Travel
On Your Tour
Visit a Greek Winery Harbor
Kostas Antoniou is a successful Santoriniote businessman, jeweler and wine maker. Having traveled internationally, he is no stranger to Northern Nevada as he proudly boasts attending the International Safari Convention in Reno annually. When in Greece, Antoniou spends much of his time at his local winery, or selling jewelry at his shop in Fira.
Antoniou began producing wine in 1992, with the help of Dimitris Hatzinikolaou, a veteran oenologist with 12 years in Bordeaux under his belt. The Antoniou wine operation moved to a new facility in 2001, adjacent to the historic winery dating from 1946. “Although winemaking is done at the new site, it is worth mentioning that the original winery is a fascinating look at architecture pragmatism,” writes Nick Cobb, of the Website Greekwinemakers.com. A visit to the winery is often part of the island tour, as cruise ships dock in the harbor below.
“Carved out of the cliffs above the main harbor of the island, the winery structure is gravity-driven, built on several levels. In its day, grapes were loaded into pressing wells from holes in the roof, and directed into six huge fermentation tanks carved out of the cliffs. The wine was then poured–not pumped–from the rear of the bottom level through a nearly one-thousandfoot hose to the holds of waiting ships in the harbor. The structure, as well as much of its original equipment has been preserved as a museum.”
“The top level, with its breathtaking view of the harbor, looking out on caldera and Fira, functions as a wine bar, the level just below is a tourist market.” Although there are several wineries worth visiting on the island, Antoniou’s is a favorite of tourists who are treated to wine flights and hors d’oeuvres.
Antoniou wines are exported to America, where they have developed a steady market among Greek Americans. Antoniou expects a steady flow of visitors to his museum; a unique experience for Americans who may have only visited Napa Valley.
Antoniou Wines:
Santorini 2000
This fruity pleasant tasting wine is produced by the excellent Aegean varieties. Asyrtico, Aidani, Athiri, which grow on the hillsides of Karteradou, Emporiou and Akrotiriou on Santorini Island. With an aroma of citrus fruits, a full-bodied taste and lemony flavor, the wine harmoniously accompanies all seafood dishes.
Vareli 2000
This wine aims to suggest an authentic Santorini Nychteri. Its color, a vermouth- like yellow with brown tints, shows the effect of 10 months aging in new oak. The flavors of traditional Nychteri, described in wine travelogues as colorless, may well be present in the packed fruit that accompanies a vanilla and oak aftertaste.
Vinsanto
From the aromatic Aidani and the full-bodied Athiri, which lay sluggishly on the volcanic soil for 15 whole days, to produce the sundried Vinsanto Antoniou. This wine represents the continuation of long-term aging, and accompanies all kinds of fruits at the end of meals. It is a sweet, yet dry.