Achaia Clauss Wine Co. was founded by Gustav Clauss, a native Bavarian, who in 1854 decided to settle in Patras after a business trip to the region. He was so enthused with the beauty of Greece’s natural landscape, especially of Patras, Achaia, which is located in the northwest Peloponnese. Hence, he built a castle and within its walls he made a wine factory.” His first wine was Mavrodaphne, a transplant from the Ioanian Islands. It has been said that it was his Iberian approach to vinification and love for sweet wine that made Mavrodaphne a successful crop in the region and subsequently, an appellation wine. Mavrodaphne and Muscat of Patras were first produced in 1854 for himself and friends. While the winery was built in 1861, it was not until 1873 that he introduced Mavrodaphne and Muscat in cork finished bottles. In 1880, Demestica was introduced from the village of Demestiha. In 1901, Demestica became the first bottled dry wine of Greece.