Herbs that are organically grown in the fields of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi or grow wild in the virgin forest of the Monastery. They are carefully collected and dried by the monks, within the pure natural environment of Mount Athos, far from chemical fertilizers and pesticides and modern technological pollutants.
The Merlot has completely acclimatized to the virgin ecosystem of Mount Athos. Enriched by the sea breeze of the peninsula and blessed by the warmth of the Greek sun, this French variety offers us a very delicate and rich red wine. Its aroma presents a combination of black and red fruits with hints of tertiary aromas of leather and chocolate developing in the background. On the palate, the acidity is vivid and the tannins are silky, well-balanced with strong forest fruits and cherry aromas. This wine can comfortably be expected to improve further as it ages.
Today the vineyards of our Monastery occupy an area of 70 acres. Wine is part of the monks' diet on festive days and is also offered to the thousands of pilgrims who visit the Monastery every year. At the same time, Nama is used in the daily Divine Liturgy.
The vineyards of the Monastery are particularly favored by the environmental conditions. The light, sandy, medium-textured and potassium-rich soils, the bouquets of the aromas of the unique Athonian Athonite nature, are transported with the sea breeze subtly to the balconies of the vineyards on the adjacent sea levels, where through a secret dialogue built in the more than thousand-year history of the place, they give the unique characteristics of our wines.
The dialogue between the sun and the vine, especially during the summer months, is continuous and "raises" the alcoholic degree and the phenolic maturity which give unique quality production. Faithful to this tradition, preserving the old facilities but with modern methods, we vinify the grapes from the Organic vineyards of the Monastery. A witness to the winemaking tradition are the two stone buildings, where the wines are prepared in the old «paraboutes» (winemaking barrels) and stored in the cellar of the Monastery. The wines mature in large old wooden barrels.
The image of Panagia Pantanassa from the 17th century, which is located in the shrine of the Katholikon of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, served as the occasion for reproducing copies of this specific icon, known among Orthodox Christians for its miraculous actions. Many cases of cancer patients who have found relief through its miraculous grace are known. Two copies of the image, following a request from the Patriarchate of Moscow, have been transferred to the Temple of All Saints in Krasnoye Selo and to the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Novospassky.
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