Kamara

Dimitrios Kioutsoukis’s family hailed from East Romylia back to the early 1900’s. The family had always harbored a dream to make wine like their ancestors, but lacked the finances to start a winery. Dimitrios trained and worked as a chemical engineer originally, and worked for many years in the medical field, to save money to fulfill this winemaking dream. The region he lived in, Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, had been well known for the cultivation of vines, but since phylloxera cultivation had all but died out. He studied winemaking through the UC Davis extension program and decided in 2010 to plant 11 hectares of vines of Greek varieties including Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Roditis, Xinomavro, Limnio, Muscat, and Moschfilero.

From the very beginning the vineyards were worked only in accordance with long-standing traditions, like manual pruning, hoeing of weeds, and harvesting, and use of natural sprays made from plants like nettle and yarrow, and composting and fertilization with natural manure. They always sought to do as few treatments as possible, to maintain balance with the natural way of the vines and nature. Then in 2015, with his daughter Stavroula, an agronomist and oenologist, he took the giant step of converting all his production to natural methods. The wines are now all naturally fermented with indigenous yeasts, have no products added or subtracted, are not filtered, and have zero sulfur added at bottling. 

www.kamarawinery.com

 

Retsina — Back to the top

History of the label: Retsina is a famous traditional Greek wine enjoyed for at least 3000 years. Even in modern Greece represents the classical ubiquitous style of wine. It can be found on wine list of every greek tavern, even the most sophisticated upper-class restaurants. The arch (in greek Kamara means arch) is the most famous meeting point in Thessaloniki, where people get together, like a wine that brings people closer to each other.

Total Production: 20,000 bottles

Age of Vines: planted in 2010

Yields: 5000 kilos per hectare

Soil: Clay, sand and schist

Varieties: Roditis-Assyrtiko (50-50% blend)

Vinification Method: The grapes are destemmed. Cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Small pieces of Aleppo Pine resin from the mountains of Evia island, added to the must during fermentation gives to the retsina its unique character and aroma.

 

Pet Nat — Back to the top

History of the label: In 2017 my two daughters got married. They asked me to make a good sparkling wine for their marriages. In this time I had a fermenting must of Xinomavro. So I put into some bottles a little bit of the must and the rest I filled it with Nimbus Albus of the past year. And so this wine begun its journey…

Total Production: 4000 bottles

Age of Vines: planted in 2010

Yields: 5000 kilos per hectare

Soil: Clay, sand and schist

Varieties: Xinomavro-Malagousia-Assyrtiko

Vinification Method: After halting primary fermentation, we brought the blend of Assyrtiko 50% and Malagouzia 50% ready wine down to a cool temperature and let it settle off of its primary lees. Next year we add fermented must of Xinomavro to this ready wine in the bottle provides the sparkle and leesy feel as it gets turned into alcohol and CO2. We do not disgorge, leaving the wine hazy, creating broader palate weight, pleasing textures, and balance throughout. This special bottling is done entirely by hand. After the bottling, we do remuage the bottles for 3 weeks. After we let the bottles stand for at least 3 months before to be ready for sales.

 

Nimbus Albus — Back to the top

History of this label: The label is a painting of our lakes during a cloudy day, as Nimbus means cloud and Albus white. The Nimbus series are natural non-filtered wines, giving their hazy hue and an uplifting but soft and round feeling, kind of what drinking a cloud would taste like.

Total Production: 6500 bottles

Varieties: Malagousia-Assyrtiko (50-50% blend)

Age of Vines: planted in 2010

Vineyards: Clay, loam and silt on slopes of Kamara-Oraiokastro Thessaloniki, yielding 5000 kilos per hectare

Vinification Method: The grapes are destemmed and given a “cold-soak” maceration on skins for 2-3 days before beginning to ferment. Each variety then ferments separately in stainless steel tanks (controlled fermentation temperature 18º- 21º C) with indigenous yeasts. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurs. The wines are then blended, racked, and aged on fine lees for three months in old 225l barriques. Bottled unfined, unfiltered with no added SO2.  

