In 1954, eight hundred winegrowers of Messinia joined forces to form a cooperative in the winegrowing and winemaking sector. For its times, the “Nestor Agricultural and Winemaking Cooperative of Messinia” was as unique as it was pioneering. The goal of the cooperative was to absorb and showcase its members’ winegrowing production. For its emblem and symbol, the Nestor Cooperative chose the griffin, a creature of legend with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion which, according to mythology, guarded only priceless treasures. The cooperative’s first seat was in the village of Yalova in the Bay of Navarino, an area which, for many years was viewed as the strategically right location for winegrowing and winemaking activities. That was the cooperative’s first winery. Complying with all the modern trends of the times, the winery was outfitted with the latest in cutting edge equipment. Some time later, in 1980, the winegrowers who were members of that Messinia cooperative decided to enrich the local vineyards with international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.