The wider area of the winery is defined in the western estuary of the mythical Alfeios River, specifically from the mouth of the Alfeios and the Mouria Lagoon to Cape Katakolo and from there to the hill settlements that surround Pyrgos, Skafidia-Lasteika-Agios Georgios-Kolliri-Lampeti-Varvasaina, i.e. 80% of the territorial area of the Municipality of Pyrgos.
This area was ancient Pisatida, inhabited since 1500 BC by the Epii. Of the 12 cities of Pisatida, three were built in this area:
a) Phiea, which was the port of all of Pisatida
b) Letrina, on the mountain of Agiannis, having the entire lagoon and therefore the German Map of 1786 depicts it at the mouth of the Alpheus.
c) Dystonio, approximately at the location of today’s Pyrgos, occupying a much larger area than the previous two.
In this area was also the site of Alte, where Xenios Zeus was worshipped. In 776 BC a sacred truce was signed by the King of Pisa Cleosthenes, Elis Ifitos and Sparta, Lycurgus, and Panhellenic games were held in the stadium next to the Sacred Alte, which were established every four years (Olympic Games).
The Aetolians who had settled in the basin of the Pinios River, conquering Elis, in 580 BC destroyed the cities of Pisatis and made the cities of Triphylia beyond the Alpheus River their peripheries. They “took over” the organization of the Olympic Games, leaving only their celebration in Sacred Olympia, and dominated the region for centuries.
During the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) they allied with the Spartans and were in the victorious camp, while during the Hellenistic period (323-146 BC) they joined the Achaean League which was finally defeated by the Romans in 146 BC.
During the Roman and Early Byzantine periods, the area maintained its urban and social structure and probably flourished, compared to the decline of the rest of the country, since the Olympic Games, which continued even with “barbarians”, were the tourism of the time and created added income.
From the 4th century onwards, the Goth Alaric from Thessaly devastated the entire central-western Peloponnese. This was followed by the Vandals in the 5th century and the earthquake of 522 BC which ultimately leveled what was left of Elis and Achaia. What is “ancient” that survives is what was built from then on.
During the Byzantine Empire (600-1200 AD) the region followed the fate of the NW Peloponnese. From 600-800 AD it was inhabited by Slavs, who coexisted with the remaining natives. The Byzantines defeated them twice in Patras 805-807 AD and 841-843 AD and in order to safeguard their lands they developed here too the institution of the akrites who, by managing and protecting their timars, also protected the lands of the empire. No sources have yet been found for this period for the region.
During the Frankish period, the area belonged to the Barony of Akova (around present-day Karytaina) which had 24 fiefdoms, one of which is our area. The feudal lord built his castle on the mountain of Katakolos and from the view it had, it was called BeauVoure.
With their dominance, the Ottomans followed the same system of administration (the timaria were assigned to the Kazades) and in 1512, Bey Georgios Tsernotas built his “Tower” on the hill in the center of the entire area to oversee it, and the creation of the city that is today the capital of the prefecture began.
During the Venetian rule, the area was a stopover for merchants passing through to and from Zakynthos with a population that perhaps reached 5,000 residents, while in the Venetian census of 1701 it belongs to the 2nd Region of Achaia, in the 4th tettitorio of Gastouni, where 171 villages are recorded, including some of the area, such as Pirgo, Romessi, San Zorci, etc.
The city of Pyrgos and its wider area (kaza) during the last period of the Ottoman rule had 10 villages and 7,000 inhabitants as well as special tax privileges (proximity to British-occupied Zakynthos and Kefalonia) which allowed for greater development. As a result, it was prepared for the Rebirth with prominent leaders (Avgerinos, Viantis, Mitsos, Krestenitis, Acholos) who raised the flag of revolution on March 29, 1821.