I-Heart-Mykonos-tank-top.jpg
Greek-flag-socks.jpg
Santorini-luggage-tag.jpg
save-water-drink-ouzo-t-shirt.jpg

Zakynthos Winemaker

The People Who Make Zakynthos

Antonis Maroudas is a winemaker from Zakynthos, in the Ionian islands, and he features in a new campaign promoting the island through 'The People who make Zakynthos'.

Antonis Maroudas, Zakynthos winemakerAntonis Maroudas

The campaign is promoted by the travel insurance company, Insure and Go, and is a creative way of telling the story of Zakynthos through some of the amazing people who live there.

The people include Kostandinos Drogittis, who's a diving instructor with Eurodivers; Sylvan Benaksas, project leader at the Archelon Turtle Conservation Trust; and Hanne Mi S. Sauge who owns the Ceramic Art Studio.

Greece Travel Secrets, though, wants to concentrate on the winemaker, Antonis Maroudas.

We've been given the transcript of the interview that Antonis did with the film-makers, which is full of fascinating material about Antonis and his business, not all of which made it into the film. 

So what's the name of the business?

There are different ways that people pronounce the name of the business, Ampelostratis or Ampelostrates – there are always arguments about that with my wife or other friends but at the end it’s where you want to give more emphasis. Ampelo(stratis) – places emphasis on the road and (Ampelos)trates – gives more emphasis on the vines. This word has a compound meaning, It combines the vines, which is our great passion, with the streets and paths we’re crossing with the horses to get to the vineyards.

How long have you had a farm? Is it a family business?

We are running the farm, including the restaurant and other businesses we have for about nine years but the farm itself exists for many years, probably from the era of my father and grandfather.

Antonis Maroudas, Zakynthos winemakerZakynthos Winemaker

Can you tell us a bit more about the traditional farming in the island?

The income of the people here in the island was mainly based on agriculture and not so much from the tourism, as it does today, and that’s because the climate, the temperature and the nature benefit these types of agricultural activities. It is a blessed island and the amazing weather benefits especially the production of olives and olive oil. The olives here are amazing, the raisins, the vines and in the more mountainous areas people used to keep livestock and work on the wheat production.

But after the war of 1940-50 many people left the island so the agricultural business started to flourish again after the 1960s and you can now see many young people working in this sector and be successful.

Vineyards of Antonis Maroudas, Zakynthos winemakerThe Vineyards of Antonis Maroudas

You give tours of your farm. Why did you decide to give tourists a taste of traditional farming?

First of all, this is our passion and it’s what our family was working on for years. Secondly, if you have some many wines, what do you do with them? You can’t really drink them all on your own, you’ll have to make them available for others.

Aside from that, this type of work gives me a great pleasure since I get closer with other people and I get great pleasure when I make them feel happy and content. Our philosophy is to make people feel happy based on a truthful, authentic experience. Whatever we have available in our restaurant, it is growing straight from our garden: the tomatoes, the raisins, the olive oil – everything.

This is how we dispense our products and make ourselves happy – at least I’m happy, the rest might not be!

Wine-tasting at the winery of Antonis Maroudas, Zakynthos winemakerWine-tasting at the Winery

What makes Zakynthian products different from others?

The climate, the geomorphy of the island and the soil are the main factors that benefit the production of these products. More specifically, the high sunlight in conjunction with the high amount of rain (the highest in Greece). It produces excellent products and it’s also worth mentioning that it has one of the greatest flora in the Mediterranean – the biodiversity is also very wide, especially in wild plants and herbs – mainly Crete and Zakynthos have this type of diversity.

The winery of Antonis Maroudas, Zakynthos winemaker

Tell us about your wine, how do you make it, how does it taste?

Zakynthos as we mentioned previously has amazing vineyard products similar to the rest of Greece and in Zante we have recorded from the ancient time around 40-50 local raisin varieties. My father and grandfather, but mainly myself and my children, we looked for most of these varieties in Zakynthos and we have the philosophy to revive and use the vineyard in the best possible way and also get rid of the industrial wine that has intruded our lives.

The wine business is a fantastic working activity and it takes so many different forms – nobody can’t really say that makes the best wine ever because it has a myriad parameters that play role in its production. For example, if you try wine from three different vineyards the wine won’t taste the same – imagine when wine comes from 50 different vineyards due to different environmental conditions and temperatures it will always taste different.

We work hard to produce a good result and we make it happen. In general the new generation experiments a lot and produces very good quality wine. Often times you hear people complain, especially those who lack knowledge that a tsipouro is made out of arbutus, sour cherries or damson fruits. Yes, this usually is how people produce it in North Europe because they don’t have good raw materials.

When you have this incredible raw material, the grape, which gets 13 in the Baume scale and then distil it and get out all the aromas, then there is no reason why you would use arbutus or sour cherries. Based on this process the wine and tsipouro has the best taste and quality. Nature equips you with the best variety of grapes, but you should also be competent enough to carry it out.

