The 17th annual Oinotika Wine Festival organised by Wines of Crete is this year again coming to Kolymbari, where it will be at the Avra Imperial Hotel this weekend on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th March. Opening hours are from 12:00 to 20:00 on both days. The exhibition is open to the general public and there are two special seminars on Sunday.
Ticket prices include a promotional “Wines of Crete” wineglass and a notebook which can be used for tastings. Tickets can bought online at €8.00 (€6.00 for students) from https://www.more.com/gr-el/tickets/happenings/festival/oinotikachania25 or at the door at €10.00 and €6.00 for students, who must show a pass.
There are 33 participating wineries, including such well-known local firms as Manousakis, Karavitakis, Anoskeli and Pnevmatikakis. There will also be a sales counter for Cretan wines, which are sold at a nominal price with part of the proceeds going to the Heraklion Workshop for Special Professional Education and Training for those with disabilities.
Special events, Sunday 30th March
13:00 to 15:00 Masterclass (in Greek): “Wines of Crete: an eye to the future”. Contemporary techniques, New trends and future challenges, with sommelier Alexandros Katsikandarakis.
Entrance fee: €12.00 (payment of the entrance fee to the exhibition is also required).
16:00 to 17:00 Wine Seminar in English: “Get to know the wines in your new home.” Introduction to Cretan wines. According to the organisers:
“This is the second Wines of Crete seminar conducted in English to accommodate the numerous wine lovers from abroad who now call Crete their home. This seminar will cover the history of Cretan wine, discuss the different grape varieties and regions, and conclude with a guided wine tasting with sommelier Anna Maria Kambourakis.”
Entrance fee: €10.00 (payment of the entrance fee to the exhibition is also required).
The event is jointly organised with the Region of Crete – Regional Unit of Chania. Local sponsors include the Porto Veneziano Hotel in Chania, the cheesemaker Balantinos, and Samaria Mineral Water. Further information, including a full listing of the participating wineries, can be found on the Wines of Crete website at https://www.winesofcrete.gr/news/oinotikachania25/.
Visitors are advised that the exhibition and special events will be videoed and photographed, and because of the public nature of the event the results will be published in the press and on social media. Purchase of a ticket implies acceptance of the possibility of appearing in the published material.