Alpha Estate
AL-fah es-TATE
A pioneering Greek estate in Amyndeon's high-altitude plateau, championing single-vineyard Xinomavro alongside international varieties since 1997.
Alpha Estate, founded in 1997 by viticulturist Makis Mavridis and Bordeaux-trained chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis, is one of modern Greek wine's leading estates. Based on the Amyndeon plateau in northwestern Macedonia, the estate cultivates 220 hectares of privately owned vineyards at 620 to 710 meters elevation. It produces nearly one million bottles annually across PDO Amyndeon Xinomavro reds and rosés and PGI Florina whites and red blends, and is widely recognized for its Hedgehog single-vineyard Xinomavro and ungrafted pre-phylloxera bottlings.
- Founded in 1997 by viticulturist Makis Mavridis and Bordeaux-trained chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis; one of the first Greek wineries built around a privately owned, estate-grown vineyard at scale
- Cultivates 220 hectares of vineyards on the Amyndeon plateau at 620 to 710 meters elevation, including a 17.93-hectare Hedgehog sub-region (Xinomavro replanted 2000) and an ungrafted Xinomavro parcel planted 1919
- Produces nearly one million bottles annually and exports to more than 40 countries; portfolio spans PDO Amyndeon reds and rosé plus PGI Florina whites and red blends including S.M.X. (Syrah-Merlot-Xinomavro) and single-block Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Tannat
- Gravity-fed winery design, refrigerated grape transport from vineyard to cellar, and cool-hour harvesting preserve aromatic integrity; all wines certified vegan and sustainably produced
- Wine Enthusiast European Winery of the Year 2020; multiple appearances in Wine & Spirit Magazine's Best 100 Wineries list
- Second-generation involvement: Angeliki Iatridou and Emorfili Mavridou carry the project forward alongside the founders
- Hedgehog Xinomavro typically reaches 13.8 to 14.1 percent alcohol; vinified with destemming without crushing, cold soak, stainless steel fermentation, eight months sur lies with stirring, then twelve months in Allier oak (50 percent new) and twelve months in bottle
Founding and Philosophy
Alpha Estate was founded in 1997 by viticulturist Makis Mavridis and Bordeaux-trained chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis, who chose Amyndeon after working in multiple Greek wine regions and abroad. The creation of a privately owned, estate-grown vineyard was a pioneering investment at a time when such structures were rare in Greek wine. Today the estate is managed with the involvement of the second generation from both families: Angeliki Iatridou and Emorfili Mavridou carry the project forward alongside the founders. Alpha Estate's philosophy centers on transparency: gravity-fed cellar design, refrigerated grape transport from vineyard to winery, sustainable viticulture across all 220 hectares, and wines certified both vegan and sustainably produced.
- Iatridis received winemaking training in Bordeaux before co-founding Alpha Estate; the estate planted its first vines in the late 1990s starting from just 7 hectares
- The winery is built inside the vineyard for minimum transport time; refrigerated bins and cool-hour harvesting preserve aromatics before grapes reach the cellar
- Building Management System monitors winemaking conditions remotely to ensure consistency across vintages
- Wine Enthusiast European Winery of the Year 2020; multiple appearances in Wine & Spirit Magazine's Best 100 Wineries
Vineyard Portfolio
Alpha Estate's 220 hectares of privately owned vineyards span the Amyndeon plateau in northwestern Macedonia at elevations between 620 and 710 meters. The estate's holdings include a 17.93-hectare Hedgehog sub-region at 690 meters elevation with northern exposure on sandy-clay soils over limestone, replanted to Xinomavro in 2000. An ungrafted Xinomavro parcel planted in 1919 survives on the plateau's sandy phylloxera-resistant soils, supplying the estate's flagship Ecosystem Vieilles Vignes Reserve. Beyond Xinomavro, the estate cultivates international varieties (Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tannat) and indigenous Greek varieties (Malagouzia) for PGI Florina-designated wines, alongside small plantings of Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Planting density is 5,900 vines per hectare on Vertical Shoot Position trellis at 0.80 by 2.10 meter spacing.
- Hedgehog sub-region: 17.93 ha at 690 m elevation with northern exposure facing Lake Petron and Mount Voras; planted 2000 in sandy-clay over limestone
- Ecosystem Vieilles Vignes parcel: ungrafted Xinomavro vines planted in 1919, the estate's most age-worthy Xinomavro source
- International varieties (Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tannat) and Malagouzia for PGI Florina-designated wines
- Yield controlled at approximately 32 hl/ha through green harvest and selection; planting density 5,900 vines per hectare on VSP trellis at 0.80 by 2.10 meter spacing
Signature Wines
The estate's flagship is Hedgehog Xinomavro, a 100 percent Xinomavro single-vineyard expression of the cool-climate Amyndeon plateau. Vinification begins with hand-harvest in 15-kilogram baskets and refrigerated transport during the coolest hours of the day. In the cellar, destemming without crushing is followed by cold soak and stainless steel fermentation. The wine then rests sur lies for eight months with regular stirring before twelve months in Allier oak barrels (medium grain, white toast, 50 percent new) and twelve months in bottle. Typical alcohol falls between 13.8 and 14.1 percent vol. Beyond Hedgehog, the estate produces an Amyndeon Xinomavro Rosé (the appellation's signature rosé style), single-block Pinot Noir, Tannat, and Syrah, and the S.M.X. Syrah-Merlot-Xinomavro blend. The Ecosystem Vieilles Vignes Reserve Barba Yannis from the 1919 ungrafted parcel represents the estate's most age-worthy expression.
