Following the Rhythm of the Vineyard

In Greece, February marks one of the most important periods in the winegrower’s calendar. It is pruning season — the quiet, decisive moment when vineyards are carefully shaped for the year ahead.

Across the country, winemakers are in the fields, cutting, tending, observing. Pruning is not simply an agricultural task. It is an act of intention. It defines the quality, balance, and character of the coming vintage.

At Cinque Wine & Deli, Greek wine is not just part of our list — it is part of our life. We closely follow the cycles of viniculture and viticulture, maintaining strong, personal relationships with the producers whose wines we proudly feature.

Our vision is clear:
To make Cinque an open window to the world of the vineyard.

In a time when nature and tradition often feel distant from urban life, we believe wine can reconnect people to the land, to the seasons, and to the hands that cultivate it.

As the Vineyard Has Seasons, So Does Cinque

Inspired by the season of pruning, we have launched a series of initiatives that align our events and experiences with the natural rhythm of Greek viticulture.

Through our Producer of the Month events, we bring the ambassadors of Greek wine directly to the heart of Athens. Winelovers are invited to engage, ask questions, taste new bottlings, and understand the craft behind each label — either in person or via live online participation.

On Friday, February 16, at Cinque Wine & Deli Monastiraki (Voreou 10), we hosted an evening dedicated to pruning, terroir, and the art of cultivation.

Joining the discussion:

Nikitas Prassas — resident oenologist, Certified Sommelier (ASI), WSET Levels 1–3, graduate of the American Farm School of Thessaloniki and the University of West Attica.

Panos Katrisiosis — founder of Terra Thiva (Thivaiki Gi), graduate of the American Farm School (1985), and lifelong cultivator of privately owned vineyards in Vagia, Thebes.

The evening focused on:

– Pruning techniques and vineyard management
– The influence of terroir
– Tasting recent bottlings
– Open dialogue with winelovers

A special 1+1 wine offer accompanied the event, while a traditional Greek recipe for lamb cooked on vine shoots connected the discussion directly to the land.

The Cinque Pruning Box — Taste the Terroir at Home

Inspired by this seasonal moment, we curated a limited Cinque Pruning Box, available through our online shop.

The box includes:

– A Cinque Limited Edition bottling of Katrisiosis’ Mouhtaro
– Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Olympia
– The curated lamb-on-vines recipe
– Authentic vine shoots from the same vineyard

This is more than a tasting box.
It is an invitation to participate in the vineyard’s cycle.

From Thebes to Athens — A Living Tradition

Panos Katrisiosis’ vineyards are located in Vagia, near Thebes, at 300 meters altitude in Boeotia. The region holds deep mythological and historical roots — birthplace of Cadmus, Oedipus, Antigone, and Dionysus.

Archaeological excavations reveal a powerful Mycenaean presence, proving that this land has cultivated life and culture since the Bronze Age.

Wine here is not modern fashion.
It is continuity.

Why This Matters

At Cinque, we believe Greek bottled wine deserves context.

Understanding pruning means understanding balance.
Understanding terroir means understanding identity.
Understanding the producer means understanding the wine.

Our mission remains unchanged:

To connect people to producers.
To give voice to Greek viticulture.
To bring the vineyard into the city.

Because wine is not only tasted.
It is cultivated.
It is seasonal.
It is lived.