Kontogiannis Family

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Kontogiannis Family 2024 'Mangata' Savatiano, Korinthia PGI

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The Kontogiannis family has been farming in Corinth for five generations, with roots in viticulture and olive growing going back to the 1800s. After winemaking faded from the family business during the 20th century, the family spent the last two decades bringing it back, converting the farm to organic agriculture in 1999 and adopting biodynamic practices in 2006. Today, the family manages around 30 hectares of vineyards, olive groves, almond orchards and medicinal plants.

The vineyards stretch from the coast to the foothills of Acrocorinth at 300 meters and into the mountains at 650 meters. They work exclusively with indigenous varieties and have made a point of preserving abandoned vineyards and groves, including vines more than 100 years old. The vineyards are dry farmed, which is increasingly difficult in the Greek climate, but the family believes forcing the vines to adapt to their environment is part of what gives the wines their character.

Winemaking follows the same philosophy. Fermentations are spontaneous, intervention is kept to a minimum and sulfur is restrained. The Penteskoufi wines come from younger vineyards around the abandoned village that gives the range its name, while the Mångata wines focus on older vines and single varieties. The result is a distinctly Corinthian take on Greek wine, built around old vines, native grapes and farming that treats the vineyard as part of a much larger ecosystem.