Title - Name
Semeli Estate
Scope / Sector / Industry
wine tourism
Country / Region
Greece, Peloponnese
Why is it good practice?
The Semeli Estate is a model wine tourism business, as it not only offers a variety of wine experiences to its visitors, but also makes a practical contribution to protecting the environment, combating climate change and supporting the development of the local community. It is a business that cares about the environment, coexists and works harmoniously with the local community, and manages its internal operations in a way that ensures its own development.
How is it applied?
The Estate’s vineyard is situated at an altitude of 600 metres in Nemea, in the Peloponnese, specifically on the slopes of the semi-mountainous community of Koutsi in Corinthia. It covers an area of 250 acres and is complemented by other vineyards, which are situated in the same community and belong to winegrowers who have entered into long-term cooperation agreements with the Semeli Estate. The privately-owned vineyard is planted mainly with Agiorgitiko grapes, as the Nemea region is renowned for this particular grape variety, which has been awarded Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. At the same time, selected international grape varieties have also been planted.
The vineyard is complemented by gardens featuring shrubs, trees and olive trees, whilst an organic vegetable garden has also been created, where vegetables are grown and used in the winery’s gastronomic experiences.
In addition to the vineyards, the winery, which has been in operation since 2003, is situated on the privately-owned part of the Estate, in a 4,000 sq.m. building. The Estate also features nine luxury suites, which are available exclusively to guests attending corporate events held at the winery.
As part of its efforts to promote wine tradition and culture, the winery has designed and is delivering a range of experiences for its visitors, which are described below:
- Daily scheduled tours and wine tastings.
- Wine tastings, which include tastings of representative wines from the estate.
- A meal at the Estate’s bistro, featuring Peloponnesian Greek cuisine and beyond, prepared using organically grown produce (e.g. Corinthian sour trachanas, Feneos pulses and fava beans, Ziria feta cheese, Macedonian prosciutto, Greek farm-reared meat, etc.). The experience is accompanied by Estate wines, either as part of one of the wine pairing programmes or by selecting freely from the Estate’s range of older and newer vintages.
- A picnic or a relaxing time in the vineyard, with tasting sessions and complementary produce from the estate’s organic vegetable garden.
- Specialised viticulture and winemaking programmes, such as involvement in vineyard or winery operations.
- Organisation of corporate events and use of the hospitality services provided.
In addition to the services provided by the winery, another important reason why Semeli Estate is a model wine tourism business is that it makes a significant effort to provide services with a focus on sustainability. Minimising disruption and protecting and promoting the natural environment are core values for its managers and underpin all the company’s activities, from grape production to the export of its products, and from the provision of wine tourism services to staff training and relations with its partners.
Sustainability practices implemented on the Estate include:
- Investments in facilities and processes, with a focus on high energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- Creation of a state-of-the-art cleaning system and the safe management of production waste.
- Implementation of a regenerative viticulture programme, with the aim of promoting biodiversity, restoring soil health and supporting natural carbon sequestration. This ensures high-quality raw materials and low-carbon wines.
As a result of the above measures, the company has already achieved a carbon-neutral footprint, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change.
In addition to the above, the Estate, through its operations, seeks to support the local economy and places great emphasis on harmonious coexistence and the development of long-term, stable economic and social ties with every member of the local community in the wider Nemea region. To this end, it employs staff exclusively from the neighbouring communities, whilst at the same time supporting local agriculture, either by providing advice on vine cultivation or by rewarding the production of high-quality grapes. At the same time, it carries out Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, which extend beyond the scope of its core operations and are implemented on a regular basis, in cooperation with local public and private organisations, the local communities and the families of its employees.
It is important to note that, as part of its social responsibility, the Semeli Estate has made a significant effort to ensure that its reception and hospitality areas are accessible to visitors with disabilities.
Where is it applied?
The Semeli Estate is aimed at visitors who wish to discover the local viticultural and winemaking traditions of Nemea through special wine experiences.
When did it apply?
Semeli Estate was founded in 1979.
Results
Semeli Estate has received significant accolades for its wines and more. As part of its efforts to promote sustainability, Semeli Estate was certified in 2023 as a “CO2 Neutral Footprint Business” for its winery, guesthouses and company cars. It has also been awarded Silver Sustainability Certification for the period 2022–2024, with an overall business score of 68% (breakdown: climate 76%, environmental 71%, social 56%).
Other information
The official website of the Semeli Estate is: https://www.semeliestate.gr/