Markogianni Winery
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Country of Origin: Greece
Location: Skillountia, Western Peloponnese
People: Antonia & Yiannis Markogianni, Owners & Winemakers
Viticulture: Practicing Biodynamic
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Near Ancient Olympia, between the Alpheus River and the slopes of Mount Lapitha, the Markogianni family has been farming vines since 1982. Brothers George, Konstantinos and Dionysios established the winery here for good reason: the semi-mountainous landscape of small hills, forests, olive groves and vineyards creates a distinctive microclimate. Warm air from the river meets cooler air descending from the mountains, creating a steady breeze through the vineyards that helps the grapes ripen slowly while holding onto freshness.
Today, the second generation, Antonia and Yiannis, runs the estate with a focus on organic farming and indigenous, own-rooted vines. The vineyards sit in clay-loam and sandy-clay soils and are kept at relatively low yields. Assyrtiko, Roditis Alepou and the local Asproudes make up the white varieties, while the reds and rosés include Kolliniatiko, Vertzami, Mandilaria and Mavrodaphne, along with the less expected Refosco.
The winery produces a small range of low-intervention wines, allowing the local varieties and Olympia’s particular growing conditions to take the lead. Just as importantly, the family is actively looking for the obscure grapes still hiding in the vineyards around Olympia, varieties that have survived mostly because someone kept planting them, not because the market asked for them. They also produce traditionally double-distilled tsipouro from their own grape marc. It’s a family estate with a clear interest in preserving what makes this corner of the Peloponnese so special.