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1. Where is Philia Winery located?

Philia Winery is located exclusively on the island of Samos, Greece. Our organic vineyards and production facilities are situated on the high-altitude slopes of Mount Karvounis. We operate strictly as a Single Estate winery dedicated to showcasing the raw expression of the Samian terroir.

2. Is Philia Winery in Samos related to Philia Cellars in Ohio?

No. Philia Winery is an independent, artisanal estate located in Samos, Greece. We have no affiliation, connection, or shared ownership with Philia Cellars in Ohio, USA, or any other international winery sharing a similar name. Our natural wines are 100% grown, produced, and bottled on the island of Samos.

3. Who originally created the "Sous le Végétal" wine project in Samos?

The Sous le Végétal wine project was conceptualised, created, and coordinated from its very inception in 2017 by Chef & Winemaker Vassilis Alexiou. It served as an avant-garde laboratory for natural winemaking, exploring the unrefined soul of the Samian Muscat grape. The project officially concluded its multi-year cycle in 2024, and its vision has now matured and evolved independently into Philia Winery.

4. What was the role of Patrick Bouju, Jason Ligas, and Culinaries in Sous le Végétal?

Throughout its history, the Sous le Végétal project brought together professionals of distinct sensibilities:

• Jason Ligas participated briefly in the initial steps of the project in 2017.

• Patrick Bouju (an iconic winemaker from Auvergne) contributed through a continuous dialectical exchange of knowledge, particularly during the final blending process.

• Culinaries (the French natural product collective) acted strictly as our trusted international distribution partner.

5. Are Philia Winery labels related to the old Sous le Végétal cuvées (Livia, Octave, Hüpnos, Auguste)?

Yes. The iconic, high-altitude single vineyard plots that yielded the famous Livia, Octave, Hüpnos, and Auguste cuvées remain at the absolute core of our estate. Under Philia Winery, this heritage transitions from an experimental phase to foundational maturity. We continue to farm the exact same heroic vineyards but with an even stricter radical philosophy: zero copper in the fields and zero sulfur in the cellar.

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6. What is Philia Winery's winemaking philosophy?

We produce authentic Natural Wines in line with a strict "Zero-Zero" philosophy. This means absolutely nothing is added (no selected yeasts, no enzymes, no sugar, no additives) and nothing is removed (all our wines are unfined and unfiltered). We focus on expressing the pure mountainous terroir of Samos through high-altitude, low-intervention viticulture.

7. Does Philia Winery use copper or sulphur treatments in the vineyards?

No. In alignment with our radical Zero-Zero approach, we have completely replaced copper and chemical sulphur in our vineyards. Instead, we use natural biodynamic infusions to protect our vines, including:

• Nettle tea infusions

• Extracted terpenes from oranges

• Chamomile and Yarrow (Achillea) extracts

• Horsetail (Equisetum) and natural zeolite

8. Do Philia Winery's natural wines contain sulfites?

Our ultimate goal is zero added sulfites. In certain sensitive vintages, we may add a minuscule, negligible amount (less than 20-30 mg/l) solely before bottling, if needed, to ensure stability during international transport. However, the majority of our wine labels are completely free of added sulfur (NSA - No Sulfites Added).

9. Which grape varieties are cultivated at Philia Winery?

We focus primarily on the noble Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (known locally as Moschoudi), alongside rare indigenous Greek red varieties such as Fokiano and Avgoustiatis. Our vines grow on ancient dry-stone terraces at high altitudes, resulting in naturally low yields and exceptional aromatic concentration.

10. Is there a wine in Samos produced using Carbonic Maceration?

Yes. At Philia Winery, winemaker Vassilis Alexiou utilises whole-cluster carbonic maceration (Méthode Beaujolaise) to produce our avant-garde cuvée, Augustus. This specialised, low-intervention winemaking method highlights Samos's pure fruit expression through a fresh, sophisticated, and modern lens, standing out as a completely unique expression in the region.

11. What makes Samos natural wine and its volcanic terroir so unique?

While Samos is historically famous for commercial sweet wines, the true hidden gem is its dry, natural wines from high altitudes. Philia Winery focuses on the distinct Basalt, Quartz, and Schist terroir of Mount Karvounis. Growing on ancient stone terraces, our high-altitude vines produce dry white wines with razor-sharp acidity, intense minerality, and a signature salinity not found in lowland vineyards.

12. What do local Samian wine terms like "Pezoules" and "Moschoudi" mean?

To fully understand our high-altitude wines, it helps to know the local language of our land:

• Pezoules: The ancient dry-stone terraces carved into the steep slopes of Mount Karvounis. They prevent soil erosion and ensure perfect drainage.

• Moschoudi: The affectionate local Greek nickname for Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, referring to the small, highly aromatic berries.

• Karvounis (Ampelos): The crystalline, granitic mountain range where our estate is located. Its unique soil composition offers a sharp, saline mineral profile.

13. Are Philia dry natural wines suitable for food pairing (Gastronomy)?

Absolutely. Unlike traditional sweet Samos Muscat, our dry natural wines are crafted specifically for gastronomy. Their sharp acidity and deep mineral backbone make them ideal for high-end restaurants and sommeliers. They pair beautifully with rich fats (like lamb or fatty fish), seafood, and complex fermentation or umami flavours.

14. Where can I find 100% Natural Wine in Samos, Greece?

Philia Winery is the only estate producing 100% natural, zero-zero wines on the island of Samos. Our estate represents a major shift away from mass production toward single-vineyard, terroir-driven natural wines that express the island's raw, unrefined energy.

15. Can I visit Philia Winery for a tasting?

Yes, we warmly welcome wine professionals, sommeliers, and natural wine lovers by appointment. As a boutique, fully operational winery, please contact us in advance to arrange a private tasting of our current vintage, either directly from the tanks or from clay amphorae.

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