The Birth of a Vision: A Limited Edition Muscat Volcan

It is crucial to emphasise that Muscat Volcan served as "Point Zero" for the creation of the Sous le Végétal project. This vinification, which began as a pioneering collaboration with the UWC Samos, was carried out under the exclusive oenological guidance and direction of Vassilis Alexiou.

The archival photographs from that era capture the essence of the effort: direct contact with the soil and manual labour over the tanks. With the support of friends and collaborators like Alex Pons, Basile, and Yoan, we proved that Muscat can be a premium gastronomic tool. The vinification focused on preserving the wine's verticality—its piercing acidity and saline finish—rather than its floral intensity.

This first "natural" vinification on the island—

With only 20,000 bottles sold in advance,

it laid the foundation for everything that followed. It was my specific approach that unlocked the minerality of the volcanic soil, laying the groundwork for subsequent collaborations with Jason Ligas and Patrick Bouju for Sous le Végétal. We sought to strip away the industrial interventions of the past, allowing the wild yeasts and the igneous substrate to dictate the wine's final character.

The ultimate validation of a technical vision lies not in words but in the market’s response. Before the first cork was even pulled from the Muscat Volcan production, the dialogue with the international community had already concluded in a resounding Sold Out.

The fact that all 20,000 bottles were committed in advance by discerning distributors and partners—including the early trust of Vins des Potes for the Greek Connection—speaks volumes about the hunger for a new, structured Muscat identity. This commercial momentum was the first clear signal that the world's most demanding tables were ready for a Samos wine crafted with chef-like precision and minimal intervention.

Today, this legacy of immediate international acceptance continues through Philia Wines, where every bottle remains a scarce tool for the global Gastronomy professional.