ROXANNE MATSA: THE MOTHER OF MALAGOUZIA

Speaking to Roxanne Matsa, one can easily conclude that fine wines are usually made by beautiful people. You can hear her for hours telling you stories of another Athens, talking about her favorite retsina, wine and the taverns she likes. But what's the story of Roxanne Matsa?

Being the great - granddaughter of Alexandros Cambas (make the connection, Cava Cambas), her course in wine was almost destined. The Cambas brothers had bought 5,000 acres in Kantza to plant vines, which were later shared among their families. With heritage the estate in Kantza and deep-rooted love for wine, in 1976 Roxanne takes the decision to leave everything behind and to move to Kantza to cultivate the vineyards. The first years were difficult for both her and the estate. The payment of the inheritance tax and the expropriation from DEI, cost her 325 acres. With what was left of her heritage and with a lot of guts she began to sell the must to the Athenian wine shops by fighting for the Estate.

In 1980, Konstantinos Boutaris entered her path. The deal was to buy all her production and bottle her wine with her name on it! Roxanne finally devotes herself to her great love, wine. In 1982, Chateau Matsas is released and conquers the market. Chateau Matsas is from 100% Savvatiano and sets the bar high for the "abused" Greek variety of Attica. Later Roxane conquers something else, Malagouzia. She was committed to her rescue and her spreading as very few were. She gets clematis from Thanasis Parparoussis and plants it in Attica. Imagine that in Italy there are roots with the label "Malagouzia of Roxanne Matsa". She realises that the Attic vineyard climate is ideal for Malagousia and in 1994 she bottles her first experimental Malagouzia in just 294 bottles.

Nowadays Malagouzia Matsa is considered one of the best and every year it is winning more and more awards and distinctions. In 2001 the Wine Journalists Association recognizes her work and honors her awarding the title “Wine Personality". Roxanne continues experimenting even today. Below the umbrella of Boutaris Winery makes wines without the addition of sulphites, in very limited quantity. One of these is her Syrah, which, as you will remember, was mind blowing and her favorite Savvatiano. There is also a new experiment with Malagouzia without sulphites. How could it be missing?

Eva Markaki

Wine Geek