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CHARALABOGLOU
Serres, Greece
Situated in Greece's eastern Macedonia region (it shares a name with the sovereign country directly to the north), Serres is one of the most diverse Greek appellations both geologically and climatically. Much of the area is flat, but in the southeast near Kavala, it becomes more mountainous: the foothills of Mount Pangaion. Here, about 200m up, we find Charalaboglou - in the distance, the mountain itself towers to 1956m.
Soils in this region are windblown loam and rich clay, not unlike the base of the Alps. Abundant spring rains and underground aquifers make it possible to dry farm. George and Argyri Charalaboglou started their winery in 1999 and quickly set about certifying as organic; it was their first priority from the start. Their daughter Anthi grew up to become an agronomist before moving to France to study oenology, and then on to New Zealand to stage. There, she met her partner and the winemaker at Charalaboglou, Matt Van Der Spuy.
The area is rich with biodiversity, natural fruits, wildflowers, and fauna, all of which are actively encouraged. The winery lays claim to a unique soil composition, even within the niche scope of Serres: iron-heavy red-brown silt draped over dense white clay. The goal at Charalaboglou is to combine tradition with innovation, integrating their organic vineyards into a thriving, diverse ecosystem. The team does things 'the old way:' manual harvests, slow fermentations, and gentle handling. But they're also meticulous and methodical about understanding the science of the liquid: testing the chemistry of each wine, and considering every component. The wines reflect their origin story, teeming with exuberance, brightness, and joy.
In true family-winery fashion, Anthi's siblings have come into the fold since she and Matt returned from New Zealand to take the lead. Her brother Nikos manages the vineyards, and her sister, Christianna, grew up to be an artist and contributes their beautiful labels.
Wines
Charalaboglou Malagouzia in Anthesis PGI Serres
Charalaboglou Viditis in Anthesis PGI Serres