The legacy of the land
Ktima Biblia Chora, built in the hills of Mount Pangeon, is the guardian of a great Greek legacy of grape pressing and winemaking that goes back to the Neolithic period (cc. 4300 BC) as evidenced by the archaeological artefacts found at the prehistoric tell settlement of Dikili Tash in the fertile Philippi valley.
When the Phoenicians, master seafarers and traders, came to Pangeon in search of precious metals, they inevitable helped spreading vine cultivars and the art of winemaking. With them they brought a sacred vine known as “Biblia Ampelos” from the port city of Byblos in Phoenicia.
The Ancient Greeks continued producing a wine from it called “Biblinos Oenos”, so justifiably that the Pangeon region developed into a famous winegrowing centre. It was known throughout all of Ancient Greece as “Biblia Chora” as mentioned in ancient writings by Hesiod, Theoktitos and Michael Psellos.
The history of the Estate
The ancient winegrowing heritage and the ideal soil and climatic conditions caught the attention of winemakers Vangelis Gerovassiliou and Vassilis Tsaktsarlis. It inspired both men to establish a new estate in Pangeon, which they decided to name “Ktima Biblia Chora” (ktima means: estate) after the reference in ancient writings, as suggested by Dr. Stavroula Kourakou Dragona.
In 1998 the estate’s first vines were planted, covering an area of 7 ha. The construction of the modern winery began in June 2001 and the first wines of Ktima Biblia Chora were vinified that same year.
ασίληςVasilis
Vassilis Tsaktsarlis was born in Epanomi and is an award-winning, highly respected winemaker.
In 1988 he graduated in Chemistry at the Aristotle University and later also obtained a degree in Oenology from the University of Bordeaux.
He studied under Denis Dubourdieu of Bordeaux fame. For almost a decade, Vassilis was the oenologist and head of production at Domaine Costa Lazaridi before he teamed up with his friend and best man, Vangelis, to eventually found Ktima Biblia Chora.
He is married to Alexandra Karachristou and they have two children.
αγγέληςVangelis
Vangelis is a 1974 graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Aristotle University and obtained a degree in Oenology at the University of Bordeaux under the renowned Emile Peynaud.
Vangelis held the position of resident winemaker at Domaine Porto Carras where he was instrumental in the revival of the Greek Malagousia variety.
In 1981 he devoted himself to the expansion of the family vineyard in his homeland, Epanomi, into today’s renowned Ktima Gerovassiliou. Vangelis is a founding member and former president of the association of Winemakers of North Greece.
He is married to Sonia Tziola. Together they have three children.
COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
Since the inception of Ktima Biblia Chora both oenologists have been enterprising in several winemaking regions in Greece and abroad.
From 2006 to 2016 Vangelis Gerovassiliou and Vassilis Tsaktsarlis teamed up with wine importer Takis Soldatos in a new boutique winery christened “Escapades” in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
In 2014 they acquired Domaine Kokkalis located in Agios Andreas in the municipality of Ilida, in the Peloponnese peninsula, and rebranded it “Ktima Dyo Ipsi”.
In 2017 they started a partnership with oenologist Ioanna Vamvakoudi to build “Mikra Thira”, the first winery in Therassia, a small yet unique island near Santorini.
In 2018 the two winemakers purchased the family winery of the late Titos Eftichidis in Kilkis, Goumenissa and relaunched it as “Mikro Ktima Titos”.
First Plantings
The first vines got planted in a selected vineyard at the foot of Pangeon. They are Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, all cultivated according to organic farming standards.
The First Wine
For the first time in Greece, a wine was created by marrying the varieties Assyrtiko and Sauvignon Blanc. It remains a trendsetter.
International Acclaim For Ovilos White
The award-winning palmares of Ovilos White started with its distinction as ‘Best Dry White Wine in Europe’ at the international wine competition Mundus Vini.
Inauguration Of The Winery
The Estate got inaugurated following the completion of the works on the winery buildings and its hospitality reception.
The Discovery Of An Unknown Variety
An unidentified variety was discovered at the foot of Mount Pangeon. DNA testing later shows that it is an old native Greek grape that is nonidentical to any other variety. It has since been duly propagated at the Estate.
Certified Organic
After years of practicing organic grape farming, all labels of the Estate got certified as organically certified wine.
