2024 Alpha Estate - Malagouzia Florina Turtles Vineyard (750ml)

Alpha Estate was founded in 1997 by viticulturist Makis Mavridis and chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis in the Amyndeon region of Florina, in Greece's northwestern corner, following years of winemaking experience elsewhere in the country. The estate has since grown into one of Greece's most acclaimed producers, working across 220 hectares of privately owned vineyards on the high Amyndeon plateau, where cool nights and mineral-rich soils give the wines a distinct freshness.

Turtles takes its name from the vineyard site itself, a nesting ground for local turtles, situated at around 670 to 690 meters on northwest-facing clay-limestone slopes. The grapes are hand-harvested in small baskets, destemmed, and gently pressed before fermenting in temperature-controlled stainless steel with careful skin contact. The wine then rests on its fine lees for about two months with regular stirring, a technique that builds texture and depth in this naturally aromatic variety, once nearly lost before Greek producers began reviving it in recent decades.

The finished wine is pale yellow with green tints and a vivid, perfumed nose of rose petal, honeysuckle, melon, and lychee, framed by a whisper of warm herb like rosemary or sage. The palate is round and generous yet well balanced, with real length and a lasting, aromatic finish. It pairs beautifully with green salads, grilled seafood, or a spread of Greek meze.