Brettos

Nectar is perhaps the oldest wine crafted by the Union, a wine that has been imitated many a time yet happily remains inimitable! Its deep amber color is complemented by attractive orange hints. With a nose of ageing aromas, Nectar brings sun-drenched raisins and antique furniture tenderly polished with beeswax to center stage, while its first mouth reserves the right to an unqualified freshness that may clinch the leading role for this wine on the table: Overall, a strong and harmonious bouquet ably assisted by the noble aromas of walnut, with a particularly lingering endpalate redolent of smoke, incense and macaroons. Nectar is a wine crafted from sun-dried grapes that have been patiently aged in oak barrels over a period of three years. It is most comfortable when accompanying hefty sweet and sour dishes, such as wild boar roasted with quinces or duck à l’orange. Needless to say, Greek traditional honeyed desserts such as baklava and walnut cake are friends of long standing to this wine.

The Union of Vinicultural Cooperatives of Samos (EOSS) was founded in 1934 with the participation of 26 local cooperatives representing all of the wine growers on the island. From the outset, EOSS was in a position to undertake the substantive task of protecting the rights of wine growers in their dealings with wine merchants, since it functions as a trade union. Since its foundation, EOSS has been harvesting grapes and crafting wine in two wineries located in the areas of Malagari and Karlovassi, respectively. From the wineries, the union distributes its bulk or bottled wine to the rest of Greece and throughout the world.

The vineyard of Samos is unique: 1,600 hectares of vines, rest comfortably on their terraced perches surrounded by the lush vegetation of this incredibly verdant island. The sight is unforgettable and belongs to one of the prettiest wine landscapes in the world. It is also, what ensures the specificity of our wines.

Eight hundred meters above the Aegean Sea, the slopes of Mount Ambelos form a sprawling amphitheater with tier upon bursting tier of grape vines that bask in sheer tranquility and blinding sunshine. If you’re lucky, somewhere in the distance you may catch a glimpse of a villager or two getting to work: and there you have it, the grand crus, the select vineyards and, by extension, the wines crafted in Samos.

Most of the 25 villages belonging to the Samos wine terroirs lie in the northern part of the island, the part that has been the least affected by tourism. Most of the vineyards are in mountainous or semi-mountainous areas endowing grapes with the perfect gift: the chance to mature slowly and surely, attaining rich sugar content, indispensable for the creation of the divine sweet muscat wine.

The soil in these areas is deep, offering perfect drainage and forcing the roots of the vines to forage downward within the earth in pursuit of nutrition, producing perfect fruit which will produce the luscious and tasteful wines of Samos

Awards:
International competition of Crimea 1970 Gold
International competition of Budapest 1962, 1966, 1969, 1972 Gold
International competition of Lubliana 1956, 1957, 1959 Gold
International competition of Lubliana 1990 Silver
International competition of Brussels 1998 Gold - vintage 1973
International competition of Japan 2000 Silver - vintage 1996
International competition of Brussels 2000 Gold - vintage 1996
International competition of Austria "Best of Sweet" 2001 Gold
International competition of France, Bourg 2001 Bronze
International competition of Btussels 2002 Gold - vintage 1997
9th European Hall of Vineyards and Wine 1986 Grand Award
International competition of Wine, Salonica 2003 Gold - vintage 1999
International Wine Challenge 2003 Bronze - vintage 1998
International competition of Brussels 2003 Silver - vintage 1999
International competition of France, Bourg 2003 Bronze - vintage 1999
International wine and spirit competition, London 2003 Silver - vintage 1999
International competition of Salonica 2004 Silver
International competition of Brussels 2004 Silver - vintage 2000
International competition of France, Bourg 2004 Silver - vintage 1999
International wine and spirit competition, London 2004 Gold category 2C - vintage 2000
Selections Mondiales, Canada 2004 Grand Gold - vintage 2000
International competition of Salonica, Detrop 2005 Silver - vintage 2001
International competition of Brussels 2005 Silver - vintage 2001
International competition of France, Bourg 2005 Silver - vintage 2000
International Wine and Spirit Competition, London 2006 Silver (Best in Class)-vintage 2002
"The Wine Challenge", 8th Annual Challenge, Singapore 2006 Silver - vintage 2001
International competition of Salonica, Detrop 2007 Gold - vintage 2003
Challenge International du Vin, Bourg, France 2007 Bronze - vintage 2003
Decanter World Wine Awards 2007 Bronze - vintage 2003
International Wine & Spirit Competition, London 2007 Silver (Best in Class) - vintage 2003
Wein-Plus 2007 90 points-one of the best wines in Greece
Annual Wine Contest - Finland Monopoly 2008 89,67 points 3rd place among Sweet Wines-vintage
2002
Berliner Weinfuhrer 2008 2008 Herausragender Wein (πάρα πολύ KoAo)-Vintage 2002 Τυφλή γευστική δοκιμή
Vuoden Viinit Kilpailu 2008, Wine of the Year Competition, Finland 2008 Bronze - vintage 2002
International competition of Salonica 2008 Gold - vintage 2004
Selections Mondiales des Vins, Canada 2008 Silver - vintage 2004
International Wine & Spirit Competition, London 2008 Silver Best-in-class - vintage 2004
International competition of Salonica, Greece 2009 Silver - vintage 2005
Berliner Wein Trophy 2009, Berlin 2009 Gold - vintage 2004
Decanter World Wine Awards, United Kingdom 2009 Silver - vintage 2005
International Wine & Spirit competition, United Kingdom 2009 Silver Best-in-class - vintage 2005
International Wine Challenge, United Kingdom 2009 Commended - vintage 2005