The Old Wines

Walking around the area where the wines used to be on the past, there is nothing left to remind them. Heavy forest, small clearings, bushes, a few oak trees, some forgotten quinces, fig and cherries trees. The only indisputable witnesses were the ole winepresses, being there to remind that there was time when the area was alive and full of vines and grapes…

Contact Us

We invite you at Balatsoura’s vineyard for a unique experience in nature. We would be glad to introduce you the historic varieties of “Kosmas” and “Roditis”, to introduce you to the vinification process and to offer you the authentic Dorian Wine of unique taste. We are waiting for you!   Contact Details: Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: (+30)6970848795 (Communication in English is available)

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Dorian Wine

Colour: Red – dark red (depending on the year) with ruby sparks Aroma: Strong aromas of fruits of the forest, vanilla and a bouquet of aromas Taste: Round, light-bodied, soft tannins, with strong aftertaste. Proposed pairing: Delicatessen plateau, hard and soft cheese, red meat. On the palate its tannins balance with meat and cheese proteins.

Description: It concerns of a naturally sweet wine. The grapes of the variety “kosmas” are naturally dehydrated and are partially left to dry in the vine. Then they are vinified. During the process of fermentation, only the necessary natural sugars are fermented, and the rest remain unfermented giving a sweet wine. Color: full-bodied red – complex aromas, delightful taste Proposed pairing: sweets, chocolate, nuts – Also served as aperitif at 8-10 oC.

Colour: orange, pale yellow-gold hue Aroma: Light aromas of fruits of the forest.   Taste: Balanced body, distinctive tannins, aftertaste that lasts Proposed pairing: Served at 10-12 oC. Ideal accompaniment for salads, poultry, fish and based on its vinification process for light meals and soft cheese.

Distillations

Double distilled from grape marcs biologically cultivated in bronze alembic. The distillation of grape marcs (dorian tsipouro) is varietal since it derives from grape marcs (and not from wine), of the mountain and unique variety of “Kosmas” The source material (grapes) is biologically cultivated in our vineyard and we do not interfere by any mean in their natural process, during their fermentation until their distillation. Namely we use their wild natural ferments and we do not use chemicals or other additives. The distillation is double in bronze alembic by a biologically certified distillery. The pure source material and the distillation way are the secrets that enrich the aromas of nature that characterize the distillation.

Our products are natural. “Both the cultivation of the vine and the vinification is completed by natural processes without using chemicals or other additives. We produce products in respect of the environment, following the processes that were followed in the region for centuries."

Variety "Kosmas"

“Kosmas” is mainly a mountain variety being found in mountain areas of Central Continental Greece. It has always been the most representative vine variety for vinification in these mountain areas, since it had naturalized for many centuries and was chosen from local populations as the variety used to create their own wine.

Variety "Roditis"

One not very common sub-variety of the dozen varieties of Roditis cultivated in our country, is mountain roditis, which during its maturing it presents impressive rose colours. Considering that it is one of the few varieties that produce old white wines, it constitutes the basic element of our white wine. “Generally speaking, “kosmas” is part of the category of vine varieties that remained the same over the years and were not affected by extraneous circumstances”

Quality

The vineyard of Balatsoura’s family is characterized as paying particular attention to the production of qualified quality wine. The cultivation of “Kosmas” variety follows the model of DIO (ΔΗΩ) company in bio-cultivation and the produced wine is biologic. The knowledge of modern and innovative vinification practices in combination with the experience and knowledge that characterized our team, receive the credentials of its quality and value.

The Characteristics of our Production

Authenticity

The know-how applied in the Vineyard of Balatsoura’s family, in combination with the commitment to traditional viniculture models and the knowledge of the special cultivation – varietal of “Kosmas” variety, constitute the factors that reassure the unique taste, the characteristic aroma and the great colour of Dorian Wine, elements that consequently represent its authenticity. 

WINNING

  The vinification of Dorian Wine, does not decline from the traditional form. We follow the exact method of vinification being followed in the area, for centuries. We use the same wooden tanks and vessels, which we manufacture based on the old standards. We also use the same nature’s materials, fir’s boughs, and mountain thyme and fir resin. Considering that we produce a natural product, the specific vinification process is the most recommended one.

