Mantinians | The group of producers of Mantineia that will aim to promote the wines of the zone under one name

The group of Mantinians, the wineries located in the Mantinia PDO zone, were first introduced to us last September with an informal profile. Their synergy and the intention to undertake joint initiatives now acquires an official identity. Today the Mantinians were born, the group of producers of Mantinia that will aim to promote the wines of the zone under one name.

With 13 of the area’s wineries participating in the Association, the common voice is expected to be heard loudly, given that the region’s wines have gained a lot of recognition in recent times.
An idea that existed but an occasion for the resumption of the dialogue was given by Ioanna Papaioannou and Christos Zacharopoulos who made the first move in this direction.

After several discussions, the Association took shape and today the first Board of Directors was formed. Andriani Tselepou was elected president, Marilena Panagopoulou as vice president, Alexandros Tzahristas as secretary, Betty Verveniotis as treasurer, Konstantinos Bosinakis as member and Apostolos Kalogeropoulos and Thodoris Koutsoumpos as alternate members. Young people with a vision for their country.

The Mantinians logo
In Mantineia of Arcadia, the PDO zone of Moschofileros, important things are happening lately that are attracting the attention of wine people from all over the world. The first change has to do with quality. The wines of the zone are improving year by year and the general picture, from all the wineries is very positive. With different styles and expressions, with formalities on the one hand but also with radical approaches on the other, winemakers have set out to discover and present different versions.
From classic white vinifications, fresh tank wines or matured in wooden barrels, to rosé, semi-dry, sparkling and recently even pet nat. The limits seem inexhaustible and the winemakers seem to like experimenting to satisfy wine lovers who are constantly looking for new flavors and styles.

The response of all this effort made by the wineries of Mantineia in the commercial sector is also important. Next to the large established wineries, new, small and promising efforts are being added and most of the Mantinea wines are finding their place in the market. Mantineia, a brand that was underestimated by many and for a long time, as it was identified with other more classic wine eras, but now acquires a modern character and can now be an example to follow.
The Association of winemakers of Mantineia is what was missing in order to have the required extroversion and common policy.

After the first tasting by The Mantinians for wine lovers from restaurants and wineries, who had the opportunity to discover the different versions of Moschofileros, as well as the other varieties grown in the zone, the official presentation to the Athenian public will soon follow . Among the goals of the Mantininas, beyond the promotion of the “Mantineia” brand, at least as they were set at the beginning of this group, is the development of wine tourism in combination with the gastronomy of the place, the promotion of cultural elements, but that of the press. One of the main goals of the association is the modernization of the PDO zone in order to deal with the new data that exist today with climate change in a timely and effective manner and to ensure even better the quality of the wines of the zone.

The wineries that make up the Mantinians:
1. Plot 211
2. Verbeniotis Winery
3. Juliet and Romeo Wines
4. Kalogeropoulos estate
5. Moropoulos Winery
6. Bosinaki Winery
7. Butari Winery
8. Novus Winery
9. Panagopoulos estate
10. Estate of Papageorgiou
11. Spyropoulos estate
12. Troupi Winery
13. Tselepo Estate

The protagonist of Mantineia is Moschofilero, one of the 4 emblematic Greek varieties (along with Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro) in the effort made by wine institutions to promote Greek wines abroad.
The PDO zone of Mantineia has approximately 15,000 hectares of vineyards with more than 30 wineries. big and recognized but also very small, new.

Protected Designation of Origin means that in order for the word Mantinea to appear on the label of a wine, it must come from at least 85% of the Moschofilero grape, from vines within the zone and the remaining 15% being White. It can be quiet or bubbly, depending on what the producer wants to express.

• The cultivation of Moschofileros in Mantineia is mainly favored due to the cold climate.
• It is a red variety and not white!
• It is late, so its harvest takes place in October.
• She likes the altitude and in the arcadian plateaus she can mature relatively easily while the truth is that she does not give the same results in other areas she has been tested.
• Gives pleasant wines with great aromatic intensity dominated by rose and citrus aromas.