Events for Wine Tourism in Larissa

The Development Organization of Local Government of Larissa Prefecture S.A. - "AENOL S.A." organized events in Larissa and Tyrnavos on Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13, within the framework of implementing the Cross-Local Cooperation Plan "Organization and Promotion of Wine Tourism", of the Local CLLD/LEADER Program, Measure 19, Sub-measure 19.3 of the RDP 2014-2020, on the topic "Talking about wine tourism experiences on the Wine and Flavors Trails of Larissa Prefecture."

The two-day event included the following activities:

A. "Thematic workshops for the development of wine tourism experiences"

Two thematic workshops were organized (one in Larissa on the morning of Thursday, June 12 and one in Tyrnavos on the morning of Friday, June 13), aimed at owners and staff of wineries, local action groups, travel agencies and generally tourism businesses, hospitality and catering businesses, as well as representatives of local authorities and organizations.

The thematic sessions of the workshops covered specialized topics of wine tourism as follows: 

Visitable Winery, definition, certification process, benefits, presented by Nikolaos Saroukos, Head of Control and Tourism Development of Thessaly, Ministry of Tourism

Designing Wine Tourism Experiences from theory to practice: basic principles and strategic steps to ensure quality presented by Olga Voutsikaki, Agricultural Technologist, graduate of the University of Western Macedonia in Florina, with a master's degree in "Science and Technology in Agriculture"

Talking about wine tourism experiences on the Wine and Flavors Trails of Larissa Prefecture, presented by Giannis Kalogiannidis, New Product Development, Sustainability Coordinator, Mazi Travel & Events

How effective communication in the media (traditional and social) can make a destination attractive for wine tourism, presented by Eleftherios Plakidas, Journalist, Carpe Vinum

Wine in catering: the basic wine knowledge for catering professionals. presented by Anestis Haitidis, Oenologist, The Winehouse

Collaborations & networking of local products - catering and tourism, presented by Thanos Karathanos, President of the Union of Greek Oenologists, Member of the National Wine Tourism Committee, Board Member of ENOATHE, Collaborator of the University of Thessaly

Sustainable Wine Tourism, presented by Elpida Palamida, Hospitality Manager, KIR-YIANNI Estate

This was followed by a wine tasting of local wines, paired with local products.

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B. "Talking about wine tourism experiences in Larissa Prefecture"

On the afternoon of Thursday, June 12, an open seminar took place, covering topics concerning wine tourism and the potential development of wine tourism experiences in the area. 

The seminar program included:

Greeting by Nikolaos Gatsas, President of AENOL and Mayor of Elassona

Opening remarks by Andriana Komitsa, Thematic Deputy Regional Governor of Volunteering and Welfare and Chair of the CLLD-LEADER Program Management Committee

Brief presentation of AENOL S.A. by Giannis Samotas, General Director of AENOL S.A.

Presentation of the Cross-Local Cooperation Plan: "Organization & Promotion of Wine Tourism" by Sevasti Basdeki, Head of Program Department – LEADER Coordinator – AENOL S.A.

Following were presentations on the following topics:

Development policy for special forms of tourism: "Wine Tourism" presented by Dr. Panagiota (Giola) Dionysopoulou, General Director of Tourism Policy, Ministry of Tourism, PhD in Tourism Economics and Policy from the University of the Aegean

The role of catering and local products in the evolution of Wine Tourism presented by Eleftherios Plakidas, Journalist, Carpe Vinum

Wine tourism routes that inspire, connect, travel and illuminate… the mountains, the fruits, the memories, the roots, the people presented by Olga Voutsikaki, Agricultural Technologist, graduate of the University of Western Macedonia in Florina, with a master's degree in "Science and Technology in Agriculture"

Development of Wine Tourism in Larissa Regional Unit and Thessaly presented by Thanos Karathanos, President of the Union of Greek Oenologists, Member of the National Wine Tourism Committee, Board Member of ENOATHE, Collaborator of the University of Thessaly

Greetings were addressed by Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development Christos Kellas, PASOK Movement for Change MP Evangelia Liakouli, Thematic Deputy Regional Governor of Primary Sector and Agricultural Economy Dimitris Tsetsilas, and Deputy Mayor of Tourism and Extroversion of the Municipality of Larissa Fotis Tzatzakis.

Immediately after the seminar followed a tasting, by wineries of Larissa Prefecture, which presented their products to the public. The wines and spirits were accompanied by dishes prepared by chefs, with the dishes matched to the types of wines presented, offering a full and immersive experience of taste and culture.

The invited chef was Maria Leonova, who cooked live TRAKHANOTO (a traditional Greek dish) using exclusively ingredients from Larissa Prefecture.

The event was accompanied by a musical ensemble.

The participating wineries in the event (in alphabetical order) were:

• Agricultural Wine Cooperative of Tyrnavos

• Organic Vineyards - Zisakis Winery

• Organic Vineyards Giatsa

• Kardasi Distilleries

• Katsaros Distilleries - Wines

• D. Migas Estate

• Zafeirakis Estate

• Karipidis Estate

• Kitos Estate

• Kosti Estate - Terra Di Costi

• Manolidis Estate

• Olinos Estate

• Sakis Minas Estate

• Eskioglou Winery

• Nikolouli Winery

• Papadimitriou Winery

• Chrysoucho Winery

• Alata Winery

• Poultsidis Winery

• Tsililis K. S.A. Viticulture – Winemaking – Distillery

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C. Visits to Wineries

On the morning of Friday, June 13, visits and guided tours were held for journalists and tourism professionals at the visitable wineries of Larissa Prefecture, including the Agricultural Wine Cooperative of Tyrnavos, D. Migas Estate, Zafeirakis Estate, and Olinos Estate.

According to the participating winemakers, the events were successful and encouraged the organizers to continue developing similar activities that contribute to highlighting the potential of the intervention areas as wine tourism destinations and to the local development of the region.