Kontozisis Sun Red 2014

Sun Red is a 50/50 blend of Limniona and Xinomavro grown in the Karditsa prefecture of Thessaly, central Greece. The vineyards sit on the foothills of Mount Agrafa across two distinct terroirs between the villages of Kanalia and Dafnospilia, in sandy-loamy soils with low organic matter and neutral pH, at elevations between 250 and 350 meters. Kontozisis has held certified organic status since 1991, one of the first producers in Greece to do so, farming without synthetic inputs and harvesting entirely by hand from estate-owned vines that yield around 28 hectoliters per hectare.

In the cellar, the wine is made with no commercial yeasts and no press — only free-run juice. Skin and stem contact lasts approximately two months, followed by ten months of aging in old, neutral barrels. The wine is bottled unfiltered with a small addition of sulfites. No fining, no enzymes, no oenological corrections.

Limniona is an ancient Thessalian variety that nearly disappeared and is known for medium body, high natural acidity, fine-grained tannins, and aromatic notes of dark red fruit, herbs, and minerals. Xinomavro adds structure, spice, and earthy depth. Together they produce a wine that reads as both lighter-styled and genuinely substantive — red fruit on the nose, savory grip on the finish.