Aerial shot of Alpha Estate in PDO Amyndeon.
Alpha Estate
Greek wine travel is often associated with the sea, whether through the volcanic cliffs of the islands or tavernas along the coast. Amyndeon sits far from that setting. Located in Florina, in northwestern Greece, the region lies on a high plateau ringed by jagged peaks, with freshwater lakes below. The continental climate brings cooler summers and colder winters, a boon for wine lovers seeking aromatics and brightness over weight and ripeness.
Alpha Estate has built its identity around that setting. Founded in 1997 by viticulturist Makis Mavridis and chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis, the estate sits in Amyndeon, where its vineyards rise between 620 and 710 meters and cover 220 hectares. Alpha Estate makes wines under two northern Greek geographical indications: PDO Amyndeon (ΠΟΠ Αμύνταιο), centered on Xinomavro, and PGI Florina (ΠΓΕ Φλώρινα), the broader designation for wines from the wider region, including whites, blends, and other varieties.
Guest experience is part of the lifestyle of Nothern Greek wineries.
Alpha Estate
In 1997, Amyndeon had little recognition as a serious wine region. Cool conditions could complicate ripening in difficult years. However, the founders persisted, believing the region’s climate would become more important as warmer Greek regions faced increasing heat and drought. They were right.
As one of the region’s pioneers, Alpha Estate had the rare chance to build from the ground up with sustainability in mind from day one. That has meant pursuing environmental certifications, cutting energy use with solar panels, and switching to lighter-weight bottles.
Angeliki Iatridou, daughter of co-founder Angelos Iatridis, forms part of Alpha Estate’s second generation. She grew up around the family’s vineyards before earning a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in viticulture and enology, with time spent in Montpellier, Bordeaux, and Turin.
Today, she works across Alpha Estate and its related projects, looking forward to the summer season influx of travelers. “When people come to Amyndeon, they see an alternate side of Greece,” she says. “They see the mountains, the lakes, and the way the climate influences the wines.”
Second gen sisters Angeliki Iatridou and Emorfili Mavridou at Alpha Estate.
Alpha EstateWines Shaped By Altitude
Amyndeon is one of Greece’s coolest continental wine regions, with vineyards influenced by Lake Vegoritida, Lake Petron, and the surrounding mountains. The region’s altitude and cold nights help preserve acidity and aromatics in the wines, distinguishing Amyndeon from Greece’s warmer coastal and island appellations.
Part of that distinction comes through Xinomavro. The grape, long associated with weight, structure, and tannin, can show a more delicate, red-fruited side in PDO Amyndeon. Winemakers often place it somewhere between Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir, with Nebbiolo’s structure and Pinot Noir’s perfume and lift.
Aerial view of vineyards, lakes, and mountains.
Alpha Estate
The Hedgehog Single Vineyard Xinomavro, a PDO Amyndeon wine sourced from a north-facing plot overlooking Lake Petron, shows that character in the glass: bright purple-red, with layered aromas of red berry, leather, and spice, rounded tannins, balanced acidity, and a long finish with hints of quince.
“For me, Xinomavro is a very dynamic variety,” says Iatridou. “You can have sparkling, rosé, light red wines, and wines with aging potential. In Amyndeon, we have freshness and red fruit, and we do not need to cover that with too much oak.” Amyndeon is also one of the only appellations in Greece permitted to produce PDO Xinomavro sparkling wine.
Wine Tourism Beyond The Islands
Amyndeon gives travelers an alternative to more popular spots like the islands and coastline. Set high on the Eordea Plateau and ringed by Lakes Vegoritida and Petron, the region is cooler and drier than the rest of Greece in summer, with temperatures hovering in the 80s. The same lakes and mountains that moderate the vines make for easy days of hiking, lakeside villages, and afternoons with a glass of Xinomavro.
“Americans love it because it is not so hot,” she says. “They may go island hopping, then come up to the mountains for a change of setting.”
Iatridou says Alpha Estate sees Greek visitors, Europeans, and a growing number of Americans, many of whom arrive curious about Greek varieties. The Turtles Single Vineyard Malagouzia, made under PGI Florina, offers a sense of that range. It starts with a floral, aromatic nose with notes of rose petal, melon, and honeysuckle, with a round, textured palate and a lingering finish woven with notes of rosemary.
“They are more open to try new wines,” she says. “They want to go to different restaurants, try new activities, and really understand the place.”
A Region Gaining Company
When Alpha Estate began, Amyndeon had few wineries and limited recognition outside northern Greece. That has changed as more producers invest in the area. Rather than treating newcomers as competition, Iatridou sees the shift as useful for the region.
Younger Greek winemakers often approach the industry more collaboratively than past generations, she says, especially in regions still building recognition abroad. More producers bring more visitors, more market attention, and more awareness for a region long overshadowed by other important Greek PDO regions.
“My father always said Greece is small compared with France,” says Iatridou. “We need to work together and show people our traditions. United, we work better.”
Two newer projects from Alpha Estate’s second generation extend that regional focus on PGI Florina. A new winery led by Angeliki Iatridou, Nikolas Iatridis, Emorfili Mavridou, and Konstantina Mavridou, the second generation of Alpha Estate, brings together local growers under a collective model focused on bright, accessible wines. A second project recently launched by the next generation focuses exclusively on premium sparkling wine made by the traditional method.
Old vines in PDO Amyndeon
Alpha EstateThe Bet on the North Pays Off
Alpha Estate’s story in Amyndeon PDO region began with a decision to invest in a region that was chilly, remote, and not widely understood. Nearly three decades later, the same conditions that once made the area a demanding place to work have become part of its draw. For wine travelers, Amyndeon offers a unique northern Greek route for exploring another side of the country’s landscapes, wine and food culture.
Dining and Cooking