“2024 harvest is my 20th as Winemaker at Ktima Kir-Yianni. This anniversary coincides with a vintage of many “firsts” and “superlatives”. The warmest year, the most intense drought, the earliest harvest -collecting Xinomavros in Naoussa on the 2 September, almost a month earlier than the average standards. Subsequently, the total production was lower, varying from 10 to 40% depending on the area and the variety, the grape prices went up. Our instinct based on vast experience, deep knowledge and understanding of our vineyards, together with our hands-on philosophy and systematic dedicated  work in the vineyard headed by our Chief Oenologist Antonis Kiosseoglou and our specialized team of agronomists in Naoussa and Amyndeon, was key. The first tastings of our 2024 vintage have been extremely promising, bringing a smile to our faces. Xinomavro, once again, is among the big winners of 2024″.

Stellios Boutaris, Winemaker & CEO

AMYNDEON
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE WEATHER DURING THE GROWING SEASON (Nov 2023 – Oct 2024)

The warmest year of the last 20 years, even in memory. Due to the warmest ever winter with the rare, low intensity snowfall,  the plants did not rest, leading to an earlier and relatively disparate bud break. Equally warm spring, except for May when typical temperatures. Rainfall was also within the standards for the season. Bud break took place 10-12 days earlier than average.

In the summer, the drought was persistent, therefore the end-of-August rain did not have a significant impact. The non-irrigated and/or younger in age vines were water stressed, leading to lower quantity and a very early start of veraison. September returned to typical conditions for the region and the season. Cool weather with adequate rain, beneficiary for m and late-harvested varieties in terms of quantity and quality. Same weather patterns for October, conditions that favored the last of the Xinomavros.

Harvest began on 8 August, 12 days earlier than the previous year. Early-harvest grapes ripened in dry conditions, therefore there was a decrease in quantity and moderate impact on features as the acidity level. The later-harvest varieties ripened in more ideal conditions, maintaining their aromas and acidity, and enhancing phenolics in the case of the red grapes. The harvest ended with Xinomavro on 10 October.

Key-factor overall: choosing the right time to harvest. The weather conditions did not allow any margin for poor and/or high-risk calculations.

HARVEST ON OUR SINGLE BLOCK WHITES

XINOMAVRO HARVEST

QUANTITY
10-30% decrease for early-harvest varieties. Middle and late harvest varieties: the results varied depending on the ripening period of each variety, the age of the vines and whether there was irrigation or not. From a 20% decrease to the same production as in the previous year. Older vines and younger irrigated ones coped better.

QUALITY
The dry conditions offered healthy grapes with good aromas and color. At the same time, the level of alcohol and pH were a little higher. Regarding acidity, lower than standards for early-harvest varieties, very good for the rest of the whites. Xinomavro, very rich in phenolics and with high acidity.

ESTIMATION ON WINE QUALITY
White wines of international varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer) were harvested  based on their aromatic ripeness, while the native ons (Assyrtiko, Malagousia and Roditis) on the level of acidity and alcohol. Rose wines, very aromatic with notable acidity and standard ABV. Xinomavros, rich in phenolics, extremely promising.

NAOUSSA

FACTS ABOUT THE WEATHER DURING THE GROWING SEASON (Nov 2023 – Oct 2024)
The warmest growing season in memory for Naoussa, with the most intense and persistent dry conditions ever. Due to the higher temperatures in November and December 2023, the vines entered dormancy much later. Light snow was recorded on 21 January 2024, while February was typical for the region. The rain in the first 10 days of March coincided with the earlier (by 10 days) bud break (11/3). Drought became very evident from April when the grass in the vineyard looked more like July. In May, two incidents of hail on the 13^th (with heavy rainfall) and on the 27^th (more intense, luckily causing no serious damage).

During summer, there was a series of extreme phenomena, starting with a windstorm in mid-June that stressed the plants, followed by three consecutive, intense and long heatwaves (June, July August). Veraison started on 2 July for international grapes and 5 days later for Xinomavro. In late August there was a 6mm rain. Onwards the first week of September, the weather changed with much cooler temperatures at night (diurnal difference) and occasion light rain.

Harvest began in the beginning of August for international red grapes and on 2 September for Xinomavro. That is one of the earliest harvests in the region. Especially for Xinomavro, it was the earliest ever recorded -almost a month earlier than average.

International reds ripened in dry conditions. In the case of Xinomavro, there was a slight change just before harvest starting with the light rain at the end of August that led to a gradual decrease of average temperatures especially at night. Conditions went back to average standards from the first week of September.

Overall, healthy grapes with good aromas and color. Xinomavro was favored by the conditions, with great phenolic ripeness. One of the lowest yields in total, reaching 6,500 kilos per hectare (max).

QUANTITY
Drought of no prior driving to a 40% decrease in total production at our Estate in Naoussa. The conditions met demanded vine-per-vine vigilance and tailor-made practices. The key factor was irrigation: less water, more often to make the stress work in favor of the quality features of the plants. Please note that in the total decrease percentage we add our decision for green harvest in 10 hectares of young Xinomavro vines aimed at enhancing quality.

QUALITY
The health of the grapes was extremely high, like it was in the previous year. Very good aromas. Our decision to proceed to an earlier harvest, on a vine per vine basis, if necessary, helped us to maintain acidity and limit as possible the alcohol level.

ESTIMATION ON WINE QUALITY
Wines of intense color, aromas and complexity. Fruit-forwardness and power for the international grapes (e.g. Merlot). Aromas of flowers, strawberries and cherries for the Xinomavros, of no prior intensity.