The Cinque Journal / The Greek Wine Journey
OUR COMMUNITY · 2021
Virtual Wine Tasting Experience for the Hellenic Alumni Association of LSE
A lockdown-era gathering with Ted Lelekas, supported by tasting kits prepared by the Cinque team.
Published 2021-03-01 · Cinque — The Greek Wine Journey
IN THIS ARTICLE
During the lockdown period, Cinque prepared a virtual wine tasting for the Hellenic Alumni Association of the London School of Economics. Alumni could follow a guided journey through Greek wine from their own homes.
The event brought together two parts of hospitality: the conversation led by Ted Lelekas and the preparation of the tasting kits by Cinque, under the guidance of oenologist and sommelier Nikitas Prassas.
A shared selection, in different homes
Participants received tasting kits prepared for the occasion. Small-format wine samples made it possible to taste the same wines together, with a common sequence and a shared point of reference.
Ted Lelekas guided the group through Greek regions, grape varieties and winemaking approaches. Questions and personal impressions helped turn the digital meeting into a conversation about the wines.
Care in the preparation
Our original account describes the use of a small-format bottling system and protective inert gas during sample preparation. The purpose was to limit contact with oxygen and help preserve the wines’ character until the tasting.
Careful handling, packaging and presentation were part of that work. The preparation sought to bring the wines to participants in good condition, with attention to each stage of the process.
The people behind the experience
In our record of the evening, Ted expressed appreciation for Nikitas’s work on the samples and their presentation. The collaboration connected wine knowledge with the practical details that allowed the group to taste together.
For Cinque, it was a useful reminder that hospitality starts before the first glass is poured. The kit arriving at someone’s home was already part of the experience.
A memory of adapting together
This article belongs to our lockdown archive, published in March 2021. The event has concluded and the original arrangement is not presented as a current package or standing partnership with LSE.
We remember it for the people who took part and for the way a shared interest in Greek wine kept a community connected across the distance.