Coming up on April 20th and 21st, the Center of Mediterranean Architecture in Chania, Crete will the Oinokritika Wine Festival 2019. The organizers of the island’s first wine exhibitions will once again showcase Crete’s finest viticulture, products, practices, and developments.
This year’s exhibition will focus the spotlight on Crete’s two wine networks, as in previous years. In addition, and for the first time, Oinokritika’s organizers have invited vintners from P.G.O. Santorini to take part with their amazing Assyrtiko wines. The organizers are expecting in the neighborhood of 3,000 participants in the festival, which would be the event’s biggest attendance so far.
First organized back in 2007, the Oinokritika Wine Exhibition was the first organization to present Cretan wineries in a collaborative effort. Today, the event carries on with the original mission of informing consumers, winemakers, and distributors about the special wines of Crete, and in searching for the highest-quality wines on the island. We asked Oinokritika’s Director, Maria Andronidou about the extended goals of the organization.
“Oinokritikais about every facet of winemaking, but our most intense focus is on the social and cultural aspects of wine. We encourage cooperation and learning not only where viticulture as a process is concerned, but the deeper implications of wine as a part of our lives.”
As part of this mission, the Oinokritika Club has also encouraged Cretan wineries to adopt more meticulous viticulture practice in order to protect the quality of their wines. Over the last 12 years, Oinokritika has helped foster a better understanding of the relationship in between product and region of wine by using the term of “terroir” to define the uniqueness of Crete and each of the island’s producers. Oinokritika has also been instrumental in promoting wine tourism as a vehicle for advancing the Cretan wine varieties not only quality wise but for gaining world recognition.
Winemakers from the two main wine networks, as well as smaller independent wineries from across Crete, will take part alongside the P.G.O. Santorini contingent. Inviting the Santorini winemakers to this year’s event will greatly extend Oinokritika’s efforts to promote cooperation in between Greece’s finest viticulturists.
In addition, Oinokritika Wine Festival 2019 will feature networking and workshops on Friday the 19th, and activities for children on Monday the 22nd. Visitors will have the opportunity to taste 350 amazing wine labels from 32 Cretan wineries plus the Santorini guest wineries. Live music and other entertainment will also be part of the festival experience.
To get tickets for the Oinokritika Wine Festival 2019 or to learn more, readers should visit the Oinokritika Club booking , or call 2821027068.
