Greece Celebrates World Wine Tourism Day with Free Events

Wineries in Greece on Sunday, November 13, will offer free admission to wine enthusiasts in celebration of World Wine Tourism Day.

Initially launched in Europe, World Wine Tourism Day is observed in more than 600 cities and municipalities around the world and includes activities like tasting new and vintage wines, enjoying vineyard scenery, and taking tours in wine production, maturation and ageing areas.

Photo source: Wines of Crete.

“Greece has one of the longest wine histories in the world with historic vineyards owning an unbroken track record of several millennia abound. The epitome of this group of vineyards is Santorini, with an own-rooted, phylloxera-free vineyard, which is a remarkable 3,500-year-old world monument,” Wines of Greece, the National Interprofessional Organization of Vine and Wine, said in an announcement

Six regional wine producing associations in Greece will participate in the celebration, promoting wine as a cultural expression of heritage actively connected to local communities and their evolution through time.

The associations that will open their cellar doors to all are:

The Wines of Northern Greece

Established in 1993,the association represents wine makers in Macedonia, Thrace and Epirus and boasts 8 wine routes including the “Wine Route of the Olympian Gods”.

Photo source: Wines of Greece.

Central Greece Wine Producers Association

Created in 2008 by 24 wine makers of Central Greece, the organization managed to destigmatize retsina, the popular dry, white resinous wine since central Greece is considered the birthplace of resin.

Wine Producers Association of the Vineyard of Attica

The association, which began with 12 members, today has 34 active wine making producers. Wine making in Attica began in the 19^th century with the first local wines winning international awards in 1875.

The Wine Grower Association of the Peloponnese

The association’s 7 wine roads, one for each Peloponnese sub regions, offer the opportunity to taste the areas’ PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) wines, and discover the Greek native grape varieties.

Photo source: Wines of Crete.

Aegean Islands Wine Producers Association

Boasting members from Limnos to Rhodes, the Aegean wineries managed to build a diverse map of local wine producers who now collaborate to promote the area’s centuries – old wine heritage.

Crete Wine Producers Association (Wines of Crete)

Established in 2006, the association which recently held a B2B and wine tasting event in Athens, will see 20 wine producing local companies celebrating World Wine Tourism Day this year.

Photo source: Wines of Greece.

For more information on the regional wineries and their celebratory scheduled events on Sunday, November 13, contact the participating regional wine associations:

1. Wines of Northern Greece – Τ: 2310 281617
2. Central Greece Wine Producers Association – Τ: 22330 23172 & 210 8075512,
3. Wine Producers Association of the Vineyard of Attica – Τ: 2294032508,
4. The Wine Grower Association of the Peloponnese – Τ: 6979116736,
5. Aegean Islands Wine Producers Association – T: 2242069860,
6. Crete Wine Producers Association (Wines of Crete) – Τ: 2810 300688

or visit www.winesofgreece.org.

The events will take place under the auspices of the Greek ministries of tourism and rural development and food.