Estate Argyros wins IWSC Old Vine Trophy

We're delighted to award Estate Argyros the IWSC's Old Vine Trophy, launched in collaboration with The Old Vine Conference. 

The IWSC's Old Vine Trophy celebrates producers working to preserve and protect heritage vineyards, recognising that old vines represent irreplaceable viticultural libraries. Entrants categorise their wines across four age ranges - from a minimum of 35 years to over 125 years - with winners selected based on both wine quality and their commitment to old vine preservation. For this year's award, one producer stood out for their exceptional dedication to ancient vineyard heritage.

On the Greek isle of Santorini, where tourists snap selfies against whitewashed churches, Matthew Argyros tends vines that predate Napoleon. His winery, Estate Argyros, has just been awarded this first-ever trophy. With vines exceeding 200 years old on the island's volcanic slopes, the Argyros family have made preserving Santorini's ancient vineyard heritage their defining mission.

The economics don't make obvious sense. Old vines produce less fruit. They're finicky, demanding careful handling that machines can't provide. Yet for Matthew and his family, old vines represent something the modern wine world increasingly lacks: patience. While most producers see challenging economics in ancient, low-yielding vines, the Argyros family has doubled down, creating their Cuvée range exclusively from these ancient parcels - a kind of viticultural archaeology that captures what he calls "the full potential and unique personality of Santorini's ancient vineyard."

What impressed our judges most was Estate Argyros's commitment to education alongside preservation. Argyros regularly hosts international sommeliers and wine writers, turning his estate into an informal classroom where the message is consistent: old vines aren't museum pieces. They're irreplaceable genetic libraries that produce wines impossible to replicate elsewhere.

Now, with academic partnerships exploring vine age and climate resilience, Estate Argyros is positioning old vine preservation as both a cultural imperative and a practical necessity. As climate change reshapes viticulture globally, these ancient survivors offer lessons in adaptation that young vines simply haven't learned yet.

Congratulations to Estate Argyros.