By popular demand, Greece’s leading winemakers and educators are back in Australia from 14-25 June with a score of the country’s celebrated wines and latest vintages, from famed terroirs and up-and-coming regions all on show. More than 30 wineries and 100 wines from all corners and islands of the country will brave the Australian winter for Wines of Greece’s now annual visit.
To mark their fourth roadshow in Australia, Greek Master of Wine, Yiannis Karakasis MW, will debut the Hellenic’s first masterclass in Brisbane, alongside returning visits to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. This year’s line-up of trade and consumer events will explore the topics: Greece’s most exciting terroirs, indigenous varieties, the Greek rosé revolution and natural wines of Greece.
The demand for Greek wines has incurred a 20 per-cent increase in sales in Australia over the last four years, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority, with many Greek wines now available by the glass in great restaurants around the country.
“Only a decade ago, few had heard about assyrtiko, Santorini or malagousia,” says Karakasis. “Today these terroirs and varieties are the centre of attention for many wine drinkers in Australia, which is a credit to the work of inspiring Greek winemakers and vignerons.”
The Greeks will show Australia an extensive range of the country’s diverse wine styles and grape varietals, including Greece’s native xinomavro, agiorgitiko and limniona. This year’s tour will also highlight the new generation of Greek winemaking which draws on traditional techniques such as minimal intervention production, biodynamic farming, and amphora ageing.
Greece enjoys one of the most diverse winemaking landscapes in the world with a range of soil types from limestone in Nemea and Cephalonia, schist in Naoussa and Rapsani, to granite and volcanic soils in the Aegean islands. Greek wines champion a true sense of place, reflecting a diversity of micro-climates and a wealth of indigenous varieties that is helping to cement Greece’s global reputation for producing some of the world’s most unique and expressive wines.
Consumers will also have the opportunity to taste and meet the people behind the wines at four events, the Greek wine extravaganza, Oinofilia, at Sydney’s Commune on Saturday, 23 June and Melbourne’s Collingwood Town Hall on Sunday, 24 June (held by the team behind Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones), as well as at Georges on Waymouth in Adelaide on Tuesday, 19 June and Wednesday, 20 June. Trade will be invited to sample the selection from visiting winemakers at Oinofilia during an exclusive preview (spaces limited).
Wines of Greece President, Vangelis Argyris says the winemakers are looking forward to returning to Australia for a fourth time.
“Australia has one of the most vibrant wine cultures in the world and we’re ecstatic that the Australian palate has embraced and developed a thirst for Greek wines. This year we’ve extended our Australian road trip to reach more Greek wine enthusiasts off the back of the amazing response last year.”
Wines of Greece is also running private masterclasses for retailers, distributors, hotels and restaurant groups throughout their time in the country. To express your interest in these private tutorials contact emmahutton@liquidideas.com.au. Leading the educational elements of the tour will be Yiannis Karakasis MW, Greek Master of Wine, alongside Grigoris Michailos.
TRADE EVENTS
Brisbane
When: Thursday, 14 June, 2.30 – 4pm
Where: Mezzanine, Stokehouse Q, Sidon St, South Bank
Details: Masterclass
Sydney
When: Monday, 18 June
Masterclass 1: 10:30am – 11:45am
Masterclass 2: 12:45 – 2pm
Masterclass 3: 2:45 – 4pm
Where: Establishment Room III, Level 3, Establishment, 252 George Street, Sydney
Details: Masterclass
When: Saturday, 23 June, 11am – 12pm
Where: Commune, 901 Bourke Street, Waterloo
Details: Oinofilia by REVEL trade tasting
Adelaide:
When: Wednesday, 20 June, 12 – 4pm
Where: Waymouth Room, Gallery Adelaide, 30 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
Details: Trade tasting
Melbourne
When: Sunday, 24 June, 11am – 12pm
Where: Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle Street (enter via Stanton Street), Abbotsford
Details: Oinofilia by REVEL trade tasting
When: Monday, 25 June
Masterclass 1: 10:30 – 11:45am
Masterclass 2: 12:45 – 2pm
Masterclass 3: 2:45 – 4pm
Where: Garden Room, Level 1, Crown Towers, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
Details: Masterclass