SEMELI WINERY:
in the heart of a unique Greek terroir
With deep roots in time-honored traditions, Semeli is a leading Greek winery and one of the country’s most significant wine-related developments. The sunny Mediterranean climate, the extraordinary terroir, and the craftsmanship of seasoned winemakers result in wines of distinct character that have earned the respect of experts and captured the hearts of wine lovers worldwide.
Dominated by rugged mountains and set amidst age-old cypress trees and olive groves, the Semeli Estate is perched on the slopes of the hilly Koutsi region, one of the most celebrated “crus” in the lush upland valley of Nemea— Greece’s most important appellation and the crown jewel of its new wine industry.
Fourteen years ago with an eye to the future, Semeli built a stylishly designed state-of-the-art winemaking facility with an innovative layout that can produce up to two million bottles annually. Perched on a hillslope with a long reputation of producing vintage grapes, the Semeli winery blends a 2,500 year old winemaking tradition with the latest advances in viticulture to harness the full potential of some of Greece’s most exciting indigenous grape varieties. These include vibrant and versatile Agiorgitiko, one of the country’s most important PDO varieties, floral and fruity Moschofilero, elegant Roditis and aromatic Malagousia. Often blended with locally grown international varieties, they produce wines with exciting complexity, depth of flavor, superb balance and delightful finish.
Semeli wines are consistently well received and awarded at major international competitions, garnering strong reviews by respected wine writers and critics from both sides of the Atlantic. In 2017, though, the number of awards has exceeded all previous records. Nine Semeli wines have already received 40 awards at international competitions worldwide. Of these, Decanter Magazine awarded eight, including a gold medal for Semeli Thea Mantinia 2015 (Moschofilero), during its World Wine Awards. Moreover, both Semeli Aetheria 2016 (Malagousia & Chardonnay) and Oreinos Helios White (Moschofilero & Sauvignon Blanc) have received six awards, with the latter also earning a Special Prize at the Challenge International Du Vin in Paris.
Semeli, however, won’t rest on its laurels. The winery’s plans for this year include upgrades of its production and hospitality infrastructure, a substantial investment in excess of 1.5 million euros that will raise the bar for Greek winemaking and create new job opportunities. The idea behind the plan is to turn the winery into a unique destination. Semeli was among the first to focus on the growing trend of wine tourism and the promotion of wine culture’s time-honored traditions. This year the hospitality upgrades will include ten luxury suites adjacent to the main facility for touring guests and Semeli Wine Club members, a new wine showroom and gift shop in the winery’s main hall, and a more ‘immersive’ tasting area in the cellar, right next to the French oak barrels.