many neoclassical tobacco warehouses as a reminder of this once vibrant industry. The first strikes in the Balkans also took place in Kavala in 1896, by tobacco workers.

Today, Kavala is a beautiful and historical city with many attractions, fresh fish, and world class beaches like Ammolofoi. The old neighborhood of Panagia with the medieval fort at its top, and the adjacent ancient aqueduct, as well as its port and its fishing boats, are the benchmarks of the city.