The winery of Antonis Maroudas, Zakynthos winemaker

"I love the good wine and food but this alone doesn’t make you happy if you don’t have someone to share it with."

How do you work with your family business and what else do you do here?

The people who work in that business is my family and mainly my wife, who is also a painter and at the same time she is an artist when it comes to cooking. We are working with local products from the island and whatever we cannot produce we buy from other businesses that to our knowledge also sell top quality products. Whenever I get spare time from my business, I like to do various things. I like writing. I also like fishing, and I usually go with my children, and when I have good company I also like to drink wine!

To close, I really want to emphasize that I like the good company and people who have good intentions for a fruitful dialogue, I don’t really mind if they have strong arguments as soon as we both listen to each other’s point of view. I love the good wine and food but this alone doesn’t make you happy if you don’t have someone to share it with.

To find out more about visiting Antonis's farm see:

https://ecozante.com/ampelostrates

Or phone Antonis on +30 269 504 3718

Where to Stay on Zakynthos

Other Greek wine pages

  • Travel advice and information on Zakynthos (Zante) in the Greek Ionian islands, with information on ferries and flights and the best things to do..

    Zakynthos, Zante, in the Ionian Islands of Greece

    Travel advice and information on Zakynthos (Zante) in the Greek Ionian islands, with information on ferries and flights and the best things to do..

  • Greece Travel Secrets visits Crete and learns about making rakomelo from Jorgos Kourmoulis in Agouseliana.

    Making Rakomelo on Crete

    Greece Travel Secrets visits Crete and learns about making rakomelo from Jorgos Kourmoulis in Agouseliana.

  • A visit to the Museum of Samos Wine to learn about the muscat grapes that produce the best dessert wines in the world and also the Greek spirit, Metaxa.

    Museum of Samos Wine

    A visit to the Museum of Samos Wine to learn about the muscat grapes that produce the best dessert wines in the world and also the Greek spirit, Metaxa.

  • The Greece Travel Secrets guide to tipping in Greece from two Greece travel experts, including when to tip, what to tip and when not to tip.

    Tipping in Greece

    The Greece Travel Secrets guide to tipping in Greece from two Greece travel experts, including when to tip, what to tip and when not to tip.

  • Greek retsina is a dry white wine made and drunk all over Greece with a distinctive pine and resin flavour that people usually either love or hate.

    Greek Retsina

    Greek retsina is a dry white wine made and drunk all over Greece with a distinctive pine and resin flavour that people usually either love or hate.

  • Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.

    Athens Culinary Tours

    Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.

  • Greek food and drink is a highlight of any visit and Greece Travel Secrets brings you info about food and drink from all over Greece, from Athens to Zakynthos.

    Greek Food and Drink

    Greek food and drink is a highlight of any visit and Greece Travel Secrets brings you info about food and drink from all over Greece, from Athens to Zakynthos.

  • The Goules Taverna in Goulediana, south of Rethymnon, has been called one of the best tavernas on Crete and Greece Travel Secrets recently visited them.

    Goules Taverna Crete

    The Goules Taverna in Goulediana, south of Rethymnon, has been called one of the best tavernas on Crete and Greece Travel Secrets recently visited them.

  • What is a Greek Salad – a Greek Salad is made up of tomatoes, cucumber, onions, green pepper, olives, and feta cheese.

    What Is a Greek Salad

    What is a Greek Salad – a Greek Salad is made up of tomatoes, cucumber, onions, green pepper, olives, and feta cheese.

  • For a Crete olive oil tour Greece Travel Secrets visits Biolea, one of the few olive oil factories on Crete that you can visit.

    Crete Olive Oil Tour

    For a Crete olive oil tour Greece Travel Secrets visits Biolea, one of the few olive oil factories on Crete that you can visit.

  • Corfu olives are an important part of this Greek island's economy, with an estimated 3-4 million trees producing olive oil of exceptional quality.

    Corfu Olives

    Corfu olives are an important part of this Greek island's economy, with an estimated 3-4 million trees producing olive oil of exceptional quality.

  • Travel advice on Ithaca (Ithaka or Ithaki) in the Greek Ionian islands, with information on ferries and flights and the best things to do.

    Ithaca, or Ithaki or Ithaka, in the Ionian Islands of Greece

    Travel advice on Ithaca (Ithaka or Ithaki) in the Greek Ionian islands, with information on ferries and flights and the best things to do.

  • Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.

    Corfu Food and Drink

    Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.

  • Greek alcoholic drinks include distinctly Greek drinks such as ouzo, Metaxa, retsina, raki, tsikoudia and tsipouro, but also Greek wines and Greek beers.

