Ελληνικά
The name of the wine was inspired by the ancient era and geometry, two concepts immediately connected with winemaking.
The three eternal conundrums or brain-teasers of the Ancient Greek mathematicians are shown on the labels of these three Vlassides wines, enticing us to discover them: Doubling the cube – Trisecting the angle – Squaring the circle.
GRIFOS 2. Trisecting the angle
For the white Grifos, a local variety is paired with an international one. Just as its Greek name implies, the “Xynisteri” variety lacks acidity. Exactly for this reason we decided to combine this variety with Sauvignon blanc. The grapes come from non-irrigated vineyards in Kilani and Pachna.
It is best served fresh and cool at 8-10°C.
GRIFOS 2 – White
Varieties:
82% Xynisteri
18% Sauvignon Blanc
Soil Composition:
Calcareous
Vinification:
The harvest of Sauvignon takes place in August and Xynisteri follows around the middle of September. Every year after the end of fermentation, several combinations of the two varieties take place in order to arrive at the most deliciously balanced blend. After that, Grifos 2 is left in keeping with its lees 3 to 6 months before bottling. The wine is bottled just before Christmas.
Organoleptic Characteristics:
This wine bursts with vivid aromas and fruity flavors, captivating the palate with its multifaceted character and lingering finish.
2023 Harvest Information:
| Ethanol: | 12,5% Vol |
| pH: | 3,35 |
| Total Acidity (H2SO4): |
3,2 g/l |
| Reducing Sugars: | 1 g/l |
| Rainfall: October until July |
556,5 mm |
| Harvest Temperatures (Μ.Α.) |
|
| Sauvignon blanc | |
| Lowest: | 19,6°C – (8/2024) |
| Highest: | 32,5°C – (8/2024) |
| Xynisteri | |
| Lowest: | 16°C – (9/2024) |
| Highest: | 28,5°C – (9/2024) |
2024 Harvest:
The winery staff’s summer holidays ended earlier than usual this year due to the early harvest of the 2024 vintage, which began in the last ten days of July and concluded in mid-October.
The total rainfall in the region for the period October 2023 – September 2024 amounted to 585 mm, marking a decrease of over 20% compared to the previous year. Rainfall was unevenly distributed, with relatively high levels during the winter months—especially in January and February—and significantly lower levels during spring and summer. In contrast, 2023 recorded notably higher precipitation in both autumn and spring. This shift played a decisive role in shaping the cultivation conditions of the 2024 vintage.
The mild winter favored an early start to the vegetative cycle. Elevated temperatures combined with low spring rainfall—particularly in late April and early May 2024—accelerated flowering and led to reduced fruit set, resulting in a 20% to 50% drop in yield across many of the winery’s varieties.
From veraison through to harvest, temperatures were noticeably higher than seasonal norms. The prolonged drought from June to August 20th minimized fungal infections in the vineyard, contributed to rapid sugar accumulation in the grapes, preserved high levels of organic acids in white varieties, and promoted increased phenolic concentrations in reds. From late August to the end of harvest, temperatures dropped below average, slowing down ripening—especially in red grape varieties.
Phenological stages of the 2024 vintage (early-ripening varieties):
- Budbreak: mid-March
- Flowering: early May
- Veraison: early July
- Harvest: last ten days of July