Вивлия Хора

Кавала · Гърция

Ktima Biblia Chora, built in the foothills of Mount Pangeon, is a guardian of the ancient Greek heritage of grape pressing and winemaking, which dates back to the Neolithic period (c. 4300 BC), as shown by archaeological finds from the prehistoric tell settlement of Dikili Tash in the fertile plain of Philippi. When the Phoenicians — master seafarers and traders — came to Pangeon in search of precious metals, they inevitably helped spread grape varieties and the art of winemaking. They brought with them a sacred vine known as "Biblia Ampelos", from the port city of Byblos in Phoenicia. The ancient Greeks went on to produce wine of high quality from this variety, calling it "Biblinos Oenos" (sacred wine), and the Pangeon region became a celebrated wine region of its time. It was known throughout ancient Greece as "Biblia Chora", as recorded in the ancient writings of Hesiod, Theocritus and Michael Psellos. This ancient winegrowing heritage, together with excellent soil and climate conditions, drew the attention of oenologists Vangelis Gerovassiliou and Vassilis Tsaktsarlis. It inspired the two to create a new estate at Pangeon, which they decided to name "Ktima Biblia Chora" ("ktima" meaning estate). The estate's first vines were planted in 1998 over an area of 7 hectares. Construction of the modern winery began in June 2001, and Biblia Chora's first wines were vinified that same year.