- Hedgehog Xinomavro vinification: destem without crushing, cold soak, stainless steel fermentation, 8 months sur lies with stirring, 12 months Allier oak (50 percent new white-toast), 12 months bottle
- S.M.X. = Syrah, Merlot, Xinomavro blend bottled as PGI Florina; one of the estate's most successful international-varietal collaborations
- Ecosystem Vieilles Vignes Reserve Barba Yannis: ungrafted Xinomavro from the 1919 parcel; unfiltered, the estate's most coveted bottling
- Amyndeon Xinomavro Rosé: still and sparkling rosé under PDO Amyndeon, the only Greek PDO authorized for still rosé wine
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Look it up →Recognition and International Standing
Alpha Estate has been recognized as one of the leading estates of modern Greek wine. The estate was named Wine Enthusiast European Winery of the Year in 2020 and has appeared in Wine & Spirit Magazine's Best 100 Wineries list multiple times. The 2022 vintage of Hedgehog Xinomavro earned Gold at both Mundus Vini and USA Wine Ratings. Beyond awards, the estate has been instrumental in establishing Amyndeon as an internationally recognized terroir for cool-climate Xinomavro, building a market presence that has helped raise awareness of Greek wine more broadly. Distribution to over 40 countries has positioned Alpha Estate as one of the most internationally visible Greek wineries.
- Wine Enthusiast European Winery of the Year 2020
- Wine & Spirit Magazine Best 100 Wineries multiple appearances
- Hedgehog Xinomavro 2022 vintage: Gold at Mundus Vini and USA Wine Ratings
- Distribution to over 40 countries; among the most internationally visible Greek estates
Alpha Estate's flagship Hedgehog Xinomavro shows pale-to-medium garnet color with brick-red edge reflections. The nose opens with dried roses, cranberry, pomegranate, and fresh red cherry, followed by herbal thyme and tomato-leaf notes alongside chalky mineral undertones from the limestone subsoil. On the palate, bright cherry and red berry fruit is framed by vivid acidity and fine, chalky tannins. With bottle age of five or more years, the wine evolves toward leather, tobacco leaf, and dried fruit complexity while retaining its signature mineral freshness. Across the broader portfolio, Alpha Estate wines share elevated natural acidity, fine tannins, and a cool-climate elegance distinct from the warmer expressions of Naoussa.
- Alpha Estate Xinomavro Hedgehog Vineyard$22-26Vines planted 2000 at 690m in the Hedgehog sub-region; 8 months sur lies plus 12 months Allier oak define the benchmark Amyndeon single-vineyard style.Find →
- Alpha Estate Xinomavro Rosé Amyndeon$15-20Accessible entry point into Amyndeon's signature rosé style; the only Greek PDO authorized for still rosé wine.Find →
- Alpha Estate Xinomavro Red Amyndeon$25-40Structured Xinomavro red from the high-elevation plateau; sour cherry, herb, and firm tannin character.Find →
- Alpha Estate Ecosystem Vieilles Vignes Xinomavro Reserve Barba Yannis$55-70From an ungrafted Xinomavro parcel planted 1919; the estate's most age-worthy expression, unfiltered, showing the full complexity of centenarian vines.Find →
- Alpha Estate founded 1997 by Makis Mavridis (viticulturist) and Bordeaux-trained Angelos Iatridis (oenologist); 220 ha privately owned in Amyndeon at 620-710m elevation; nearly 1 million bottles annually; certified vegan and sustainably produced; Wine Enthusiast European Winery of the Year 2020.
- Hedgehog Xinomavro = 100% Xinomavro single-vineyard from 17.93 ha sub-region at 690m, northern exposure, sandy-clay over limestone; vines planted 2000; vinified destem-without-crush, cold soak, stainless steel fermentation, 8 months sur lies, 12 months Allier oak (50% new), 12 months bottle; alcohol 13.8-14.1% vol; yield ~32 hl/ha.
- Ecosystem Vieilles Vignes Reserve Barba Yannis = ungrafted pre-phylloxera Xinomavro from a parcel planted 1919; the estate's most age-worthy bottling, unfiltered.
- Portfolio breadth: PDO Amyndeon Xinomavro reds and rosé (still and sparkling); PGI Florina whites and red blends including S.M.X. (Syrah-Merlot-Xinomavro), single-block Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tannat, and Malagouzia.
- Amyndeon (master canonical: Amyntaio PDO) = Greece's only PDO for still rosé wine; one of two Greek PDOs for sparkling wine alongside Zitsa; sandy phylloxera-resistant soils support ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines.