Antilalos – Greek for "echo" – is Markogianni's take on Refosco, a north-Italian red that is a genuine rarity in Greece. The grapes come from 25-year-old, dry-farmed, own-rooted vines at Diasella, in the hills of Olympia, where a constant breeze between the Alpheus valley and the surrounding mountains keeps the fruit fresh through ripening. After a week on the skins with regular punch-downs, the wine rests on its fine lees for several months, then spends two months split between clay amphorae and third-use French oak before being bottled unfiltered.
Deep ruby in the glass, it opens with small red and black forest fruits – sour cherry, wild raspberry, blackcurrant – lifted by herbs and a touch of sweet spice. The palate is round and juicy, with soft, fine-grained tannins, fresh acidity and a long, velvety finish. Serve at around 14–16°C.
At a glance
GrapeRefosco
RegionPeloponnese
Vintage2022
ABV13.0%
SweetnessDry
BodyFull Bodied
Pairs well withGrilled and roast red meats, Lamb, Mushroom dishes, Moussaka, Aged hard cheeses
Organic
Grape
Refosco
Refosco is a family of old red varieties from north-east Italy, most at home in Friuli and across the border in Slovenia and Istria. Its best-known strain, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, takes its name from the stalks that turn red as the grapes ripen. It gives deeply coloured, fresh wines with dark cherry, plum and wild-berry fruit, lively acidity and a faintly bitter, herbal edge on the finish. In Greece it is a rarity; in the warmer hills of the western Peloponnese it keeps its natural freshness while gaining a rounder, riper fruit profile.
Producer
Markogianni Winery is a family business that has been active since 1982. Its main philosophy is respect for nature and the production of quality wines. In order to do so, the company's vineyards are cultivated organically and are certified by the DIO organization since 2001. In addition to their privately owned vineyards, the Markogianni Winery supplies grapes from selected vineyards in the greater area of Skillountia.
