Artemis Karamolegos
Artemis Karamolegos
Santorini, Greece
Artemis Karamolegos is one of the most dynamic wineries on Santorini. Inspired by his grandfather, who started making wine and cultivating vines as a hobby in the 1950s, Artemis founded his winery in 2004, growing it to be the third largest winery by volume on the Aegean island. They own just over 3 hectares of vineyards (some over 100 years old) across Pyrgos, Megalorchori, Exo Gonia, Akrotiri and Fira, and have long term contracts to farm another 5 hectares. They specialize in Assyrtiko, with a range of wines and styles, including numerous single vineyard wines with seriously (150+ years) old vines. The progressive, travelled Artemis, along with talented young winemaker Lefteris Anagnostou, have released Santorini’s first orange wine, and are experimenting with their own custom-made cement tanks. The winery has become a destination, opening the popular Aroma Avlis Food & Wine restaurant, and offering a series of cooking classes.
There are more than 20 wineries on the tiny volcanic Greek island, with vines cultivated there before the Minoan eruption in 1613 BCE, known as the most violent eruption in recent millennia. The volcanic soils are a scrubby mix of basalt, granite, pumice, obsidian and ash, with high levels of silica oxides and metals making the soils acidic /low pH, well suited to amplifying the mineral / marine / salinity of Assyrtiko. More than 40 varieties grow on the island, though not all are cultivated, and most are on their own rootstocks.
"Artemis Karamolegos Winery is one of the key references for Assyrtiko on Santorini. The family's connection to the island stretches back generations, with a small "canava" (underground cellar) established by Artemis Karamolegos's grandfather in 1952, and the modern winery was founded in Exo Gonia in 2003.
Today, the estate works with a network of own-rooted vineyards, many more than a century old and trained in Santorini's traditional kouloura basket system. What distinguishes the winery is its willingness to explore the many faces of Assyrtiko, from classic Santorini bottlings to single-vineyard wines and the island's first skin-contact Assyrtiko, Mystirio.
Three consecutive years of drought, from 2023 through 2025, have dramatically reduced yields across Santorini, placing enormous pressure on the island's old vines. This winery continues to define the conversation around Assyrtiko at a moment when the future of Santorini viticulture faces mounting challenges.” Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
AVAILABLE WINES
Address: Exo Gonia, Santorini 84700
Website : https://www.artemiskaramolegos-winery.com
Artemis Karamolegos
Artemis Karamolegos
Kouloura
Artemis Karamolegos is one of the most dynamic wineries on the unique island of Santorini. Led by his grandfather, who started making wine and cultivating vines as a hobby in the 1950s, Artemis founded the winery in 2004. They own just over 3ha of vineyards (some over 100 years old) across Pyrgos, Megalorchori, Exo Gonia, Akrotiri and Fira and have long-term contracts to farm another 5 hectares. This comes from vines averaging 80 years and blends 90% Assyrtiko and 10% blend of Athiri / Aidani. This was fermented and aged in stainless on lees for seven months.
Lemon, green apple, green fig, white grapefruit sails through the bright palate, lit with marine salinity. Lovely now, and with time ahead.
"The Artemis Karamolegos Winery 2024 Santorini Kouloura offers aromas of elderflower, chamomile, mountain herbs and candied lemon drop framed by a distinctly chalky mineral character reminiscent of a freshly erased classroom chalkboard. Made from 90% Assyrtiko with 10% Athiri and Aidani, the wine is fresh, linear and nicely focused. However, it is less complex than the estate's upper-tier bottlings and feels somewhat lean on the finish, showing less depth and persistence than its 14% alcohol might suggest. Produced in 14,000 bottles from old vines averaging 80 years of age, this is a straightforward and accessible introduction to the Karamolegos style. First released under the "Kouloura" name in 2023 and replacing the entry-level Santorini bottling, the wine takes its identity from the traditional basket-trained vines that have become one of Santorini's most enduring viticultural symbols. (It's a miracle the name wasn't already copyrighted.) Drink 2026-2029.” - 91 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, June 25, 2026
Read more about Artemis Karamolegos here
Vintage: 2024
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $88
Style: Still
Region: Santorini
Appellation: PDO Santorini
Country: Greece
Grape: Assyrtiko, Athiri Aidani.
Colour: White
Vegan: Yes
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes