From the intersection of the Samos-Karlovasi Rural Road heading to Vourliotes, we drive up to the village. At the entrance, we follow the uphill route to Vronta Monastery. After the Monastery, we head east for approximately 10 kilometres by 4×4 vehicle, due to the dirt roads, and then we head west at the fork, passing the chapel of Agia Marina. We drive by the upper side of the spring at Lazaros and arrive at the Kioulafides area, with the most distinguishable mountain vineyards in the region. Amphitheatrically set out, these ancestral vineyards grow Samos muscat grapes at an altitude of approximately 900 metres.
7. Agios Konstantinos – Kampos Vourlioton – Vourliotes – Kokkari Wine Route
by admin | Oct 30, 2023 | Route 7, Routes
Agios Konstantinos – Kampos Vourlioton – Vourliotes – Kokkari Wine Route
The wine route starts at the seaside hamlet of Agios Konstantinos. It is a route by road that is approximately 25 kilometres long, with a duration of about 50 minutes (without stops). Starting at the capital of the island, Samos, the route by car to Agios Konstantinos on the Samos-Karlovasi Rural Road takes about 25-30 minutes and is 19 kilometres long. Before arriving at Agios Konstantinos, just after the petrol station in the Kampos Vourlioton area, a small dirt road on the right leads to a seaside area where winemakers and mule drivers used to wash their kofinia and seledes (large grape kofinia) at the end of each day during vintage. Visitors will find the enormous abandoned buildings that were used as centres for storing and trading Samos wine (tavernes), as well as stone collection tanks that were “taken” by the sea. In Agios Konstantinos they can see the stafylodochoi, as well as the beautiful fishing shelter of the region, and they can make a short stop as there are several cafés and restaurants operating there.
Heading east from Agios Konstantinos, they can follow the winding mountain route to one of the most important vineyard villages, Vourliotes. Visitors can admire the wonderful view of the sea that reaches all the way to Kokkari, as well as the numerous mountain vineyards throughout the duration of the route to the village. At the entrance of the village and very close to the municipal parking area, visitors will find the stafylodochos and, on the way to the village square, the Vourliotes Cooperative building.
Agios Konstantinos – Kampos Vourlioton – Vourliotes – Kokkari Wine Route
From there, by 4×4 vehicle, one can take a tour of the mountain vineyards at an altitude of 960 metres, they can visit a traditional kalyvi in the Kioulafides area, admire the unique view of the northern side of the island, and reach the Samos Brutia pine, oak, and chestnut forest, trees that were once used in the manufacturing of barrels used to store and transport wine.
From the mountain ridge in Syrrachos one can return to Vourliotes and make a short stop in the beautiful village square, where there are catering businesses and traditional cafés. From Vourliotes one can head to the seaside and tourist centre of Kokkari, see the old Cooperative building, and enjoy the seascape.
Kioulafides Mountain Vineyards, Vourliotes, Mt Ampelos
Kioulafa Mountain Vineyard in Akamati area, Vourliotes
This is one of the most mountainous vineyards in the area the locals call Akamati, with an idyllic view of the sea and the entirety of Kampos Vourlioton, while the beauty of the landscape is incomparable. It is a hard to reach and arid vineyard, with ancestral vines that are a treasure for vine-growing in Samos.
Vineyard in the Lakka Tampaklina Location, Vourliotes
From the Aspra Chomata area and the location locals call Alogopompos, we arrive at a gobelet vineyard in the Lakka Tampaklinas area. This is an amphitheatrically shaped family vineyard, the highest on the island. Small grain muscat is cultivated on old vines here. Viticulture in such regions is a particularly difficult and painstaking traditional vine-growing practice, that provides very low yields per hectare, but exceptional quality grapes.
Brutia pine-Oak-Chestnut tree forest, Aspra Chomata area, Mt Ampelos
Από την περιοχή των «Κιουλάφηδων» ακολουθώντας το χωμάτινο δρόμο προς την περιοχή «Τσούκα», το δάσος με πεύκα στους «Κεχαγιάδες», το σημείο που ονομάζεται από τους ντόπιους «Ψι», φτάνουμε στο πυκνόφυτο δάσος στην περιοχή «Άσπρα Χώματα» με βελανιδιές, τραχεία πεύκη και καστανιές, αλλά και υπέροχη θέα στο ορεινό ανάγλυφο της Σάμου.
Η βλάστηση του όρους Άμπελος στην περιοχή των Βουρλιωτών, είναι πολύ πλούσια. Κυριαρχούν τα πεύκα στα χαμηλά, η τραχεία πεύκη και ψηλότερα η μαύρη πεύκη, που σχηματίζει εκτεταμένα μονότονα δάση – εναλλασσόμενα με αμπέλια σε αναβαθμίδες. Υπάρχουν ακόμα βελανιδιές, καστανιές και άλλα είδη δένδρων, μαζί με θάμνους, φρύγανα και γεώφυτα, στις πιο άγονες και βραχώδεις περιοχές. Γενικά, η περιοχή είναι σημαντική από οικολογική άποψη διότι σ’ αυτήν μπορεί κανείς να συναντήσει πολλά ενδημικά και σπάνια φυτά. Τα ξύλα από αυτά τα δάση χρησιμοποιούνταν κυρίως για την κατασκευή βαρελιών και μεγάλων οινοδεξαμενών αποθήκευσης σαμιακού οίνου, από ντόπιους τεχνίτες-βαρελοποιούς με μεγάλη επιδεξιότητα.
Ένα ξύλινο βαρέλι προσδίδει στο κρασί αρώματα και τα γευστικά χαρακτηριστικά του ξύλου από το οποίο είναι φτιαγμένο και επιτρέπει στο οξυγόνο να έρθει σε αργή και ελεγχόμενη επαφή με το κρασί.
Cooperative of Kokkari, Samos
From the vineyard village of Vourliotes, following an idyllic downhill route on a narrow winding road, visitors will reach the intersection with the Samos-Karlovasi Rural Road and continue on it to Kokkari.