Greece’s 3rd Wine Tourism Event Highlights Next-generation Winemakers

Greek Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki (center).

The 3rd Wine Tourism Conference which took place in Nemea, Peloponnese, earlier this month cast the spotlight on the younger generation of Greek winemakers who are bringing fresh knowhow and new technologies into wine production, said Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki.

The event was part of the ministry’s wine tourism road show series which kicked off in July 2021 in Santorini,  was followed in November by an event in Western Macedonia and includes plans for similar meetings in Attica and on Crete.

During the three-day conference titled “A Trip to Wine Through Time”, the ministry also presented Greece’s first wine tourism portal, which among others includes an interactive map offering information on the location of over 90 wineries across Greece and aimed at promoting the country’s wine tourism industry abroad.

Attending the event were Peloponnese Regional Governor Panagiotis Nikas and Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis.

Greek Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki (right) with Peloponnese Regional Governor Panagiotis Nikas (second from right) and Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis (second from left).

Addressing the conference, Zacharaki referred to the long winemaking tradition of the Peloponnese and to the internationally recognized wine labels.

She also referred to the actions being implemented by the ministry to further develop the sector, including the launch of a digital portal for wineries awarded “visitable winery” certification, establishing wine tourism awards, and organizing similar events at destinations across Greece with Attica and Crete next on the agenda.

Referring to the younger generation of winemakers, Zacharaki said they brought “fresh ideas, deep scientific knowledge and looked to the future. This is exactly what we as a country need to overcome every crisis and every adversity. With love and passion for creation, with planning and perseverance, Greece moves forward, with tourism spearheading the effort”.

The minister went on to add that “wine tourism is and will remain a key part of our effort for quality and a holistic tourism product”.

The ministry’s 3^rd wine conference also included a workshop on the Nemea terroir, tours of vineyards, visits to local wineries and wine-tasting sessions.

Topics discussed during the event included a presentation of the new wine portal, the challenges and opportunities of developing wine tourism in the post-Covid era, the Peloponnese Region’s plan for the promotion of gastronomy and wine tourism, and a panel discussion with next-generation winemakers.