Kostaki Estate, Samos

Kostaki Estate is run by Evmorfia, who grew up in Samos, and her German partner, Lorenz. They make a fascinating and knowledgeable pair, both with postgraduate degrees in viticulture and oenology, which they combine with a wealth of practical experience in numerous countries abroad. Evmorfia is also a studying for her Master of Wine Exam.

Samos is an island in the Aegean just 1 mile off the coast of Turkey, across the Mycale Strait. We are not unfamiliar with it, having holidayed there decades ago, but the style of wines produced by Kostaki are certainly new to us. The island is dominated by two mountains, Kerkes (1450 m) and Ampelos (1150 m), with the surrounding sea moderating the climate. Every summer, cool winds blow from the North during the hottest hours of the day, keeping the temperature cool and helping the grapes retain freshness. The island is made up of a variety of soils, including limestone, granite, schist and volcanic.

Kostaki Estate is a brand new project with its first vintage coming in 2023. The original vineyards, however, were planted by Evmorfia’s father, Yannis in 1990 in the Ksilaki area, close to Karlovassi in Western Samos. The vineyards obtained organic certification in 2000. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and with the help of her father, Evmorfia began planting her own vineyards, also in the Ksilaki area.