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Samos Vintage 2022: A Year of Significant Transition

  • Vassilis Alexiou
  • Dec 1, 2022
  • 2 min read

Technical Harvest Report and Viticultural Analysis from Samos


Official Philia Winery 2022 vintage seal, a deep burgundy wax stamp with an embossed grape cluster on a white background, signifying a year of significant transition

Winter and Spring: Establishing the Foundation

  • Winter (2021–2022): The season was beneficial and relatively cold, with substantial snowfall on the peaks of Mount Karvounis. These conditions enabled the vines to enter deep dormancy and replenished water reserves within the schistose subsoil, thereby creating essential moisture availability for the growing season.

  • Spring: The season progressed with mild temperatures. Uniform budbreak resulted in excellent flowering and fruit set, initially indicating the potential for a substantial harvest.


Climatic Characteristics: The August Shift

Although the summer began under typical Mediterranean conditions, August experienced unexpectedly high rainfall during the critical ripening period. This abrupt shift resulted in elevated humidity and significantly increased phytosanitary pressure.


Phytosanitary Conditions: Disease Management and Organic Protection


A woman in a white dress walking through the lush green vineyards of Samos in 2022, monitoring the vine health and canopy density during the humid August shift

Managing elevated humidity required intensive interventions. To address Botrytis cinerea and Powdery Mildew, a holistic and low-intervention strategy was implemented:

  • Natural Protection Blend: A mixture of garlic oil (garlic infusion in oil) and potassium soap (soft soap) was applied. Garlic served as a natural antimicrobial, while the soap improved coverage and adhesion.

  • Sulfur Integration: Additional protection was provided through sulfur applications, creating conditions less favourable to fungal development.

  • Production Losses: Despite these measures, disease pressure driven by rainfall resulted in a loss of approximately one-third of total production. Rigorous sorting was essential to ensure that only healthy fruit reached the winery.

Viticultural Response: Canopy Management and Selective Harvesting


Sunlight filtering through Muscat of Samos grape clusters in 2022, highlighting the careful canopy management and selective harvesting used to preserve fruit purity.

  • Canopy Management: Following rainfall events, targeted leaf removal was conducted to improve cluster exposure and accelerate drying. Rapid dehydration of the canopy surface was a key factor in limiting rot development.

  • No-Till Soil Management: The undisturbed soil profile acted as a moisture buffer, improving infiltration and reducing surface disturbance during a high-risk period.

  • Selective Harvesting: Harvesting was carried out in multiple passes, prioritising vineyard sections that had reached optimal balance and sanitary stability, in order to prevent further quality loss under humid conditions.

The 2022 Vintage Profile


Close-up of vibrant, Avgoustiatis clusters at the Philia Winery vineyard, showcasing the structural precision and intense concentration of the 2022 vintage

The 2022 vintage is characterised by aromatic elegance and structural precision. Despite reduced yields, the wines show a crystalline texture, lower alcohol levels, pronounced white floral aromatics, and persistent, vibrant acidity.

This profile reflects strong selection pressure during harvest and the expression of Muscat of Samos under high humidity stress conditions.

 
 
 

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