In the historic Village of Santameri Achaias, a distance of 30Km from Patras at an altitude of 600m in the midst of organic vineyards is located the traditional winery SANT’OR. Our vineyards cover an area of 4 hectare, in a particular microclimate and consist of certain Greek varieties, such as Roditi, Agiorgitiko and our unique local aromatic variety Santameriana, that (revives) only in our winery.
Wines from our organic farming vineyards are produced with modern equipment, with an annual capacity of 70 tons they are stored in our cellar in 225lit French oak barrels. The visitor can try them at our outer space wine tasting facilities with view of the vineyard or in the internal space that is suitably configured. Our winery can be visited by appointment or on our site www.santorwines.gr.
The traditional family – company SANT’OR located at the foot of Mount Skolis (Santamerianiko Mountain) which dominates over the Castle ruins of Sant’Or built by the Franco – Flemish in 1273 and so the homonymous name of the village Santameri. According to tradition it is said that the wife of Konstantinou Paleologou last Emperor of Byzantium died here. Today there are only ruins of the walls, the tower, churches and other buildings, including a church of the post – Byzantine era named "Our Lady of the Lakota".
Mythology refers that Hercules had transferred part of this mountain from Mt Erimanthos. The ancient Greek historian Homer refers to the district as "ωλενίην πέτρη". The name Santameri comes from the French garrison commander Nicola De Saintomer during the Frankish domination of the region.
Basic characteristic of the region in the postwar period is viniculture. The vineyards were protected day and night from a lookout called Dragati. He supervised all the area from a look out high above the region.
The prominent grape variety of the region is called Santameriana. This is a white grape, round in shape with a thin filmed peel and a light and gentle aroma, which produced a fairly aromatic wine. During that time work in the vineyards was long and tiring with little profit, People were forced to abandon the vines for other crops. Also, many young people in the 60’s went to the cities for better living and working conditions. These are the two main reasons for abandonment of vine cultivation and particularly the Santameriana variety.
Apart from my desire and love for nature I decided to become involved in systematic organic vineyard cultivation. On one side of the 4 hectare organic vineyard consisting of Roditi – Agiorgitiko – Mavrodafni varieties, which has been passed down through the family all these years, there were ten vines of the Santameriana variety on the edge of the field.
From an early age I remember my father showing me these 10 vines and telling me that "Santamerina makes a wonderful wine". 15 years later I realized that I ought to preserve and reproduce this wealth of my fatherland. So these 10 vines gave new life to 4000 roots that spread and now cover 15acres of Santamerian land.
Seeing today this area cultivated with vines, I feel that I have returned to the land of my ancestors a part of its own creation. I give to you this wine in the hope you sense a small taste of the infinite wisdom of the nature and history of my region.
