Domaine Costa Lazaridi (with Oenotria Land)

The odds that a German consumer has already had a wine from Costas Lazaridis in the glass at some point are fairly high. Originally active in the marble trade, and particularly active in Germany (see the report by Bayerischer Rundfunk from 2:56, linked here (in German)), Lazaridis got involved in the international distribution of his wines quite early on.

He first satisfied his passion for wine in 1979 with plantings in his home region of Xiropotamos on Mount Falakro, an unusual move for the Drama region at the time.

Likewise a pioneering achievement, the area's first modern winery followed in 1986, now sited in Adriani. From 1987 he ran the business together with his brother Nicos (under the name "Lazaridis WIAC SA"), until they split in 1991 – over "radically different ideas about wine." (Nico Lazaridis has run his own winery in the same town ever since.) Since 1992, the winery has been at its current location – likewise in Adriani.

The 15,000 m2 complex offers space for, among other things, 800 barriques. Alongside the well-known Amethystos series (see the tasting note on the red Amethystos (in German) here), there's now also a somewhat higher-priced range named after his wife, "Château Julia" (single-variety: Chardonnay, Assyrtiko, Merlot, Agiorgitiko), as well as the bottles marketed under "Domaine Costa Lazaridi" (Malagousia – there's a review (in German) here, Sémillon, Merlot Rosé – there's a review (in German) here, Syrah).

The original 8.5 ha have grown to 280 ha, spread across several vineyards in the area with very different terroirs – elevations ranging between 200 and 950m, for instance. Besides wine, balsamic vinegar and spirits are also produced. The company is among the big players in Greece. It's been listed on the stock exchange since 2000. 125 employees – 100 of them working the estate's own vineyards – produce around 900,000 bottles a year.

That quality is nonetheless a priority is shown by the fact that yields are, as a rule, capped at 8 t/ha (roughly 60 hl/ha). In the 1990s, Vassilios Tsaktsarlis, a highly respected oenologist, was also involved in developing the wines further (he later co-founded "Ktima Biblia Chora" together with his friend Evangelos Gerovassiliou (in German), which is introduced here). Lazaridis draws on advice from respected experts across every field of production, including none other than Michel Rolland for the reds.

Especially interesting for wine lovers is that Costas Lazaridis founded a satellite winery near Kapandriti in Attica in 2000, "Oenotria Land."

Here, under the influence of the microclimate shaped by Lake Marathon, the wine is produced organically. Yields are kept very low in the process – at 3 t/ha (roughly 25 hl/ha). The wines age 18 to 24 months in oak. These are cuvées of French varieties with the native Agiorgitiko, namely Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. (On the latter, we've written a review (in German) here.) The building complex also houses a wine museum.

Costas Lazaridis's company is now being handed over to the next generation, to Costas and Julia's twin sons, with George bringing oenological expertise and Gerasimos economic expertise. Besides the website, which is also available in German, you can follow the company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too.

Tasting note on the Amethystos Red 2015 and 2018: here (in German).

Tasting note on the Oenotria Land Cabernet Sauvignon/Agiorgitiko 2018: here (in German).

Tasting note on the Malagousia 2019: here (in German).

Tasting note on the Merlot Rosé 2020: here (in German).