«New Wines of Greece» Symposium

  • Location: Nafplia Palace Hotel, Nafplion
  • Organizer: National Interprofessional Organisation of Vine and Wine (EDOAO)
  • Contact Person: Ilianna Sidiropoulou
  • Contact Address: 86-88 M. Antypa str., 16346 Ilioupoli
  • Telephone: (+30)2103226057
  • Fax: (+30)2103226050
  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Website:

“New Wines of Greece” are organizing a one-day symposium on Friday, June 3 in the city of Nafplion, a one time capital of Greece situated in the Peloponnese, 2,5 hours from Athens. Participants include wine writers and journalists, wine buyers, sommeliers, wine bloggers and other wine professionals from the USA, Canada and Russia. Several well-known Greek wine producers will also attend the symposium, whose working language will be english.

“We are looking forward to an interesting exchange of ideas on how various wine professionals perceive Greek wine today and it’s place in two of the most important markets for Greek wine, North America and Russia”, says Sotiris Ioannou, president of the National Interprofessional Organisation of Vine and Wine (EDOAO).

The program of the symposium includes the presentation of a new video on Greek wine and a round-table discussion between Greek wine ambassadors Veronique Rivest (Canada), Doug Frost MW & MS (USA), John Szabo MS (Canada), Steve Olson (USA), Bisso Attanassov (Russia) and Michael Psillakis (USA). Enologist Sofia Perpera, head of the US Greek wine bureau “All About Greek Wine”, will coordinate the discussion, while Greek MP Mayia Tsokli, a well-known author and travel journalist, will wigh in with her own experiences with Greek wine while “on the road”.

Symposium participants will also enjoy a Greek “cook in” with Greek chefs, an extensive tasting of Greek wines and a cocktail party overlooking the Aegean sea.

At the tasting, wines will be grouped in ten different categories:

• Assyrtiko wines from Santorini; current vintage, tank and/or oak, plus Nychteri. Tasters will be looking for that rare combination of body, minerality and fruit that has everyone comparing the assyrtiko grape to other noble white grapes of the world.

• Moschofilero wines from Mantinia, Greece’s exotic answer to those who want an easy-going, fresh and aromatic white wine, now!

• Agiorgitiko wines from Nemea, in all styles (and there are many!) for those on the look-out for captivating red wines that uniquely combine elegance with power.

• Xinomavro wines from Naoussa and Amynteo, (as well as Rapsani and Goumenissa), a case study of terroir in Greece as this intriguing grape expresses its different personalities in the various soils and microclimates of Northern Greece.

• Award winning wines, which include gold medal winners in international wine competitions and over 90/100 scores from internationally-recognized wine critics.

• Eco-friendly wines and, generally speaking, “alternative” wines, such as “natural wines”, a rapidly growing category within the Greek wine industry, that has attracted the attention of many winemakers who are experimenting with new techniques and approaches.

• Retsina, the one and only!

• Wines from up-and-coming native Greek grape varietals and lesser-known areas, including rosé and sparkling wines, which are now becoming fashionable in the local market as well.

• Dessert wines from Samos, Santorini, Lemnos, Rhodes, Patras et. al., superb expressions of joy, Greece’s “liquid sunshine”, which few can resist!

• Wines from international varietals planted in Greece and blends of international varietals with native varietals; these wines prove the
phenomenal potential of Greece’s vineyard, with well-known grapes such as cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, syrah, sauvignon blanc and others expressing themselves in a unique way on Greek soil.

The symposium is organized by the National Interprofessional Organisation of Vine and Wine (EDOAO) and the Hellenic Foreign Trade Abroad (HEPO), with funds obtained under the Common Market Organization for Wine.

Symposium program
10:00-10:30 Arrival and registration
10:30-10:45 Welcome
10:45-11:30 Video screening of «New Wines of Greece»
11:30-13:00 Round table discussion
13:00-16:00 “Live cook in” with Greek chefs and wine tasting
21:00            Cocktail party