Founded out of self-defense: how 26 cooperatives saved viticulture on Samos in 1934
Until 1934, private traders controlled the entire wine market on Samos. They bought the must from the winegrowers at depressed prices and processed it in their own wineries — the producers had hardly any bargaining power. This changed abruptly when Greek Law 6085/1934 enabled the founding of the Union of Vinicultural Cooperatives of Samos (EOSS): 26 local cooperatives joined forces and henceforth represented all the island's winegrowers. Since then, members have been required to deliver their entire harvest to the Union — a model that structurally secured viticulture on Samos and continues to support it today. EOSS received its first international award as early as 1937; since then, the list of prizes at international trade fairs and competitions has grown steadily.
Around 2,200 winegrowers, two wineries, one appellation
Today, around 2,200 winegrowers are members of the cooperative. The vines grow on terraced slopes of Mount Ampelos in the eastern Aegean, on deeply drained soils that force the roots deep into the earth. Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains covers about 97% of the approximately 1,600 hectares of vineyards — the remaining 3% is shared by the red varieties Ritino and Fokiano. The harvest begins in August and lasts until October; shortly before and during the harvest, the EOSS cellar team evaluates the members' vineyards on-site.
Processing takes place in two fully equipped wineries: the facility in Malagari near the island's capital, Vathi, also houses the Union's headquarters and — since 2005 — the Samos Wine Museum in the oldest parts of the facility. The winery in Karlovassi handles the grapes from the northern villages of the island. Both facilities work according to ISO and HACCP certification and combine traditional cellar technology with modern equipment. The total capacity of both locations is 20,000 tons. Around 80% of the annual production of about 7,000 tons of wine is exported — France alone takes about 60% of the island's production, and other buyers can be found in Germany, the USA, Japan, Australia, and many other countries.
From classic sweet wine to dry Muscat: the island's spectrum of styles
Muscat de Samos bears one of the oldest designations of origin in Europe: the PDO Samos (Protected Designation of Origin). The EOSS range extends from Samos Vin Doux — a sweet wine fortified by mutage (adding brandy to the fermenting must) with 15–17% alcohol, aromas of orange blossom, apricot, and dried fruit — to aged, oxidative styles as well as dry white wines. Anthemis, a style aged in oak barrels, develops an amber-colored robe and notes of candied fruit and nut through several years of storage. Those who want to get to know dry Samos will find fresh, aromatic white wines in the range, where the characteristic Muscat floral quality interacts with maritime salinity and lively acidity. The island origin — sea breezes, high altitudes, old vines — unmistakably shapes each of these styles.