Personality (winemaker’s note): “Bright golden colour with greenish highlights reflects a fino sherry. Rich, intense nose, with all natural flavours evolving in mouth. A robust botanical sense combined with stone fruits, leaving in the finish earthy expression with hints of frankincense, lavender and chamomile. The fine expression is perfectly harmonious with the low acidity on the palate.”

Nimbus Ritinitis — Back to the top

History of the label: The recipe of this retsina came a century ago to our family by our grand grandfather who was a winemaker in East Romilia- a region located at present Bulgaria. Its name means orange cloud and it pictures a landscape in our vineyards during the early evening hours.

Total Production: 4000 bottles

Age of Vines: planted in 2010

Yields: 5000 kilos per hectare

Soil: Clay, sand and schist

Varieties: Assyrtiko 

Winemaking: The Assyrtiko macerates on the skins in stainless steel tanks with the must for 5-7 days at low temperature. The grapes are destemmed. After removal of the pomace, the must produced by the first run juice ferments at 18º- 21º C for 20-30 days. During the fermentation high-quality Aleppo pine resin from the mountains of Evia is added, following an ancient recipe. Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts, no oenological substances added, followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation. The produced wine is racked from the very dense sediments and sur-lie on fine lees for three months in old used barriques. No protein stabilization, only tartaric stabilization. Unfiltered and no added sulfites, only naturally occurring sulfites from fermentation.

 

Nimbus Russus — Back to the top

nimbus russusHistory of this label: Nimbus means cloud and Russus red. The Nimbus series are natural non-filtered wines, giving their hazy hue and an uplifting but soft and round feeling, kind of what drinking a cloud would taste like.

Varietals: 40% Xinomavro, 30% Merlot, 30% Syrah

Age of Vines: planted in 2010 and 2008

Soil: Clay, sand, loam and schist

Winemaking: Co-vinification of Merlot and Syrah and separate vinification of Xinomavro. Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts, no oenological substances added. The wines are blended and aged for 12 months in old barrels. Battonage sur lie for 3 months. No fining or filtration, zero sulfur added.

Personality: hearty, warm red transporting you right away to holiday in Greece: berries, plums and liquorice combined with notes of eucalyptus, black olives and intense black pepper. In the mouth, notes of black and green pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg are complemented by fresh earthy notes and hints of dark chocolate. Velvety rounded tannins due to the year spent in old oak barrels. Perfect with roasts, BBQ or game.

 

Stalisma Rosé — Back to the top

Stalisma roséHistory of this label: “Stalisma” means a nice, relaxing break in the shade; exactly what this wine is the perfect partner for.

Variety: Xinomavro

Age of Vines: planted in 2008

Soil: Clay, loam

Winemaking: The wine ferments with indigenous yeasts, with no added oenological substances. Aged in old barrels for 2 months, batonnage with its own fine-lees. Bottled at the beginning of the next spring, no sulfur added.

Personality: affable, fun rosé. Sun-dried tomatoes and black olives on the nose, typical for the Xinomavro variety, mingled with strawberry and blackberry. Rich and persistently fruity, with a little touch of residual sugar; serve with moussaka or some good Feta & watermelon salad to complete the ‘Greek summer’ sensation.

 

Stalisma White — Back to the top

Kamara Stalisma White LabelHistory of this label: “Stalisma” means a nice, relaxing break in the shade; exactly what this wine is the perfect partner for.

Variety: 80% Malagousia, 20% Xinomavro (blanc-de-noir)

Age of Vines: planted in 2008

Soil: Clay, loam, sand, schist

Winemaking: The grapes are hand-harvested and each variety is fermented separately. Malagousia is left on skins for 3 days, while Xinomavro is direct-pressed as a blanc-de-noir. When fermentation is complete, the varieties are blended together and aged on fine lees for 3 months before bottling without fining, filtration, or added sulfites.

