KONOS: The Gold of Thrace and a Multi-Award-Winning Symbol of Resilience
The Historic Konos Hill and the Elevation of the Thracian Land on the Global Culinary Map
Our olive oil tourism journey begins at the northernmost point of Greece, Makri in Alexandroupoli. Here, olive cultivation has roots that, according to historical records, date back 3,000 years. On the historic Konos Hill, the Michalis Estate harnesses this ancient heritage to produce KONOS Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A culinary gem that serves as an excellent ambassador for the Thracian land on the global culinary map.
The Distinct Terroir of Evros and the Complex Flavor Profile of the “Makri” Variety (PDO)
The quality of KONOS derives from the region’s unique terroir and the indigenous, certified “Makri” variety (PDO), the “twin sister” of the Maroneia variety. The olive trees benefit from the humid, salty air of the Thracian Sea and the cold northern winds. This microclimate, combined with the schistose subsoil, gives the olive oil a fruity and complex profile.
Four Generations of Tradition and State-of-the-Art Cold Pressing at the Michelis Estate
The Michelis family has been cultivating their traditional olive grove, home to trees over 200 years old, for four generations. The secret to their success lies in speed and technological precision: production takes place in a state-of-the-art, privately owned two-phase olive mill located within the grove. “Cold” pressing takes place effortlessly on the same day as the harvest.
This dedication is reflected in an impressive collection of awards. KONOS has won top prizes, such as the Platinum Award at the Berlin GOOA international competition, Gold medals at the Specialist Awards, the ATHENA IOOC, and the London IOOC, as well as 2 Stars at the Great Taste Awards. But beyond its taste-testing successes, it was honored in 2023 with the Olive Oil Production Award at the 16th “Gastronomos” Quality Awards. It was recognition of the family’s heroic effort to save their olive grove and maintain top production, despite the devastating fires that struck the region of Evros that summer.
In today’s tasting, we invite you to discover this liquid gold for yourselves. When you taste KONOS, you’re not just enjoying a premium olive oil. You become part of the deep history of the Makris variety and, above all, you “taste” the indomitable spirit of a land reborn from its ashes.