Wine Tourism Comes to Athens | OiNotika Wine Fair

Athens, Monday 5 November 2018 | 12:00–14:00

Cretan wine tourism came to Athens with a dedicated conference titled “Crete: Wine Destination”, held during OiNotika Wine Fair at the Athinais Cultural Center.

The event presented a modern, experience-driven side of Crete — not only as a wine-producing region, but as a destination where wine, culture and hospitality meet. It focused on the growing role of wine tourism in Greece and its potential to shape stronger regional identities, support local producers, and offer international visitors meaningful experiences.

A Conference Dedicated to Wine Tourism

The conference explored how Crete is building its position as an emerging wine tourism destination, while highlighting the importance of structured, authentic experiences for travelers. The conversation revolved around the relationship between wine and place — how storytelling, gastronomy and hospitality can turn a glass of wine into a memory worth traveling for.

Grigoris Prassas — Cinque Wine & Deli

Among the speakers was Grigoris Prassas, representing Cinque Wine & Deli, sharing practical insights from years of working with international guests in the heart of Athens.

His speech emphasized a simple but powerful idea: wine tourism starts long before someone visits a vineyard. It begins in the city — in the places where visitors first taste Greek wine, hear the stories behind it, and feel the authenticity of Greek filoxenia.

At Cinque, wine is not treated as a product to be served. It is treated as culture to be shared — through curated tastings, guided storytelling and human-centered hospitality. This approach supports wine regions like Crete by inspiring visitors to explore further, travel deeper, and connect with the people behind the wines.

Speakers and Contributors

The conference welcomed a strong lineup of professionals across wine, tourism and gastronomy, including: Pepi Birliraki, Mary Triantafyllopoulou, Spyros Triantafyllou, Maria Alebaki, Meropi Papadopoulou, Giorgos Pittas, Dimitris Kalaitzidakis, and Grigoris Prassas.

The event was supported by the Wines of Crete team, with Nicos Miliarakis and Iro Stavrakaki taking part in the coordination and presence of the network.

A Shared Vision for Greek Wine Tourism

“Crete: Wine Destination” highlighted that wine tourism is a living ecosystem — one that connects vineyards with cities, producers with guests, and gastronomy with culture. Moments like these strengthen the future of Greek wine tourism by putting the right people in the same room and aligning around one goal: elevating Greek wine through real experiences.

For Cinque, participating in this conference was more than a speaking moment. It was a continuation of a long-standing mission: to bring Greek wine closer to the world — with authenticity, knowledge and hospitality that people remember.