Grape

Zakynthino

Zakynthino is a white grape variety, mostly cultivated in the islands of Cephalonia and Zakynthos. Potentially yielding in premium quality wines, this very characteristic variety delivers citrusy aromas with complex and versatile flavours.

Producer

Melissinos

Reviving the family estate at Ano Thiramona, at the southern part of the island of Cephalonia, the winery has experimented with the indigenous varieties of the island, some of which, if not totally forgotten, have certainly become neglected over time. Mount Aenos, in the middle of the island, divides Kefalonia into its northern and southern parts, creating many different microclimates, even at short distances. The volcanic character of the island and the peninsula of Paliki offer even more variety in the soil morphology and composition. Last but not least in importance effect over the quality of Cephalonian wine is the delayed advent of phylloxera on the island (1970) and the preservation of old own-rooted vineyards. The winery promotes this varietal diversity and reveals the natural potential of the local grapes by producing high-quality wines with minimum intervention in a limited number of bottles. Their Mavrodaphne wines come from autochthonous ungrafted plants of the local and superior island clone.