Wine Roads in Northern Greece

 (GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Encompassing Macedonia, Thrace and Epirus, the non-profit “Wine Producers’ Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard” supports the region’s tradition of vine growing and winemaking while offering Greeks and foreigners alike the opportunity to visit vineyards. The online directory “The Wine Roads of Northern Greece” offers detailed maps and travel-destination suggestions, highlighting vineyards and the general landscape of northern Greece. The northern Greece wine network features eight wine routes, leading from Mt Olympus, home of the Gods, and Zitsa in Epirus to Byzantine Thessaloniki. Others run from Amyntaio in the north to the Aegean playground of Halkidiki and the delightful, distant Thrace. Several Greek wineries are opening their gates on May 16 and 17 – part of the “Open Gates Programme” launched on the initiative of the European Network of Wine Cities – offering visitors the opportunity to feel the intoxicating aromas and flavours of Greek vineyards. Its objective is that each participating town create an event around wine so as to acquaint consumers with the production of this alcoholic beverage. More specifically, there will be two-day wine events all over Europe.

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Made in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  METAXA (www.metaxa.com) is distinguished as the most famous Greek spirit worldwide. Spyros Metaxas, a silk trader from Athens, was the first in Greece to distil wine in 1888 and the company he founded now sells over a million cases world wide. METAXA is produced from Savatiano, Sultanina and Black Corinth, double-distilled, married with aged Muscat wine from Samos & Lemnos, blended with a secret botanical mix and then aged in hand made oak casks. In the world market, Metaxa is generally available in three versions: Three Star, Five Star, and Seven Star. Extra old Metaxa “Private Reserve” brandies are marketed in attractive, painted, ceramic bottles.

Greek Wine Museum Opens

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    The Gerovassiliou Wine Museum has opened its doors in Epanomi, Thessaloniki, and was created by wine-maker Evangelos Gerovassiliou to showcase various objects that he began collecting in 1976 that are related to wine production in all its stages, from ancient times until the present day. It is now regarded one of the greatest collections of its kind in the world.  One wing of the museum has been devoted to a display of more than 2,000 bottle openers and corkscrews that date from the Middle Ages until contemporary times, a chamber exploring the social, economic and symbolic significance of wine through the ages and others related to its storage and preservation. President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias inaugurated the museum on Monday, during his visit to the northern Greek city. Invest in Greece Agency: Wines of Distinction; Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece – Winemaking ; See also Wineanorak.com: The wines of Domaine Gerovassiliou, Epanomi, Greece;

Wines of the Times: Crisp, Refreshing and Greek

Eric Asimov, in this winetasting report on Greek wines (New York Times, 06.08.2008 ), notes that much has changed and improved during the last four years: “Greece offers a subtly different take on familiar Mediterranian-style wines, with unfamiliar, indigenous grapes grown nowhere else. From the windswept volcanic island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea comes the assyrtiko grape (pictured right), from the Peloponnesus comes the pink-skinned moschofilero grape, which produces highly floral wines that can often have a rosy tinge to them. And there are so many others, like the ancient athiri, the light, citrus-imbued roditis and the textured savatiano.” FOR MORE LOOK AT: http://events.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/dining/reviews/06wine.html?scp=3&sq=greece&st=cse

Greek Islands: Santorine

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Santorini island (Thera) was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions about 3,500 years ago. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic and its effects may have indirectly led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete. Due to its imposing landscape and amazing views, the stunning sunsets, its terrifying birth related to the myth of Atlantis, and its special indigenous architecture, Santorini is considered an unmatched tourist experience.  Info: www.santorini.gr ; Santorini Guide book 2008 

Greek Wine: Ancient & Modern

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    Ancient Greeks were making wine nearly 6,500 years ago, according to a new study that describes what could be the world’s earliest evidence of crushed grapes. According to findings published in “Antiquity” journal, charred 2,460 grape seeds and 300 empty grape skins were used to make wine, discovered at the “Dikili Tash” Neolithic site, Northern Greece. Discovery Channel: Ancient Mashed Grapes Found in Greece  Antiquity Journal of Archaeology: Grape-pressings from northern Greece: the earliest wine in the Aegean?  Many journalists and oenophiles comment favourably on modern Greek wines: World Media Articles on Greek Wines

Foolproof Anti-cancer Diet in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  In order to avoid cancer, one must live like a monk. That is the inescapable conclusion from research into one of the world’s most renowned monastic communities. The austere regime of the 1,500 monks on Mount Athos, in northern Greece, begins with an hour’s pre-dawn prayers and is designed to protect their souls. Their low-stress existence and simple diet (no meat, occasional fish, home-grown vegetables and fruit) may, however, also protect them from more worldly troubles.  

Mini Guide of 2008 Events in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Always admired for its history, cultural heritage and beautiful landscape, Greece is now respected for the whole spectrum of its comparative advantages. From its status as an energy hub, a financial centre and overall gateway to Southeastern Europe to its leading role in shipping, Greece counts an increasing number of accomplishments and an growing number of friends.  Greece is a well established brand and a timeless destination. A variety of exhibitions, conferences, business fairs, cultural events and research colloquiums are taking place throughout the country on a yearly basis. The following is a selection of such events during 2008.