In the Ktima Ligas winery, it is the people who make the difference. It is located in northern Greece, in the region of Macedonia, where nature is dense and unspoilt, and where the land is alive and the vines are eager to grow. Thomas had been running the show since 1985, after finishing his enology studies in France, up until a decade ago, when his deep and pure passion was passed on to his sons. Today, the twin siblings Jason and Melissanthe manage the winery, although gaining the trust of their father Thomas was no easy task. Before they touched the grapes, they had to be truly ready and trained. Jason travelled to Montpellier to study and trained with (no less than) Jacques Selosse. There he learnt to handle grapes with respect and care, returning to Greece from the Champagne region with a few wooden barrels and a great deal of inspiration.
On his return home, Jason decided to focus entirely on the vineyard, aiming to make a name for himself for the conscious agriculture practised in Ktima Ligas, well beyond the borders of the Peloponnese. Organic principles had always been followed in the vineyard, although it was possible to go much further. ''More than organic'', as some of the labels mention. Jason's answer to this was permaculture, which aimed to create sustainable and long-lasting production systems based on the principles praised by the great agricultural philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka. This idea was transferred to Jason's vineyards and consists of giving the plants the freedom to do what they want, whether it be tall grass or the competition between vines and other aromatic plants. A miniature forest, which is uncontaminated, wild and pure. The only sprays used are those containing herbal infusions, created manually in the cellar, as natural vine medicine. The soils here are rich in clay and limestone, with excellent drainage. The permaculture and its gentle, delicate way of operating results in deep and genuine freshness in every glass, regardless of whether it is red or white.
Even in the cellar, a philosophy of non-interventionism is adopted, with only the first-pressing must being used, with fermentation being spontaneous and activated only by yeasts naturally present on the skins, and with ageing taking place in containers that have been carefully chosen to enhance the wine's natural characteristics, without suffocating them. Here at Casa Ligas, the indigenous grape varieties, Assyrtiko, Roditis and Xinomavro, are the stars of the show, with an energetic edge that is second to none, expressing the hidden secrets of this land of ancient history. 10 years on from the start of his personal adventure in Ktima Ligas, Jason can certainly be satisfied, although there are still many surprises in store.