Estates Costa Lazaridi has become the first Greek winery to receive Certified Regenerative by A Greener World (AGW), marking a milestone in sustainable viticulture.

The family-owned estate, founded in 1979 in the Drama region of northern Greece by Costa Lazaridi, has evolved into one of the country’s most prominent wine producers. Now led by his sons, the estate manages vineyards in Drama and at Lake Marathon in Attica near Athens.

The certification recognizes decades of regenerative farming practices focused on soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. The winery uses cover crops between vine rows, composts grape waste and vine prunings onsite, and minimizes soil disturbance through manual vineyard work.

Insecticides have been eliminated, with pest control achieved through pheromone traps and natural predators. When fungicides are necessary, they are applied under disease pressure, contributing to a 14% reduction in application rates over eight years.

The estate also preserves natural habitats including hedgerows, woodland patches, and riparian zones, supporting wildlife such as birds of prey, foxes, and native flora. At Lake Marathon, 20 hectares of organic vineyards have been cultivated since 2000 in harmony with the local environment.

AGW’s Certified Regenerative program is a third-party audited system requiring environmental planning. It assures consumers that certified wines meet strict sustainability and regenerative standards. Winery leadership emphasized that the certification validates their long-standing philosophy of working in harmony with the land while producing expressive wines. The certification is expected to enhance international recognition and availability of the estate’s wines.