Personality: The lush bergamot-herbal aromatics of the shortly-macerated Malagousia is savvily combined with Xinomavro’s class and freshness. “This is a wine for those who can wait,” says Dimitrios – having tasted some older vintage of this wine, we can’t but agree. But, at the same time, we totally understand your desire to enjoy it ASAP; the good news is, even when young, this balanced white needs just a couple of minutes in the glass to start showing more of its floral/honeyed character.

Blooming Mountain Orange Pet-Nat — Back to the top

Moschofilero is a traditional Greek white grape whose intense aromatics reminiscent of Muscat, good acidity, and pink/purple skin make it a versatile material for a variety of styles, from light whites through dry “rosés” to dessert wines. All these characteristics also represent the perfect combo of ingredients for a compelling orange sparkling wine, exactly as Dimitrios did here. As always with the Kamara winery, the label is hand-painted by the winemaker’s daughter Stavroula and very evocative of the flavors and good times that await you in the bottle!

Grapes: 80% White Muscat, 20% Moschofilero

Vineyards: Eastern-facing vines on clay and loam soil, 460 ft (140m) above sea level. 

Making of: The Muscat spends a few days on skins at cool temperature before beginning to ferment. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is put into small amphoras and aged for several months. The following year, the wine is bottled together with must of Moschofilero to re-activate fermentation. Unfined, unfiltered and undisgorged to maximize texture, balance and pleasant haziness. Bottling is done entirely by hand, no added SO2. 

Personality (from the winemaker): The wine is lively and brisk with fresh citrus, orange, and the snap of jasmine flower to the nose. To the mouth, tastes of rose and yeasty-ness.

Blooming Island Rosé Pet-Nat

When Dimitrios’ two daughters both got married in 2017, they asked him to make a good sparkling wine for the weddings. He used what he had on hand, bottling a little bit of fermenting Xinomavro must together with the previous year’s Nimbus Albus, and this special wine was born. 

Grapes (2024): Malagousia and Assyrtiko, with a small amount of Xinomavro (a bit of Stalisma White 2024 is used in this blend). 

Vineyard: Eastern-facing slopes of Kamara, Oraiokastro Thessaloniki, clay and loam soil. 

Making of (2024): Malagousia and Assyrtiko undergo spontaneous fermentation, which is halted partway through by cooling down the wine. Gros lees naturally separates and the wine rests in tank for several months. The wine is bottled entirely by hand the following year, with fermenting Xinomavro must added at bottling to re-start fermentation. Undisgorged, unfined, unfiltered, nothing added. 

Personality: Thanks to fermentation in-bottle and the inclusion of fine lees, this wine has wonderful weight on the palate, a pleasantly textural taste, and beautiful balance. Lively and brisk with aromas of fresh citrus, red fruit, and a snap of cool watermelon; tastes of strawberry and toasty yeast.

2024: In this vintage Xinomavro is more extracted, for an intense rose color and delightfully vibrant flavor. 

 

Shadow Play Red — Back to the top

Winemaker’s note: “The label depicts a scene from a traditional Greek shadow theater play called Karagiozis. Karagiozis is a hero who was always against the rich conquerors and their exploitation of the conquered country’s resources. I see the natural wine scene like Karagiozis, “fighting” against conventional wines which are part of the biggest problem of our world, the deterioration of nature.”

Grape: 100% Xinomavro 

Vineyard: 0.5ha plot of clay-sandy schist on slopes around the winery. Eastern exposition, 140m above sea level. Planted in 2009, estate-owned, certified organic.

Making of: Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts, maceration on skins for the whole fermentation time. Aged for 12 months in old barrels, stirred on fine lees for 3 months. No protein stabilization, only tartaric stabilization. No fining, no filtration, no added sulfites. 

Personality: complex aromas of small red fruits, vanilla, plums, tomato and black olives. Full-bodied with well-integrated tannins and a long-lasting aftertaste, this is a wine that is perfect with any hearty (red meat) dishes and can nicely age for up to 10 years.