Eleni Comoutos is justifiably proud of the Comoutos wine making heritage which can be traced back to 1638, the oldest wine making family on the island. When Eleni, originally from Kefalonia, married into the Comoutos dynasty in 1965, she gave up her island and her work as a Red Cross volunteer to make a home with Nicolas Comoutos on his family’s country estate.

Sadly, Nicolas Anthony Comoutos passed away in 1990 without seeing the fruits of his labours but having initiated progressive changes to the way his forefathers operated the estate. He recognised a need for modification, introducing new wine presses and concentrating on the cultivation of eight native varieties of grapes. He focused his attention on preserving the time-honoured island wine Verdéa and refining the families own bottle matured Comoutos red and rosé wines.

Eleni, currently president of the Zakynthos Red Cross Society, continues the work of her late husband along with her brother Georgos Licoudis who joined the family business after the death of Nicolas. They are worthy successors; Eleni and Georgos, exude an energy that belies their ages, both in their mid seventies, they are actively involved in the harvest and vinification process at the winery in Agria.

Georgos' enthusiasm and passion for the wine business is clear; his vision is equally progressive. On returning from a visit to the Bordeaux region of France two years ago, he completely trellised the entire thirty-five acres of vines, a first for Zakynthos. Historically Zakynthian vines are head-pruned forming goblet shaped bushes resulting in lots of foliage but hindering the ripening process. Trellis or wired vines allow more sun exposure resulting in faster ripening, with the added ease of harvesting crops. Eleni and Georgos have also introduced their own biological fertilizer, produced on site from decomposed olive leaves; it enriches the soil and organically nourishes the vines.

The island wines have a distinct naive flavour that simply cannot compare to the well-known noble grape varieties like Cabernet, Sauvignon and Merlot that are grown worldwide. The characteristic taste of local wine is in its purity and honesty. These wines are made naturally, without added sugars and foreign yeasts.

Verdéa style white wine is singularly Greek; it has been made since mediaeval times. Termed ‘green’, it is characterised by a green tinge and a slightly crisp unripe flavour can be discerned. Zakynthiote Verdéa has a fingerprint all of its own, the light taste is influenced by the type of grapes, where they are grown, the soil, the rocks, water and climate.

During the Roman Empire Greek wine had an especially high prestige in Italy. Today Greek wine faces a number of challenges, they include declining domestic consumption, increasing competition from well-known grape varieties particularly wines from the new world. Indigenous Greek grapes lack brand recognition and, the economies of scale. Traditionally, bulk wines are drunk directly from the barrel and so appreciation for quality bottled wines have been slow. For the better part of the twentieth century, production in general focussed on inexpensive table wines.

Eleni and Georgos are undeterred, their vigour is prevailing. Of greater importance to them is how to grow a healthy vine, develop a healthy soil and a balanced ecosystem within the vineyards. The Comoutos family has a long line of decedents showing the same sense of conviction. Dimitrios Comoutos commanded the Zakynthian fleet in the battle of Nafpactos that triumphed against the Turks in 1571. Count Anthony Comoutos governed the Ionian Islands and presided in parliament during the 1800’s. His son Georgos went on to develop a treatment for vine-blight. Anthony Ludovic Comoutos was a consulate to the Romanov court. The late Nicolas Anthony Comoutos courageously rescued the elderly during the 1953 earthquake that saw his town mansion destroyed.

The Comoutos estate is situated in the lush flat plains just west of Zakynthos town taking the road towards Machairado, a line of flagpoles to include the Red Cross flag, marks the entrance to the estate.

Tel: 26950 92284, e-mail info@comoutos.gr or visit their website www.comoutos.gr