New Wines of Greece 3rd Symposium was successfully completed!
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"New Wines of Greece" 3rd Symposium was successfully completed June 1st at Knossos Royal Aldemar hotel, in Heraklion Crete. This annual event is considered to be a standart meeting point for important Greek wine journalists, sommeliers, and buyers from targeted markets (U.S., Canada and Russia).
During the Symposium, foreign participants (more than 30) attented an informative seminar, in english for indigenous Greek grape varieties, where they had the chance to taste several top quality wines. The seminar was held under the guidance of Konstantinos Lazarakis MW and the prominent agronomist Costas Bakasietas and all wine experts participating have formed a brief but essential idea as far as the potential of indigenous Greek grape varieties and the wines produced from their vinification, is concerned.
In the beginning of the Symposium, all participants attended our ambassadors (Dough Frost MW και MS, Steven Olson and Bisso Athanasov) describing how Greek wine exports have increased, mostly in North America, concerning the quantity as well as the quality, thanks to several great changes within the last years (in Russia there is a smaller increase, but things are getting better). Then, there was also a short report on the actions adopted during the last years and the important role of the history of Greek wine, Greek gastronomy as well as the amazing food friendly character of the wines was inclined. Thereafter, the need of choosing the right importers and the commercial traceability of their products to the final recipient, were seriously indicated.
"In terms of communication great progress is achieved recently and in this very moment, all this work will increase the percentage of exports," said Stelios Boutaris.
All results from the 3 years promotional campaign, supported by the HEPO and EDOAO but also next actions planned for New Wines of Greece for 2013, were presented to Greek participants. Among these, targeting the promising market of China, and adopt new initiatives, such as small dinners in key targeted consumers who influence and shape trends, events, sponsorships, etc. Finally, the announcement of the collaboration of HEPO and EDOAO under the same context, creating a single co-HEPO EDOAO for wine, with a the funding with common strategy and common objectives and marketing plan was a statement of exceptional importance. Special mention on the social media channels and the successful contribution to Greek wine promotion from the very beginning, pointed out the need to keep using them correctly in order to promote Greek wineries.
During the wine tasting all participants had the chance to taste 167 ambassador labels from 55 wineries, as well as Wines from Crete and explore Greek wine potential. As Mat Stamb MS, from Guild of Sommeliers declares: “It was really fascinating that we had the chance to taste all these wines coming from different wineries, from several Greek terroirs and many indigenous grape varieties in the same place and get an overall view of Greek wine production.
Some highlight moments during the Symposium, included watching the hotel’s chef preparing the meal with live cooking and dining with Cretan dances and festivities.
The Symposium was organized by the HEPO and EDOAO
