Oenops Wines

The Guardian’s David Williams highlighted Oenops as “the perfect introduction” to Greek wines. A country, he says, with “an absolute trove of distinctive wine that has never quite made it over the line into mainstream acceptance in the UK.” The exceptional range of wines from Oenops is changing that perception. They are made by Nikos Karatzas. He works as a negociant, sourcing indigenous and rare grape varieties grown on excellent terroir by passionate grape growers across the country. He transforms these native grapes, such as Xinomavro, Limniona or Mavroudi, into fine wines at his winery in Drama. Here, he has concrete and stainless steel tanks, oak barrels and even amphorae at his disposal to make wines in the style he loves to drink. He embraces minimalist intervention, letting his grapes do the work. He honed his winemaking skills studying in Bordeaux, followed by a stint as head winemaker at Pavlidis, one of the most high profile wine producers in Greece. Nikos set up Oenops in 2015, and his range offers a brilliant introduction to the quality potential of Greek wines, alongside showcasing some of the worlds more unusual, but no less delicious, grape varieties.