    Greek Alcoholic Drinks

    Greek alcoholic drinks include distinctly Greek drinks such as ouzo, Metaxa, retsina, raki, tsikoudia and tsipouro, but also Greek wines and Greek beers.

  • Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

    Best Cocktail Bars in Athens

    Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

  • Greek ouzo is an aniseed-based aperitif made all over the country but especially on Lesbos, tasting like a Greek pastis or arak and usually drunk with water.

    Greek Ouzo

    Greek ouzo is an aniseed-based aperitif made all over the country but especially on Lesbos, tasting like a Greek pastis or arak and usually drunk with water.

  • The Stilianou Winery near Knossos on Crete uses only Cretan grape varieties, with every bottle numbered, and aims for quality rather than quantity.

    Stilianou Winery near Knossos

    The Stilianou Winery near Knossos on Crete uses only Cretan grape varieties, with every bottle numbered, and aims for quality rather than quantity.

  • This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.

    Athens Dining Guide

    This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.

  • Travel advice and information on Paxos near Corfu in the Ionian islands, information on ferries and flights, what to do in Gaios, Lakka and Longos or Loggos.

    Paxos

    Travel advice and information on Paxos near Corfu in the Ionian islands, information on ferries and flights, what to do in Gaios, Lakka and Longos or Loggos.

  • UNESCO has made Thessaloniki a City of Gastronomy, under its Creative Cities network, the only city in Greece to be acknowledged for its unique food and drink.

    Thessaloniki: City of Gastronomy

    UNESCO has made Thessaloniki a City of Gastronomy, under its Creative Cities network, the only city in Greece to be acknowledged for its unique food and drink.

  • Life as a waiter on Zakynthos tells what it was like for travel writer Mike Gerrard to work in a Greek restaurant, the Mantalena in Alykanas.

    Life as a Waiter on Zakynthos

    Life as a waiter on Zakynthos tells what it was like for travel writer Mike Gerrard to work in a Greek restaurant, the Mantalena in Alykanas.

  • How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.

    How to Make Petimezi

    How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.

  • Visiting Santorini wineries is a popular activity on this Greek island in the Cyclades, whose volcanic soil provides a distinctive terroir.

    Santorini Wineries

    Visiting Santorini wineries is a popular activity on this Greek island in the Cyclades, whose volcanic soil provides a distinctive terroir.

  • Greek feta cheese is the most popular cheese in Greece, usually made from sheep’s milk, with a soft texture and salty taste and used to top off a Greek salad.

    Greek Feta Cheese

    Greek feta cheese is the most popular cheese in Greece, usually made from sheep’s milk, with a soft texture and salty taste and used to top off a Greek salad.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Storm Elias continues, bringing heavy showers and thunderstorms until Thursday

    The Elias weather system was affecting several parts of the country on Tuesday, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail and lightning.

    Read More

  2. EasyJet Launches New Route and Package Holidays to Skiathos

    British low-cost carrier EasyJet and tour operator easyJet holidays have announced the launch of flights and holidays to Skiathos from London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester for next summer.

    Read More

  3. Highway to Athens from Eleonas Toll re-opened to traffic

    The highway to Athens from the Eleonas Toll Station was opened to traffic by opening a lane on the opposite side of the road following its closure due to mudslides.

    Read More

  4. This Less-Visited Region In Southern Greece Has Stunning Beaches & Almost No Crowds

    On my first visit to the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece, I don’t remember what exactly prompted me to jump in a rental car and start exploring. I do remember the route: it was a narrow road…

    Read More

  5. Best Restaurants on Mykonos

    evas-garden-restaurant-mykonos-2.jpg
    Greece Travel Secrets picks its best restaurants on Mykonos, choosing those gourmet restaurants known for their fine dining, and some with tasting menus.

    Read More

  6. Things to Do on Mykonos

    mykonos-pixabay-2.jpg
    There are plenty of things to do on Mykonos, one of the most popular Greek islands, such as nightlife, beaches, churches and visiting the ancient site of Delos.

    Read More

  7. Mykonos

    Mykonos_Greek_food_drink_cruises.jpg
    Mykonos in the Cyclades islands in Greece has cheap and luxury hotel accommodation, car rental, ferries from Athens, Santorini, Crete and other Greek islands.

    Read More

  8. Tsikoudia: Cretan Raki and the Taste of Tradition

    With its distinctive fruity aromas, tsikoudia is more than just a drink - it is a symbol of conviviality, hospitality, and the rich heritage of Crete.

    Read More

  9. New Maria Callas Museum to Open Soon

    A museum dedicated to the legendary Greek opera singer Maria Callas, located in the heart of Athens, will open its doors to the public later this year.

    Read More

  10. European Heritage Days 2023 at the Acropolis Museum

    In celebration of this year's European Heritage Days, the Acropolis Museum in Athens will offer free entry and host a special guided tour for children.

    Read More