Agiorgitiko, MoschofileroArchaies Kleones
A long standing Archaies Kleones cellar pouring Agiorgitiko and Moschofilero, and one of the houses the producers association puts forward when the September festival opens its tasting programme.
Why locals love it: Archaies Kleones is the first village on the way in from Corinth and gets driven straight through by anyone heading for the town.
Tip: Visits are by arrangement. The village also holds the temple of Herakles, which the modern games use as a race start.
Agiorgitiko, Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Roditis, Moschofilero, Sauvignon BlancFounded 2000Archaies KleonesMon-Sat 09:00-19:00. Closed Sunday and public holidays.
A family cellar at Archaies Kleones working 80 stremmata of its own vines plus fruit from fifteen selected growers. The range runs from the Rizes and Oneirou Odos labels to an Agiorgitiko matured in amphora.
Why locals love it: Open six days a week until seven in the evening, which almost nothing else in the zone is, and the amphora red is the only one of its kind here.
Tip: Ring ahead on the mobile rather than emailing. The tasting room is small and the family runs it themselves.
Agiorgitiko, Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Moschofilero, Roditis, Merlot, SyrahLeontio
A boutique cellar at Leontio built on top of a vine nursery. Georgios Raptis supplied American resistant rootstock across the zone, and the family now bottles Chnaria, Kokkinovrachos and Mavri Spilia off its own land.
Why locals love it: Leontio is off the main road and most visitors never turn up it, yet the nursery behind the cellar supplied half the zone's replanting.
Tip: Book the tasting through the estate's visit form. During the September festival Raptis runs its own vineyard party and barrel sessions.
Agiorgitiko, Kydonitsa, Malagousia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Gris, SyrahKoutsiTue-Sun 10:00-17:00. Walk in or by appointment.
A Koutsi cellar that doubles as a gallery: the reception room holds a permanent collection of painting and sculpture, and the underground cave keeps back vintages that have sold out everywhere else.
Why locals love it: The estate ran an international wine label art competition and hung the results, so a tasting here comes with a small museum attached.
Tip: Ask to go down to the underground cave. Old vintages that have gone from the market are sold from there by the bottle.
Agiorgitiko, Assyrtiko, Kydonitsa, Malagousia, Malvasia, Moschofilero, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, SyrahFounded 2002NemeaMon-Fri 09:00-17:00 by appointment.
A grower family on Pindou street in the town itself, farming 180 stremmata and bottling twelve labels, about 300,000 bottles a year, from Agiorgitiko through Kydonitsa and Malagousia.
Why locals love it: It sits inside the town rather than out among the vines, so visitors driving the village route pass it without noticing there is a cellar there.
Tip: The seminars and tasting sessions are booked through the estate's visit page, and there is a shop on site for direct sales.
Agiorgitiko, Roditis, MerlotFounded 2006Archaia Nemea
A small cellar at Ancient Nemea founded in 2006, working a short list of three grapes and selling most of what it makes through its own shop and website rather than the trade.
Why locals love it: One of the youngest cellars in the zone and the smallest range on the association roster, so it rarely appears on a tour itinerary.
Tip: Visits are by prior arrangement and include a barrel tasting, which is unusual at this size of cellar.
