Ελληνικά
We named our wine Αlátes inspired by the unique language spoken on our island.
Although the Cypriot dialect is based on Greek, it has been strongly influenced by various nations that have inhabited our land through history; Arabs, Turks, English, French and Italians.
Αlátes, in Cypriot, means wings. Our Αlátes is produced solely from old vines of Xinisteri, the dominant local white grape variety. It is our way of giving wings to the vision of introducing a fine representative Cypriot white wine to the world at large.
Produced exclusively from old non-irrigated vineyards situated at an altitude of around 900 meters in the Afamis mountain area. The soils where the vines grow are calcareous with clay-loam texture. The vines are non-grafted, trained in goblet.
Alates, from the 2020 harvest, is considered a wine of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) from the Wine Villages of Limassol (Krasochoria Lemesou)- Afamis Sub-region. The sub-region of Afamis includes parts of the communities of Vouni, Kilani, Mandria and Omodos. Wines indicated with the PDO mark, belong to the highest quality level, based on the legal framework of wine standards in Cyprus.
With the potential to mature for an additional five to seven years.
Best served at 10-12°C.
Award
Year of Harvest
Gold Medal
23rd Thessaloniki International Wine Competition 2023
2020
Silver Medal
13th International Cyprus Wine Competition 2022
2020
Silver Medal
Decanter World Wine Awards 2022
2020
Commended
Expo Wine Trophy 2021 Zurich
2019
Silver Medal
Decanter Word Wine Awards 2020
2018
ALÁTES
Varieties:
100% Xynisteri from old vines
Soil Composition:
Calcareous
50% Sand
25% Clay
25% Silt
Vinification:
Harvest takes place at the end of September and immediately after, the grapes are placed in a refrigerated storage area. On the next day, having reached a temperature of 10 0C, they are destemmed and then sent to a pneumatic press where the juice is extracted. Alcoholic fermentation and maturation take place in a 2000 litre untoasted oak vat.
Organoleptic Characteristics:
- Color: Yellow with golden hues.
- Aroma: Peel and flesh of ripe citrus fruits, herbs, bread, wet pebbles, notes of sweet spices.
- Taste: Dry with cool acidity, creamy with well-balanced structure, minerality, long aftertaste.
- Potential ageing: 5 to 7 years.
Harvest Information 2020:
| Ethanol: | 13% Vol |
| pH: | 3,2 |
| Total Acidity (H2SO4): |
3,7 g/l |
| Reducing Sugars: | 1,8 g/l |
| Rainfall: October until July | 900mm |
| Harvest Temperatures (Μ.Α.) | |
| Xynisteri | |
| Lowest: | 17,5°C – (9/2020) |
| Highest: | 33,5°C – (9/2020) |
2020 Harvest:
2020 was characterised by a relatively mild winter. However, the temperatures that prevailed during the winter months affected the phenological stages of the vineyard (bud burst, flowering, veraison, maturation) which delayed their progression and for this reason harvest begun during the 3d week of August.
The total amount of rainfall in our area reached 850mm of rain, with 75% taking place between December of 2019 and January of 2020. The drought that followed, which started in mid-spring and continued until the harvest period, along with the absence of intense hot weather and with optimal viticultural care, helped to produce perfectly healthy grapes with excellent ripening.
The average temperature in August was 25.5°C, favouring the technological and phenolic maturation of Sauvignon blanc and Shiraz, varieties which ripen during this time of the year.
The average temperature in September of 2020 was 25°C, 2.5°C higher than in 2019. The increased temperature resulted in the abrupt increase of the sugars of the Merlot variety during harvest season. On the contrary, Cabernet Sauvignon had a simultaneous technological and phenolic maturation. The non-grafted indigenous varieties of our vineyards of Xinisteri, Promara, Υiannoudi and Maratheftiko were not affected by this change and enjoyed a smooth maturation due to their adaptation to the climate of Cyprus.
As a result of all the above, this year’s harvest has contributed significantly to the creation of wines that highlight the typical character of each variety with a strong terroir element, especially in wines which derive their grapes from selected vineyards such as Alates, Oroman, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Opus Artis.
This year’s white wines of Vlassides Winery present intense varietal aromas that evolve as we taste them and are characterised by balanced acidity and a cool aftertaste.
Due to the smooth maturation of our red varieties, the wines produced will be characterised by intense varietal aromas with a velvety balance between alcohol, acidity and phenolic load.