Vintage Report 2025

Winemaking Year 2025 – Toplou, Sitia

(Vineyard of the Holy Monastery of Toplou)

Summary

2025 was a year of partial recovery in volume, but with continued water pressure. Drought, combined with the light and stony soils of the area, caused water stress (smaller berries, earlier ripening, lower yields in non-irrigated parcels). Even so, grape quality was high.

1) Weather footprint of the year

The year began with a dry winter and limited humidity in spring. Summer passed without prolonged heatwaves, but with ongoing drought, which kept grapes healthy and helped preserve acidity in whites and phenolic concentration in reds.

2) Impact on the vineyard

Water stress expressed itself through smaller berry size, earlier ripening, and lower yields, especially in blocks without irrigation. Overall grape health was good.

3) Quantitative picture

2025 production increased by about +100% compared to 2024, but remains about -40% below “typical” yields prior to 2022. This year is a recovery, not a return to normal.

4) Quality picture / Wine profile 2025

Whites: vibrant, crisp, with strong aromatic expression and ageing potential.

Rosés: fresh, fruity, balanced, and clean.

Reds: dense, structured, with ripe tannins and depth; wines built for long ageing.

5) Technical Appendix (climatology data – monitoplou)

Source: Annual summary of the monitoplou meteorological station (Annual Climatological Summary 2025).

Rainfall

Annual total (2025): 280.2 mm

Rainfall Apr–Sep (2025): 67.0 mm
(Apr 38.2, May 28.8, Jun 0.0, Jul 0.0, Aug 0.0, Sep 0.0)

Maximum daily rainfall: 40.0 mm (December, 04/12)

Wind

Prevailing wind direction (year): WNW

Average summer wind speed (AVG): Jun 27.5, Jul 22.5, Aug 24.7 km/h

Maximum gust (HI): 96.6 km/h (December, 05/12)

Temperatures

Absolute maximum temperature: 40.7°C (July, 23/07)

Absolute minimum temperature: 5.7°C (February, 22/02)

Days with ≥32°C: 12*

* Data quality note: in the 2025 station export, the September temperature line is corrupted; “≥32°C: 12” is the total without reliable September data.

Note
These figures refer to our station/vineyard (monitoplou) and describe the microclimate of our site.