Ariousios

It was the dream and vision of Dimitris Kefalas together with some friends, in 1998, that brought wine production back to Chios alone, specifically in Ariousia Chora, the north-western part of the island. This land is mentioned as the most famous and important wine growing area in the ancient world; for about 2500 years the area had the reputation that Bordeaux has today. The construction of the winery as we know it today was completed in 2008.

The company's intention was to keep rare varieties of local vines alive and grow new ones using traditional methods, preserving the environment from any pollution, without the use of chemical fertilizers, using only organic chicken manure. This process is carried out for all the wines that are produced, both conventional and natural. On the 9 hectares planted with vines, cultivation and harvesting are done by hand, as the mountainous landscape and terraces do not allow easy access to technical means.

Nowadays, thanks to Luca Gargano's input towards a more natural production, Dimitris intends to increase more and more the production towards this direction. The most representative wines are the natural dry red "Chiotiko" and the natural dry white "Assyrtiko". Old amphorae are also used to allow fermentation and to approach the production method of the old ancestors.