Vlachavona

It is an indigenous variety of Metsovo, one of the dozens of native varieties Epirus holds, which have only in recent years begun to be recorded and studied systematically. Vlachavona kept its own distinct name, and is unique in the world: it is not grown in any other vineyard, in any other country.

For decades, Vlachavona did not exist as a commercial crop. It survived scattered, in household courtyards and in abandoned vineyards. It was a variety that could have been lost entirely, as many native varieties were lost when viticulture turned to the more productive and commercially known choices.

Imperator vinifies Vlachavona monovarietally, that is, on its own, without blending with any other variety. This choice is not obvious: for a variety almost unknown, monovarietal vinification is the only way to show what it truly is, what its own imprint on the glass is. Production is small, around 150 bottles a year.

A dry white, golden yellow with green highlights. On the nose, aromas of mastic, jasmine and white-fleshed fruit. On the palate, pronounced acidity and a tannic structure unusual for a white, giving it body and character. Served at 8 to 10 degrees. It pairs with spicy cheeses, white meats and light salads, and stands on its own as an aperitif.