Argatia Winery

Overview & Philosophy

Argatia is a family enterprise founded in 2000 by Panagiotis Georgiadis and Dr. Haroula Spinthiropoulou.
“Argatia” is derived from the Pontic Greek term meaning “cooperation for the achievement of a common goal.”
The winery is situated in Rodohori, about 12 km northwest of Naoussa, at an elevation around 540 m.
The founders combine agricultural science, viticultural expertise, and a passion for indigenous Greek grape varieties with a philosophy of respect for terroir and balanced, biological viticulture.

Vineyards & Terroir

• Argatia owns several vineyard parcels located in Krasna, Rodohori, Lakka, and Giannakochori.

• The first vineyards were established around 2000 in Krasna at ≈ 260 m altitude, in heavier soils.

• In 2008, a vineyard was planted in Lakka (~250 m) on lighter soils (sandy / clay loam).

• More recent plantings include an Assyrtiko block in Krasna (2019) and a Mavrodaphne vineyard at ~550 m near Rodohori (2020).

• The estates practice organic cultivation, certified through appropriate inspection bodies.

• Soils range from heavier clay / sandy-clay types in Krasna to more loamy, lighter soils in Lakka.

• The vineyards are managed for moderate vigor and moderate yields, aiming for balance and concentration.

Grape Varieties & Wine Styles

Argatia focuses primarily on Greek indigenous varieties, while blending tradition with selective innovation.
Key varieties planted include:

• Xinomavro — the signature grape of Naoussa, with clones V3 and V6 represented.

• Negoska

• Mavrodaphne (experimental)

• Assyrtiko

• Athiri

• Malagouzia

The winery’s style emphasizes minimal intervention: gentle extraction, native yeasts, and careful aging.
Notable wines in their portfolio include:

• A Naoussa PDO 100% Xinomavro red, barrel-aged.

• A red blend labeled “Charoula Tank”, combining Xinomavro, Mavrodaphne, and Negoska.

• A white “Charoula” blend of Malagouzia (60 %), Assyrtiko (40 %), with minor Athiri.

• Older vintages and limited-release bottlings sold directly at the winery.

Their red wines are structured and age-worthy; the white wines emphasize freshness, aromatics, and minerality.

Technical & Operational Details

• The winery facility is located at the Rodohori site, consolidating production under one roof.

• Fermentation practices rely on native / indigenous yeasts; minimal or no commercial yeast additions.

• The use of organic viticulture ensures limited synthetic inputs, and the goal is ecological balance.

• Filtration is kept minimal or avoided to preserve texture and phenolic integrity.

• Red wines typically see maturation in oak barrels (for the Naoussa PDO and other reds).

• Production scale is modest — Argatia makes on the order of 13,000–14,000 bottles annually.

• Around 40–50 % of production is exported (to North America, Australia, Europe).

• The estate also welcomes visitors and promotes wine tourism, linking wine heritage, local identity, and terroir awareness.

Strengths & Distinctive Features

• Its elevation (≈ 540 m) and hillside location provide climate moderation, temperature variation, and freshness.

• Use of native Greek varieties anchored in Naoussa’s tradition gives a clear regional identity.

• Commitment to organic, low-intervention viticulture enhances purity and authenticity in the wines.

• A balanced, modest production scale allows close attention to quality.

• Strategic vineyard diversification across altitudes and soil types contributes to stylistic breadth.

• A winemaker legacy: the next generation (Christoforos Georgiadis) is active in operations, linking tradition and innovation.