The Cinque Journal / The Greek Wine Journey
OUR BEGINNINGS · LAMIA 2012
The First Cinque Begins in Lamia
Lamia, 18 October 2012. The first Cinque began with a small wine bar, a family decision and a willingness to learn from every guest.
Published 2012-10-18 · Cinque — The Greek Wine Journey
IN THIS ARTICLE
Everything starts small.
With intuition, courage and a clear vision.
On 18 October 2012, Cinque takes its very first step — in Lamia.
Grigoris Prassas, following a different professional path, and Evangelia Tseliou, coming from the medical field, decide to open a small wine bar in their hometown. It is not a strategic expansion and not a business experiment. It is a conscious decision to start close to people, close to reality.
At the same time, Nikitas Prassas is a student at the American Farm School of Thessaloniki, learning discipline, values and respect for land, production and knowledge — elements that quietly shape the philosophy of Cinque from the very beginning.
A Place to Train, Observe and Understand
Cinque in Lamia is created as a place of training.
The local market is compact, human and direct.
People know each other. Habits are clear. Reactions are honest.
Here, Cinque observes real consumer behavior:
– how wine becomes part of everyday life
– how trust is built slowly, through consistency
– how storytelling changes perception
– how hospitality adapts to people — not trends
Lamia functions as a living classroom.
Every glass, every conversation, every reaction matters.
Vision Before Growth
Cinque does not begin with the goal of expansion.
It begins with curiosity.
The vision is clear from the start:
wine can be approachable, social and present everywhere — not reserved for special occasions or exclusive settings.
This first location allows experimentation, adjustment and learning.
Mistakes become lessons. Feedback becomes direction.
Starting from Lamia is not a limitation.
It is an advantage.
The Real Beginning
What opens on 18 October 2012 is not simply a wine bar.
It is the first training ground.
The first dialogue with real guests.
The first foundation of a philosophy built on observation, humility and persistence.
Cinque begins exactly where it needs to begin —
close to people, close to reality, close to learning.
This is the starting point of the Cinque journey.