Innovative vinification
The vinification and equipment of many Greek wineries set examples of technological development. Innovative vinification has made Greece among the most technologically advanced wine producing countries in this field.
Innovative vinification starts from the most contemporary presses which allow the extraction of must in conditions of oxygen absence. In a country like Greece, where temperatures during the fermentation period are especially high, the use of stainless tanks with multiple walls that contain coolants is a absolutely necessary, while heat exchangers can cool the must in record time. Investments in innovative vinification also include red wine vinifiers, many of which are extremely advanced and undertake the task of extracting the color and potency but not the aggressiveness of the skin of the red grapes. Furthermore, barrels and wooden tanks often used for the maturation and vinification of whites and reds are of top quality and are frequently replaced, making Greek cellars a real pleasure to the eye. They also secure excellent sanitation for sensitive wines.
Innovative vinification is found in many different ways. After the prevalence of selected yeasts in the preferences of Greek oenologists due to the safety and possibility of control they offer, Greek wine making has also started making use of local yeasts through a more systematic and explorative approach. It is worth noting, however, that the leading position of the selected yeasts is not the result of coincidence but of long experimentation with various strains that were found to bolster the uniqueness of the aromas and tastes of Greek wines.
Particular attention is paid to the stabilization of wines in modern tanks, as well as to filtering through modern methods (e.g. diatomaceous earth filters) which add one more piece of puzzle to the state-of-the-art innovative vinification.
The dedication of Greek wine making to advanced technology and innovative vinification is officially recognized, since a very big percentage of the new wines of Greece come from wineries that have gained the strictest quality assurance certifications ISO and HACCP.
Furthermore, experimental and micro-vinifications, either by agencies or private entrepreneurs (or joint schemes) -often in the form of experimental planting, constitute an inextricable part of innovative vinification in a country aspiring to be part of the world wine scene and are systematically applied.