The vinification process has great value and importance for the production of qualitative wine. Vinification in Balatsour’s Family Vineyard follows the traditional standards and applies qualitative methods, following the special knowledge required for the management of the historic variety “Kosmas” for the production of Dorian Wine.

  The steam pomace is transferred to wooden open tanks in order must to be produced. No chemicals, sulfites or other yeasts are used, except from natural grapes yeasts. The wine remains to the tanks from 15 to 30 days. For the avoidance of oxidation, all those days pomaces are sank in must by fir boughs. Fir boughs and mountain thyme being used as filter enrich the wine with impalpable but innovative aromas that makes it special.

We use the same process for the vinification of mountain Roditis but the must remain in the tanks less days. It offers valuable components to white wine and a bright (orange) colour.

During all stages of vinification we leave Nature to do its job. From the beginning of our occupation with wine production, we chose to produce natural wine, namely a wine with no chemicals, no other additives and without applying methods reducing the valuable components of the product for appearance sake. We found and follow the processes being followed from antiquity, when they produced wine of great biological value, which would resist over the years. We did not have to go back a long way. We simply followed the basic rules being applied by the winegrowers until recent past and before the application of modern vinification with extended application of chemical conservatives and additives, man-made yeasts, “heavy” methods of thermos-vinification, clarification processing aids, sizing and any kind of filter.

    We only use natural yeasts, we do use chemicals in any stage, and we do not filtrate. Mountain nature, the microclimate, low temperatures and pure materials of Nature are our allies. After experimentation for more than 10 years in vinification and release of our products for consumption following this way, we as in position to offer pure, natural wine and distillation products.

Our tradition

"I thank God for the courage and strength he gave us in order to stand against many big and small difficulties and to be currently able to continue what the previous generations entrusted us: “Kosmas”, its cultivation and wine processing of its grapes."

Welcome

We welcome you at the vineyard of Balatsoura’s family, located at the villageKoniakos in Dorida, eighteen kilometers north of Lidoriki, on the foothills ofVardousia and eight kilometers from the Lake of Mornos.We will be very pleased to show you around our vineyard and to offer you theopportunity to taste our wines at the place where they are produced and to meet thebeauties of the region throughout the year.Please contact us in order to schedule your visit and to know each other.

Balatsoura’s Family

About Us

Back in 1997 me and my wife Niki went to France for a postgraduate course ofstudies in Criminology, at the Law School of Montpellier.There, we had the chance to visit both the vineyards of the region and the Chateaux.It was when the idea of creating a vineyard arose. To grow a vine in our place oforigin and to continue the tradition in viticulture and wine processing of localvarieties, before they will lost forever. To contribute as much as we can to thecontinuance of this wonderful culture, of vineyard and wine.We were able to take from the last cultivated wine, the local variety “kosmas” and weresurrect a small new vineyard. Our first production was in 2004.We faced many adversities and difficulties. However, the odors of the nature, thechirps of the birds, the scent of vine leafs, the characteristic aroma of the must and thebouquet of the mature wine rewarded us.

    To close that part of the trip concerning vine and wine, we thank God for the courageand strength he gave us in order to stand against many big and small difficulties andto be currently able to continue what the previous generations entrusted us:“Kosmas”, its cultivation and wine processing of its grapes. George BALATSOURASWinegrower

Dorian Wine

Since 2004, we produce the Dorian Wine at Balatsoura’s vineyards. It concerns of aunique wine with history going back to many centuries. Moreover, since the specificvariety “Kosmas” is not cultivated or wine processed by other winegrowers, ourresponsibility is even bigger.

Products

We feel an obligation toward everyone that maintained its age-old course andeveryone that tasted and enjoyed it. Toward the people that entrusted it for theirmoments of joy or sorrow; toward those that drank it as a reward after the heavy dayat work; toward the shepherd who relaxed with its aroma and taste and toward thepeasant of the rocky mountain land.Therefore we must accent its singular identity.  

Doric Wine Products

The Environment

In the 90s, the vines of Koniakos, the last village that had an organized vineyard at themountain area of Dorida after the 60s, which provided wine the villages of the area,was history….

