From the very beginning, wine culture has never been a trend at Cinque Wine & Deli — it has been our foundation.

We are deeply honored that Cinque Wine & Deli received the Bronze Award in the “Wine Culture” category at the Tourism Awards, becoming the only wine bar to be awarded specifically for Wine Culture — a distinction that confirmed what our guests had already been experiencing every day.

Special thanks to ilovegreekwine.com for recognizing and highlighting this achievement.

An Award That Defined a Category

The Wine Culture award was not given for atmosphere alone, nor for wine lists or aesthetics.
It was awarded in recognition of Cinque’s ongoing commitment to education, storytelling, and authentic representation of Greek wine to an ever-growing international audience.

As stated by the Tourism Awards jury:

“The Bronze Award in the ‘Wine Culture’ sub-category was won by Cinque Wine & Deli in Athens, in recognition of their continuing efforts to educate their growing number of international visitors about Greek wine — the grape varieties, the history, the geographical diversity and the producers — while at the same time serving a top selection of Greek wines, cheeses, cold cuts and other delicacies.”

This recognition captured exactly what Cinque stood for — and continues to stand for today.

Greek Wine as Knowledge, Not Just a Glass

At Cinque Wine & Deli, wine has always been presented as culture, not consumption.

Visitors from all over the world were introduced to:

-Indigenous Greek grape varieties and their unique characteristics

-The historical and geographical diversity of Greek vineyards

-The stories of small and established Greek producers

-The role of wine within Greek gastronomy and social life

Each glass served was an invitation to understand Greece — through taste, narrative, and human connection.

Hospitality That Made the Difference

Beyond wine education, the award also acknowledged what made Cinque a destination rather than just a stop:

-Warm, personal service rooted in Greek filoxenia

-A friendly, welcoming atmosphere that encouraged dialogue and curiosity

-Carefully curated pairings of Greek cheeses, cold cuts, and delicacies

These elements turned learning into pleasure and transformed first-time visitors into returning guests.

This philosophy also led Cinque to achieve the No.1 position in its category on TripAdvisor, as recognized at the time — a reflection of genuine guest satisfaction rather than marketing momentum.

A Family-Driven Vision of Wine Culture

The award was received on behalf of the Prassas family, owners and operators of Cinque Wine & Deli, by Nikitas Prassas — at the time an oenology student at the Technological Education Institute (T.E.I.) of Athens.

That moment symbolized something deeper than a trophy:
the passing of knowledge, passion, and responsibility from one generation to the next.

It marked the early stage of a journey that would later establish Cinque as one of the most awarded and respected wine bar concepts in Greece and beyond.

The Beginning of a Unique Legacy

Looking back today, the Wine Culture Award holds a special place in Cinque’s history.

It was:

-The only award of its kind given to a wine bar

-A clear validation of Cinque’s educational and cultural mission

-The starting point of a long series of distinctions that followed

More importantly, it defined Cinque’s role:
not simply as a place to drink wine, but as a place to understand it.

Wine Culture Is Not a Slogan — It’s Our Identity

From that first recognition to today, the philosophy remains unchanged:

To educate without intimidating.
To welcome without formality.
To honor Greek wine with depth, respect, and authenticity.

At Cinque Wine & Deli, Wine Culture is not something we promote.
It is something we live.