Ktima Brintziki and the Influences of Ancient Greece
In the western part of the Peloponnese, in the village of Lanzoi, the region of ancient Olympia, lies the 15-hectare estate of Ktima Brintziki. The family has been cultivating vines there since 1932, passing down traditions from generation to generation that began nearly 4000 years ago, embodying the passion, respect, and love for their land and its fruits.
Winemaker Sakis Brintzikis, along with his wife Dionysia, took over the family estate and turned it into a full-fledged vineyard in 1994. They partnered with the renowned oenologist George Kotscrides, whose reputation was established in the highly acclaimed Bordeaux estates such as Château Magdelaine, Petrus, and Château Calon-Ségur.
Together, they created a range of unique wines using indigenous grape varieties, beautifully reflecting the distinctive characteristics of the region renowned for its viticulture, in an ideal microclimate where clay soils are combined with moisture from the rivers. The grape varieties thriving there include Roditis, Tinaktorogos*, Malagouzia, Fileri, Assyrtiko (white grapes), and Augustiatis, Agiorgotiko, and Merlot (red grapes).
The Tinaktorogos grape variety is an indigenous variety from the region of ancient Olympia and has been exclusive to the Ktima Brintziki estate for over twenty years. It is such an ancient grape variety that it is said to have been mentioned by Homer in his works dating back to the 8th century BC.
The use of geothermal energy – to cover the cooling and heating needs of the tanks and premises – as well as the use of photovoltaic systems – sunlight captured and converted directly into electricity through solar panels – led Ktima Brintziki to be recognized in 2012 as Greece’s first green winery.
The current facilities of the estate are among the most modern and sophisticated in all of Greece, contributing to an ecological and terroir-respectful operation, never forgetting the unbreakable ties to the past of this Olympic land, producing organic wines with zero carbon footprint. Philosophically, the Brintzikis believe that organic certification is the modern expression of what their ancestors did for thousands of years; simply cultivating and treating the land and people with sustainable respect.
The family also plays an important role in the community by providing a local gathering place for the arts. Indeed, the amphitheater on their property is offered as a venue for hosting theater performances, concerts, and other shows.
They have also restored a mill that is believed to have been built before the Turkish occupation in Greece, turning it into a museum referencing the art of the region’s vineyards and its transmitted culture.
All these elements make this estate a unique reference, producing wines of a quality as great as its mythical lands.
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