New Exclusive winery: T-OINOS Joins Oeno’s Portfolio

At Oeno we are constantly in search of excellence within the world of fine wine, and so it gives us utmost pride and pleasure to become the newly-appointed exclusive UK importer and distributor of Greek Winery, T-OINOS. An extraordinary project that began in 2002 when Alexandre Avatangelos re-planted the first vines on a cratered, moon-like landscape surrounded by huge granitic stones called volakes on the windy island of Tinos, where the earliest viticulture evidence can be traced back to 4000 BC.

Located in the Cyclades, the T-OINOS vineyard was planted within the rock at 400 metres above sea level on a site classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. This magical site is now known as Clos Stegasta and planted to both Assyrtiko and Mavrotragano. The terrain boasts mythical origins as the birthplace of Aeolus, the God of Wind, is strewn with boulders and besieged by harsh conditions that are said to have existed since Titans and Gods battled on Earth. The awe-inspiring natural beauty and untapped potential has been a key driving force behind the T-OINOS project. 

Alexandre Avatangelos took up an homeric challenge and set out to create an “original wine” of liquid energy that would embody the unique environment it came from. He was joined by his friend, Gérard Margeon, Executive Head Sommelier for Alain Ducasse restaurants worldwide, who was looking for a fascinating terroir to make wine and he felt confident that the T-OINOS vineyard will create wines like “liquid pebbles”.

Renowned French wine consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt who joined the project as its Master Vigneron in 2016 cites a, “very simple and not very technical winemaking process that encompasses new plantings of crops, maintaining purity and a focus on indigenous varieties. The result has been a tantalising blend of refreshing, mineral infused whites and spicy, aromatic reds.”

Thanos Georgilas, T-OINOS Head Oenologist, said, “our vision of creating exceptional wines of a rare, intense energy and purity out of the arid, granitic terroir in Falatados, on the island of Tinos, finds full support in our collaboration with Oeno Group. The combination of their quest for innovation and our philosophy of perfection in viticulture and winemaking will best serve their prestigious clientele.”

Our Director of Wine, Justin Knock MW, has described them as, “sensational wines from a vineyard at the end of the universe. Maybe this is where the multiverse begins. Even so, they take Greek wine onto another plane entirely. Darwin couldn’t find a sterner test for survival on Earth for the humble vine. These 13ha densely planted like 130,000 Emperor penguins huddled in co-comfort, battle a merciless foe all year round. The Assyrtiko from here is a honed blade but more stiletto than Santorini’s scimitar. Clos Stegasta Rare from magnum is still razor sharp after 3-4 years, I think it will take a lot of time to weaken its edge. It’s like another variety, almost unrecognisable from its cousins. A gardener hunched over dark Earth, trowelling violets and licorice over both shoulders, tannins like schist wrapped in bitter chocolate.”

Our Head of Marketing, Effi Tsournava DipWSET, commented “this exciting new partnership has a very special place in my heart. Over the last eleven years working in London, I have been striving to bring together UK importers and Greek winemakers. It always gave me huge joy and a sense of  patriotic pride to see my home-country’s wines imported with such enthusiasm to the UK. T-OINOS is the embodiment of cosmic purity, Grecian elegance and mystical energy; a concept that allows the soil’s power to travel vertically through the vine and reshape itself into liquid form to ultimately claim its spot among the world’s finest wines. Being personally involved in the T-OINOS voyage in the fascinating UK market, starts a new chapter in my professional journey and I couldn’t be more proud.”

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