Michael Giannikos is the winegrower at his namesake winery, Giannikos. He was born in the USA, in California, in 1965, and moved to Greece in 1972. Having grown up in the vineyards, olive and orange groves of Mycenae and Korinthos, he decided to revive his family business after 40 years and continue the work in the vineyards, but with a modern approach, so he built a modern winery in 1996 on the slopes of Ancient Korinthos and at the same time expanded the family vineyards by planting more plots.
From a young age, he was impressed by the centuries-long history of wine-making in his region and the diverse styles of wines, aromas, and tastes that the Greek grape varieties produce. The unique microclimate and terroir provided him with the opportunity to make improvements in the vineyards; as a result, he switched to organic cultivation, becoming one of the first organic wine makers in Greece. Media Inquiries: Michael Giannikos giannikoswinery@gmail.com | https://www.giannikoswinery.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
We dedicate ourselves to single-varietal wines, allowing us to showcase the full brilliance of Greece’s native grapes. Among them, Roditis—an ancient jewel of the Peloponnese—and Avgoustiatis, a rare variety born in the sacred soil of Olympia, where the Olympic Games began, reveal their depth and character through our hands.”
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
Today, my son stands beside me—bringing fresh insight from his wine studies in Austria—and together we look toward the horizon. A shared ambition shapes our future: to expand our understanding, to innovate without losing our roots, and to guide our winery into a new era where tradition and imagination flourish together.
What is One Wine of the most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
“It is difficult to choose one wine as the emblem of our brand, because each of our wines tells a different part of our story. Roditis speaks of the ancient vineyards of the Peloponnese, Avgoustiatis carries the spirit of Olympia, and Agiorgitiko reflects the noble heritage of Nemea—home of Hercules’ legendary battle with the Nemean lion, an image that proudly graces our label. Together, they form a tapestry of our philosophy—honoring tradition, celebrating authenticity, and giving voice to Greece’s native grapes.” Read the “At Sea” Roditis wine review here.