1997

**** PREMIUM QUALITY EXPECTED  ****
PRODUCTION QUANTITIES SAME AS 1996

997 can be characterized as the best year within the last 5 years. The climate conditions were for approximately all Greece very positive for the wine sector.
Many believe that this year will be one of the greatest years for white wines and especially in the areas of Crete Island, Patras, Attica and Viotia.
Prices are expected to be the same as of 1996 for the whites. A price increase is expected for the reds of Crete Island due to less rain resulting in reduced quantities. A slight increase is expected from the biggest production area of Greece Nemea, and unchanged is expected for the second biggest red production area of Naoussa.

BY AREA SPECIFIED:

PELOPONNESE

• Nemea

The perfect climate conditions of this year gave the highest output to the red Nemean or Agiorgitiko grape of Nemea Appellation region. It is expected the best red wine in the last 10 years with intense aromas and a very deep color, typical to Nemea wines.

• Patras

Patras area is blessed by its good location by overlooking the golf of Corinth that tends to have mild climate conditions generally. Especially this year’s moderate rain on the one side and moderate heat during the summer will result for one of the best of the Roditis grape wines.

AEGEAN ISLANDSEGEAN ISLANDS:

• Crete

In Crete production was 20 % lower than that of 1996 for red varieties and increased for white varieties.  Prices were increase for the red and be stable for the whites.

 MACEDONIA

• Naoussa

Naoussa is located in Northern Greece that is generally colder than the southern areas. It is therefore more vulnerable to cold weather conditions, in opposite to heat of the southern areas.

During 1997 winter was mild, where vintner’s jobs could be easily accomplished, and snow from the mountain Vermion above Naoussa left around mid May. The rain during April and the very balanced weather in May gave the vine all the power to grow. End of May grape blossom season the weather was perfect resulting to a healthy grown grape. During summer the heat was moderate without heat blows from Africa.

Harvest followed around end of September and in the Chateau Pegasus the Xinomavro grape was healthy with a bome of 13 and balanced acidity. They expect during their 5^th continue organically grown year to have the best wine with an alcohol of 13% to 13,5% and velvet taste.

1996

AN ALMOST PERFECT YEAR!  EVERY BODY AGREES !
QUANTITIES AND QUALITIES OF GOOD BALANCE.

For 1996, the harvest commenced early August and was completed especially for some varieties early November.
D. Kourtakis S.A. received grapes to be vinified from all the well known areas traditionally famous for their grape production:
Attica, Nemea, Patras, Viotia, Crete, Samos, Lemnos, Rhodes.
The production by each area, was as follow:

• ATTICA: Mainly Savatiano grape for the famous Traditional Appellation Retsina of Attica wine. There was a reduced production by 20 % compared to the 1995 harvest.  The quality was outstanding.
• NEMEA -PATPAS : At least 20 % increased production compared to that of 1995. Both the Agiorgitiko grape of Nemea for our V.Q.P.R.D.  KOUROS Nemea wine, as well as  Roditis grape of Patras  for our V.Q.P.R.D.  KOUROS Patras wine, were of very good quality.
• VIOTIA:  Quantity of the Savatiano variety increased by 10 %. The grapes were very clear and full of health.
• CRETE: Quantity of white grapes was increased, compared to that of last year, and the quality was very good.

Concerning the red grapes, the quantity was small due to a transition period of replanting now roots. Quality is very good.

• SAMOS: Superb quality, Reduced  production by 10% on all island.
• LEMNOS: Both production quantity-and quality of this year are the same as of 1995 harvest.
• RHODES:  Satisfactory quantity and quality.

1995

PRODUCTION QUANTITIES REDUCED - PRICES INCREASED

1995 can be  characterized as a good Year for  the Greek  harvest in  terms of quality, but quantity has been reduced by 8% compared with the 1994 harvest, which was also of limited amount.

The drop in production has been mainly due to uprooting that has taken place over the last few years especially in Crete and in Attica and to the lack of precipitation that have been experienced in several Greek wine growing regions.  This combined with the current low stock situation, has resulted in a rise of the price of grapes by as much as 45 % in some exceptional instances.

BY AREA SPECIFIED:

Aegean Islands:

• Santorini, Paros, Rhodes, the Greek wine producers have found it increasingly difficult to source grapes due to an increase in the number of abandoned vineyards.  In particular, in Santorini, the total '95 grape harvest reached the 2,000 ton level while prices were up by 17 % in relation to 1994.
• In Rhodes, due to good climatic conditions through the years, the harvest, was both quantity wise very good, the quantity was up by 25 % and the price was up by only 8.
• On the other islands of Aegean, for instance on Samos island, prices were up by approx. 15 %. The production was increased by 25 0/a - given that the last years it has been below average, while the quality was very good.
• On Lemnos island production was 15 % down compared with 1994, but quality was excellent.  Prices were up by 25%.
• In Crete production was 25 % lower than that of 1994.  Prices were 45% higher than those of last years.

Ionian Islands:

• In Cephalonia, in the Ionian sea, production appears lower (due to climatic conditions by 30-35 % in comparison to last years while the price of Robola grapes is about the same as in 1994.

PELOPONNESE

• In the Peloponnese, in the V.Q.P.R.D. wine of Nemea the crop was more or less the same as in 1994 - which was low even for last year's demand - and prices were up by 35 - 40 %. In the V.Q.P.R.D. wine Mantinia, the harvest is expected, the same.