Florence, the heart of Italian wine culture, will host Greek Wine Day 2025 on November 1, marking the largest exhibition of Greek wine ever held in Italy.
The date coincides with World Xinomavro Day highlighting this flagship Greek variety and underscoring the country’s growing presence on the international wine map.
The Florence event will feature 49 wineries from across Greece, including 29 present in person, offering over 200 wines for tasting. Both new and established producers will showcase vintages from the country’s most renowned regions.
Organized under the auspices of the Honorary Consulate of Greece in Florence and the Municipality of Thira, the event is co-hosted by the FISAR Firenze sommelier school. Among the guests are top wine professionals, including Gabriele Gorelli, Italy’s first Master of Wine, and Michelin-starred Greek chef Stelios Sakalis.
“We have not received any government support. What keeps the initiative alive is the passion of the people who believe in Greek wine,” said Haris Papandreou, the project’s founder. He noted that Greek Wine Day has become “an institution,” opening doors to Italian import partnerships, Michelin restaurant listings, and sommelier education programs in Florence.
A highlight this year is the first joint presentation of Santorini Vinsanto and Vin Santo Chianti Classico DOC, linking two historic wines with deep cultural and religious roots. “Florence is where Santorini wine was first recorded in 1439 – and where Greek Wine Day began five years ago,” Papandreou noted.
The event aims to be a milestone for Greek wine’s visibility abroad and a symbol of the sector’s growing international reach.
Dining and Cooking