In the shadow of Mount Helicon, where myth says the Muses found their voice, the Samartzis family has been writing their own story since 1979. The setting is Askri, in the Valley of the Muses, a place where vineyards cling to stony slopes and the air still carries a hint of mountain wildness.

Panos Samartzis, the man at the helm, is not interested in producing just another Greek wine. He works with 32 hectares divided into 25 distinct plots, each one farmed with patience and restraint. No shortcuts. No compromises. Old bush-trained Kontoura planted in 1962. Mouhtaro, a rare local red grape, was kept alive thanks to his persistence. And modern friends like Grenache, Merlot, and Syrah, treated with the same respect.

At 380–420 meters above sea level, the vineyards breathe cool air, forcing the vines to dig deep and yield grapes of character rather than volume. Farming is sustainable, harvest is by hand, and every plot has its own rhythm. The result? Wines that wear their origin like a badge — unmistakably Askri, unpolished, and true.

Samartzis is the kind of estate you discover once and never forget. Serious enough for sommeliers, but with the kind of edge that makes you want to open a bottle on a Tuesday night just to see what it has to say.