The area at the south end of Pindos, around the mountain area of Vardousia, wasinhabited since ancient years.It is a mountains area, a poor and difficult place to live.Vine cultivation and wine production never lacked, something very common in anycorner of the Greece. The variety was naturalized through the ages at this area, andgave a bright red wine, named “kosmas” or “kosmadi”. Until the 60s all vineyardsexisted, but unfortunately until the 90s they completely abandoned.We saved the variety and reestablished it. In our days, kosmas is cultivated only inour land.Our vineyard is located at a primeval place free of environmental impacts, ingrasslands with wild flowers and the forest. Every year we take care of our land withlove.

I was lucky to be born in a small village, Koniakos in Dorida. It is a mountain land, difficult with many hidden beauties…. Until that time all the families had vines. All the residents were farmers and cattle-breeders and together with their other occupations, they had a vine, sina qua non. Everyone should have its own vine and produce its own wine.

Kosmas

A variety with history

Let us see what the Dorian (from Artotina) Folklorist Dim. Loukopoulos writes in hisbook “Agricultural habits of Roumeli” in 1937: “There is no village in Roumeliwithout a vine. Many people tell you straight out: I can live without bread, but notwithout wine. That is why they all cultivate vines. They use to plant many varieties,but the most common are: Kosmas or kosmadia that flourish at mountain areas. Itsgrapes are dark black. They are tight, with hard rind, sweet and very tasty, perfectboth for consumption and wine. Kosmas’ variety is also stavrokosmas orstavrokosmadi. Those grapes are made by bunches that are crossed. Looking upwardsthey look like a capital T”.

In 2017, upon my request, was officially acknowledged and identified by thecompetent Agriculturists that is the only vine where the specific variety is currentlycultivated, which is – as many other indigenous but forgotten varieties – keeps manybeautiful secrets to reveal.

“It was when the idea of creating a vineyard arose. To grow a vine in our place oforigin and to continue the tradition going back thousands of years and to contribute asmuch as we can to the continuance of this wonderful culture, of vineyard and wine.”

GALLERY

Our activities

Wine Tasting

One of the activities organized by Balatsoura’s vineyard is wine tasting of Dorian Wine. Wine tasting forms a tradition over the centuries, since Ancient Greeks were much habituated with the procedure of identifying the special characteristics of wines. In Balatsoura’s Family Vineyard, you will have the opportunity to taste the unique wine produced by the variety “Kosmas”, a very special wine, carrying the history of past centuries. We are waiting for you to learn about and taste Dorian Wine, to be charmed by the aromas and taste of its varieties, the “Red dry varietal”, the “Dry White” and the “Red naturally sweet”

We must mention that our visitors are becoming familiar with values such as tradition and its maintenance and are stimulated through our focusing in the principles of quality and authenticity, which form the basis for our philosophy.   Organic Agriculture Farming is an internal need for most people. It is not a coincidence that our ancient ancestors considered “Land” as mother of humanity, a view standing until our days with the quote “Mother’s Earth Products”. That is what prompted me to be occupied with vine cultivation, a holy occupation throughout the centuries. Therefore we bio-cultivate Out of conviction and our effort aims to the minimum environment impact and the production of natural products of Mother Earth… Our organic agriculture is certified by the organization DIO (ΔΗΩ) since 1998. We do not use chemical fertilisers. We only use manure from free-living animals. In order to fight diseases we use copper and Sulphur in natural form..  

Acquaintance with Cultivation

The visit at Balatsoura’s Family Vineyard gives the great opportunity to the visitors to acquaint with Nature. Our visitors attend in person all stages of viticulture and the production of Dorian Wine. They enrich their knowledge relatively to the historicity of “Kosmas” variety, the expertise being developed in the context of the wine production process, as well as they are stimulated and they are in direct contact with viniculture.

  "We love and care for nature"     "We love our place and wine"

"“Harvesting in the village was a fair. Fifteen days before harvesting all villagers were motivated. They used to clean their «katogia» (basements and underpasses of old village houses) where they used to store wine. They were cleaning their wooden barrels. They were filling them with water many times in order to pump up and swell, and avoid leakages when they would put the wine. When everything was ready, harvesting began. Everything should be done inside four days. Then is a vine was left unharvest, the owner would not have the chance to pick the grapes. It was the turn of birds and animals of the dells: mainly mockingbirds, jays, cushats, even sparrows aided in order the forgotten vine owned by an negligent owner to be left only with its grapevines."

Our expectation

I hope that the tradition of wine will move on to future generations and my children will take over and breathe new life and force and they in turn to move on the tradition to their descendants.