ABOUT OUR WINERY

A JOURNEY THROUGH OUR HISTORY

Our story is one of four generations committed to winemaking, rooted in family tradition and values. At Patriotis, we’re proud to share our story, and invite you to learn about the warmth in people, our enduring values, and passion behind every bottle of our wine.

Patriotis Winery is a family owned and operated boutique winery and vineyard , with tradiiton in winemaking that dates back in time.

We aim to create honest, low-intervention wine, from sustainably grown grapes, in the classic old-world French style. We want to ensure every bottle is a true expression of us and our commitment to excellence.

OUR STORY

Our story is one of four generations committed to winemaking, rooted in family tradition and values. At Patriotis, we’re proud to share our story, and invite you to learn about the warmth in people, our enduring values, and passion behind every bottle of our wine.

Patriotis Winery is a family owned and operated boutique winery and vineyard , with tradiiton in winemaking that dates back in time.

We aim to create honest, low-intervention wine, from sustainably grown grapes, in the classic old-world French style. We want to ensure every bottle is a true expression of us and our commitment to excellence.

1868

The village of Vouves and its surrounding valley has a long history of winemaking. Our ancestor, Giorgos Stylianoudakis or, as he was better known, Spanoudogiorgis
(b. 1868-d. 1930), was an expert vinegrower who participated in the Theriso Revolution (the most important uprising of the Cretans, under the leadership of Eleftherios Venizelos, aiming to reunite Crete with mother Greece ) in 1905 He had two children, Manolis (nicknamed later on “Patriotis”) and Anastasia.

1889

The son of Spanoudogiorgis, Manolis Stylianoudakis (b. 1889-d. 1939), left for the USA to work in the mines.A few years later, he returned and took over his ancestral vineyards, starting his wine trading business. His first Italian wine barrel (ca. 1500 L capacity) was rolled uphill through 7 kms of fields with his bear hands. His death came as an accident during harvest season: trying to push the loaded with grapes wagon uphill, the horse drawing the wagon slipped and the entire load smashed onto his chest. His death due to internal bleeding occurred within three days at the age of 50, leaving his two sons, Panagos and Giorgos, to continue his vision. During his lifetime, Manolis took on the nickname “Patriotis” (i.e.”the one who deeply loves his country’) which has been passed down to future generations ever since.
* In the picture the wagon wheel that caused the death of Patriotis in 1939.

1910

Panagos Stylianoudakis (b. 1910-d.1997) or Patriotopanagos, as was his nickname being the son of Patriotis, joined the family business of wine production and trading with a grocery store set in Vouves. In 1940, a year after his father’s death, he left for the World War II , already having three children (Stelios, Manolis, Marika) from his marriage to Sofronia Stylianoudaki.

Defending the Greek borders from the Italian invasion in the mountains of Albania, he suffered from frostbite and was ambutated in both legs twice - first up to the ankles and later just below the knees. Panagos returned home, a war disabled person, and in 1945, after the war ended, he obtained the right to a cigarette monopoly in the café grocery store he already owned.

He officially put his wine and grocery store business together with his wife’s two brothers (Eftychis and Giorgos Mathioulakis). He had four more children (George, Christos, Despina, Nikos), and died in old age as a loving grandfather.

1936

Stelios Stylianoudakis (b.1936 - d.2019) or Patriotostelios started working in wine production and trade with his father and uncles from a young age. He was the only one from the younger generation who was professionally involved with wine, and as he wanted to implement his own ideas, he decided to become independent. The others respected his decision, and he started almost from scratch with the help of his wife, Aspasia.

He managed to procure modern equipment at the time (continuous and discontinuous presses), and constructed cement tanks with a total capacity of 300 tons. Being hardworking and a visionary, he steadily and dynamically developed the business. His life revolved around the vineyard for the most part but he also served as an elected representative of the local community committed to improve the lives of his fellow countrymen.. He had three children (Irene, Sonia, and Panagiotis, the current owner) and died at the age of 84, an active vinegrower till the end.

1978

Panagiotis Stylianoudakis, born in 1978, grew up surrounded by vineyards and inherited the passion and sincerity for winemaking from his father. After studying Oenology in Athens, and at the age of 22, he moved the old winery to a new building with updated oenological equipment. Panagiotis combined the scientific knowledge from his studies with the deep-rooted knowhow in winemaking and marked his own path.'

2014

Panagiotis expanded the vineyard to include well acclimatized to our terroir international grape varieties, such as Syrah and Sauvignon blanc, and also indigeneous grape varieties, such as Assyrtiko and Avgoustiatis, with amazing potential in winemaking.

Vineyards & winery facilities

The authentic character of our wine is primarily expressed in the vineyard. This is where our hard work commences and where the quality of our wines emerges. Mavropila vineyards are located on the east-facing slopes of the valley with a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea.

The morning sun and the cooling north sea breezes, allow the grapes to mature naturally until they reach ideal ripeness. The grape varieties we grow are perfectly acclimatized to our terroir, with evident their varietal characteristics and distinct regional expressions.

LOCATION

Vouves 730 06

SOIL

Limestone-rich clay loam

WHITE VARIETALS

Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc

RED VARIETALS

Syrah, Avgoustiatis.

ALTITUDE

200m

WINERY FACILITIES

The wine production area where the grapes are received and the first stages of wine production follow. Here are housed the destemmer, the vinificators, the pneumatic press, the cryo-extraction tanks, the white and red fermentation tanks and the stabilization tanks.
 
The bottling line is located in a separate area that meets all modern health standards and is visible from the adjacent tasting room.
 
The basement is the cellar with new oak barrels and old chestnut barrels, where the wine is matured in ideal conditions before bottling. This is also where the bottled wine is stored at a constant temperature of 15°C and a humidity of 60%, which guarantees the correct evolution of the wines in the bottle.
 
Our winery has a wonderful, modern tasting room where one can enjoy the wine accompanied by cold appetizers. This new space is the perfect place for the visitor who seeks to relax, taste our wines and feel the atmosphere of a real winery.
 
The inner loft overseeing the stainless steel tanks and allowing panoramic views of the valley down to the sea is also available for work group meetings or projection of educational videos.
 
Our outdoor area consists of a  paved courtyard under plane trees and arbors offering shade during the hot summer months, as well as a lovely green area under the olive grove.
 

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