Pontiglio Winery
About
Pontiglio Winery was founded in Lefkimmi, Corfu, in 2014. Our existing vineyards were used as raw material. These vineyards have been continuously cultivated since 1989-1990. They have been in our family for decades, as Corfu, and specifically Lefkimmi, has an ancient tradition in vine cultivation and wine production. This tradition dates back to antiquity. That’s why the grape varieties found in this area are unique.
Unfortunately, this tradition nearly vanished, along with the unique grape varieties, when subsidies were provided to locals in the 1980s to uproot the vineyards. It was during that time that, with determination (Pontiglio), we took action and decided to continue cultivating the vineyards to save them. This is why we only cultivate the local and unique varieties and produce wines from them that are unique in the world. Another activity of our winery is to identify and preserve other unique varieties that existed on the island, as Corfu had many of these unique varieties due to its immense wealth.
We have already found a white grape variety that, according to the knowledge of our predecessors, produced exceptional wine. However, this is a significant undertaking that requires time, and for a small winery like ours, it is an even more challenging process. Here we must note that Corfu is an isolated island, and therefore, phylloxera never reached the island, and our vineyards are all on their original rootstocks until today.
Our Philosophy
We are exploring varieties and conducting experiments for wine production. We experiment with the varieties we already work with, as there are no ready-made recipes for them. The KakotrigisOrange shows promising results and improves every year. The Kakotrigissparkling, with a second fermentation in the bottle, aligns with our thoughts for the future. The Skopelitiko or Skopolo, a red grape variety, is quite challenging. It improves every year as we are the only winery producing wine from this variety. We collaborate with local small-scale farmers, incentivizing them to continue cultivating their vineyards, while also providing assurance that they will not change the local varieties.
Pontiglio Winery
About
Pontiglio Winery was founded in Lefkimmi, Corfu in 2014. Raw material was used from our existing vines. Vines that we cultivated continuously since 1989-1990. Vines that belonged to our family for many decades , as Corfu and especially Lefkimmi had a centuries-old tradition in the vine and wine. A tradition that goes back to ancient times. Thats why the grape varieties that exist in this area are unique.
Unfortunately, this tradition was almost completely lost, along with the unique varieties, when during the 1980s, subsidies were given to the locals for replacing the vines . It was then that out of stubbornness (Pontiglio) comes to action and we decided to continue growing the vines in order to save them. And that is why we cultivate only our local and unique varieties and produce from them wines that are unique in the world. Another activity of our winery is to find out and save other unique varieties that existed on the island, since
Corfu had many of them because has enormous wealth. We have already found a variety of white wine grape, which according to the testimonies of the elders, made excellent wine. But this is a big project that takes time and for a small winery like ours, it is an even more difficult process.Here we must say that because Corfu is an isolated island , phylloxera never crossed the island and our vines until today are all autocratic.
Our Philosophy
-Find varieties and experiments for wine production.
– Experiment with the varieties we are already working on because there are no ready-made recipes for them. Kakotrigis Orange with good results and improvement every year. Kacotrygis sparkling with a second fermentation in the bottle, suits our considerations for the future. Skopelitiko or Skopolo, black wine grape, very difficult and capricious variety. In this every year we get improved a lot because we are the only winery that produces wine from this variety.
-We work with local small farmers, giving them an incentive to continue growing their vines, provided they don’t harm the local varieties.