Йеровасилио

Епаноми · Гърция

Ktima Gerovassiliou is the creation of Vangelis Gerovassiliou. In 1981 he began reviving the family vineyard, which covered 2.5 hectares in the Papamola area of Epanomi, roughly 25 km south-east of Thessaloniki. In this singular ecosystem he planted mainly Greek varieties alongside some international ones. The first vinification took place in 1986 in the modern winery built beside the vineyard. Vangelis Gerovassiliou was born in Epanomi to a family of agronomists and winegrowers. After studying at the School of Agriculture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, he specialised in oenology, viticulture, wine tasting and winemaking technology at the University of Bordeaux in France. During his studies he became an associate of the renowned Bordeaux professor Émile Peynaud and took part in his team's tastings at France's famous châteaux. From 1976 until early 1999 Vangelis worked as oenologist at Domaine Porto Carras, then producing some of Greece's most highly regarded wines. It was there that he first vinified, revived and rescued the long-forgotten Greek variety Malagousia. In 1981, drawing on his knowledge and experience in viticulture and fine wine, Vangelis Gerovassiliou began restoring the family vineyard and founded Ktima Gerovassiliou. In 1998, together with oenologist Vassilis Tsaktsarlis, he founded Ktima Biblia Chora at Kokkinochori in the Kavala region of northern Greece — a 48-hectare vineyard stretching across the slopes of Mount Pangeon and surrounding the modern winery. In 2014 Ktima Biblia Chora purchased the Kokkoli Estate at Agios Andreas in the Peloponnese and created Ktima Dyo Ipsi. In 2017, in collaboration with oenologist Ioanna Vamvakouri, they founded Mikra Thira, the first winery on Therasia — the small island that was part of Santorini until the great volcanic eruption of 1600 BC. A recent addition is the small family winery of Titos Eftychidis in Goumenissa, a region known for its winemaking traditions. Vangelis Gerovassiliou and his wife Sonia Tziola-Gerovassiliou have passed their love of wine and viticulture on to their children and to the estate's staff alike. Argyris, Marianthi and Vasiliki — the second Gerovassiliou generation — having completed their studies in oenology, management and marketing respectively, are now part of the winery team, contributing their knowledge and fresh ideas.