What: La Tour Melas Winery & Villas
Where: Achinos – Central Greece
Why Go: For the absolute serene getaway in one of the most idyllic countryside scenery of Greek mainland.
Piece de resistence: “Palies Rizes” A rare Agiorgitiko variety produced by the vineyard to write home about.
La Tour Melas, a hidden gem just a two hour and a half drive from Athens, a boutique and top-notch winery nestled inside golden vineyards, surrounded by oak forests overlooking the Aegean Sea and in the middle of the vineyards, a stone tower – La tour Melas – that was initially a stone water sistern watering the young vines that today serves as one of the 8 villas to accommodate guests.
For all the wine lovers, connoisseurs, nature lovers and good living aficionados this is certainly the place to visit for a short escape from the city life.
A perfect combination of natural, unspoilt beauty, secluded, away from the crowds offering privacy and great hospitality in its rustic villas – all nicely decorated named after wine varieties with great comforts scattered around the 11 hectares of land boasting amazing views reaching to the infinite blue of the Aegean Sea.
At times I felt that the only thing missing was the rolling hills of Tuscany but while sitting on the estate’s terraces you realize that this is one of the few places on the Mediterranean where you can savor such great wines enjoying both the natural beauty of a vineyard and the sea.
The place indeed is idyllic exactly as one of the winery’s etiquette’s – “Idylle by La Tour Melas” a very balanced and smooth rose wine made by Grenache, Syrah and Agiorgitiko, ideal for sipping during early spring, perfect to be paired with the fine food served on the estate.
Wine wise while in the winery you will have the chance to savor Palies Rizes – a very rare Agiorgitiko red wine made by Centenarian vines aged in 400-litre Austrian Stockinger casks for 14 months oozing rich red fruit and wooden tones, tannins that come out gradually with a slight bitter aftertaste.
Palies Rizes – the wine it self is a reason to visit the estate.
The essence of good living could be captured in a nutshell just by waking up at the estate, taking breakfast alfresco just outside your suite literally inside the vines gazing at the infinite blue – a landscape where the sky meets the sea.
Just before closing, I would like to add that the privacy of the place is amazing, you feel like you are owning the estate plus the place is beautiful not just for couples but also for a larger group of people to have food and wine tastings in the privacy of their own villa.
The Vineyard
The Cabernet Villa
The Cabernet Villa
