For the second consecutive year, the Chania Wine Festival, organised by Giorgos Liodakis and Katerina Marmaritsaki of the EnoTrapeza wine shop in Tsikalaria, is being held at the KAM on Sunday 4th and Monday 5th February. The participants include 39 wineries from Crete, Santorini, Kefalonia, Cyprus and mainland Greece, one Cretan distillery and four wine importers.
Mr Liodakis told Haniotika Nea that the success of last year’s event, which attracted more than 1,000 visitors, has led the participating wineries to support it again this year. “There has a been a major increase in the production of Greek wines in recent years. In Crete however we are experiencing a geometric rise.” For many years, the phrase “Cretan wine” was something of a joke, he said. “Greek wines started to change once the Greek and Cretan producers abandoned foreign grape varieties and turned back to the indigenous ones. Trying to present another Syrah, Merlot or Cabernet means nothing, since French and other producers will have better wines of this type.”
Greece, Mr Liodakis says means Greek grape varieties. “Amongst all those wines, which are the result of much study and hard work, there are some Greek examples which are far better because of the characteristics of the terrain and the climatic conditions. Examples are the self-rooted vines of Santorini, with root systems which are 200 to 300 years old, which because of the climatic and soil conditions are robust and resistant to weather and diseases.”
The organisers’ message is that “wine enlivens the spirit, the heart of man, it is for good quality company, so we say no to excess and we offer wines which are less than 15 per cent.” All the wines on show, Mr Liodakis explains, are between 9.5 and 15 per cent. There is an effort to reduce the alcohol content, since spirits are over 38 per cent, “which means that four glasses of wine are equivalent to a glass of whisky”.
As last year, the proceeds of the 2nd Chania Wine Festival will be donated to Synanthropos, a volunteer group which provides help to vulnerable families and individuals in Chania. “We are in a period in which we should all participate in any way we can in honest, sincere and serious efforts to help and support those of our fellow humans who have demonstrable needs and problems of survival,” Sifis Chiotakis, the president of Synanthropos told Haniotika Nea.
The Festival will be open on Sunday 4th and Monday 5th February, from 12 noon to 8.00 pm, at the Centre for Mediterranean Architecture (Megalo Arsenali). Admission is 12 euros, which will include a wine glass made by the Riedel glass company.
(Haniotika Nea 03/02/24)
Wine master classes
Simultaneously with the event at the KAM, a series of wine master classes is being held at the Salis Restaurant on the old port, for which there is an entrance fee, and prior reservation is required. More information from Katerina Marmaritsaki on 697 339 9047.
The topics are:
– Naousa, the Heroic City, city of Xinomavro. An introduction to the wines of the area by oenologist Apostolos Thymiopoulos. Salis Restaurant, Sunday 4th February 1.00 pm. Admission €45.00.
– Tuscany: From Sangiovese to Super Tuscans. Introduced by Iro Koliakoudaki, oenologist, Dip. WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust). Salis Restaurant, Sunday 4th February, 5.00 pm. Admission €70.00.
– Santorini: History and uniqueness of a 100-per-cent self-rooted vine. Introduced by Dr Ioannis Parasekevopoulous, professor of oenology. Salis Restaurant, Monday 5th February, 1.00 pm. Admission €55.00
– Burgundy: the birthplace of Pinot Noir, red wines of Burgundy. Introduced by Alexandros Katsikandarakis, oenologist WSET level 3. Salis Restaurant, Monday 5th February, 5.00 pm. Admission €60.00.
Oinotika wine fairs
Also this month Wines of Crete, the island-wide network devoted to the promotion of Cretan wines, is holding two Oinotika wine fairs, one on Heraklion and one in Chania.
Heraklion
The event in Heraklion is being held at the International Exhibition Centre of Crete at Gournes, Heraklion, on 10th-12th February. The opening hours are as follows:
– Saturday 10th February, 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm. For wine lovers and professionals.
– Sunday 11th February, 11.00 am to 8.00 pm. For wine lovers and professionals.
– Monday 12th February, 12.00 noon to 6.00 pm. For professionals only.
A series of seminars and master classes are also being held on the Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are €8.00 if prebooked at More.com, or €10.00 at the door, and include a souvenir wine glass. More details at https://www.more.com/happenings/festival/oinotikaher24/
Chania
The Chania event is being held as last year at the Avra Imperial Hotel in Kolymbari, on 24th and 25th February. No further information has been published to date, but those wishing advance notice can sign up for the Wines of Crete newsletter at https://www.winesofcrete.gr/en/.
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