You are hosting your Great Greek Wines event again in London in October - what can we expect?
I believe the biggest difference this year is that we're presenting where Greek wine currently stands. Greek wine has developed significantly over the past decade. Buyers no longer discover Assyrtiko or Xinomavro for the first time. They are now asking more sophisticated questions about origin, terroir, and stylistic differences within the same variety.
That's exactly what we aimed to show in this year's event. Forty wineries from Greece and Cyprus will present over 240 wines, providing a broad view of contemporary Greek wine, while the masterclass shifts the focus from grape varieties to Greece's different terroirs. As I see it, it's an opportunity for the UK trade to understand how diverse, confident and internationally relevant Greek wine has become.
For those that don't know your Great Greek Wines initiative - can you explain how it works?
Great Greek Wines is much more than a competition. It's an independent platform that selects around 10% of the wines entered through a blind tasting, then takes those wines and their producers to key international markets through events, masterclasses, and trade initiatives.
Who did you have on your panel this year to help blind taste and select the wines with you?
The 2025 Great Greek Wines panel brought together some of the wine world's most respected tasters: Mark Andrew MW, Paz Levinson, Christophe Heynen MW, Wojciech Bońkowski MW, Lenka Sedláčková MW, and Peter Richards MW.
We deliberately keep the panel small, international, and highly experienced, ensuring that every wine is assessed through rigorous discussion and blind tasting.
As the founder of Great Greek Wines, I don't take part in the blind judging. My role is to oversee the process and ensure its integrity and consistency. The next edition will take place in 2027, with a new international panel that will be announced in the coming months.
How would you describe this year's selection in terms of the key trends that are emerging in Greek wine in terms of style and typicity of winemaking?
The selection showed a Greek wine scene that has become much broader. It's no longer driven by Assyrtiko and Xinomavro alone. Varieties such as Agiorgitiko, Vidiano, Limniona, Savatiano, Robola, and Moschofilero (but literally any variety) are now producing wines of real international interest, while styles have become more refined and confident. Rather than following international fashions, producers are increasingly trusting their own vineyards, varieties and identities.
Any surprises for you in terms of the wines that stood out - or the regions that they are coming from?
The Great Greek Wines tasting takes place in London's Oxo Tower on October 19
Yes, there were several pleasant surprises. The continued rise of Retsina was particularly notable, with five wines making this year's List, confirming the significant quality and character development of the category. Sparkling wine was another highlight, with three wines selected, reflecting the increasing ambition of Greek producers in this category.
Individual wines also surpassed expectations. An oaked Roditis from Aigialeia displayed the ageing and gastronomic potential of a variety often underestimated, while a Mavrokoudoura from Evia illustrated how regional biotypes of Mandilaria can produce wines of genuine distinction.
To me, these wines exemplify a broader trend: some of the most exciting developments in Greek wine now come from categories and varieties that would have been overlooked just a few years ago.
On the day of the tasting how have you broken down how the tasting will work?
The tasting is organised geographically rather than by wine style. We want visitors to experience Greece and Cyprus as wine-producing countries, moving from one region to another and discovering how landscapes influence the wines.
The walkaround covers six sections: Cyprus, Crete, the Cyclades Islands, Kefalonia & the Peloponnese, Central Greece & Thessaly, and Macedonia.
Each winery has its own table, allowing visitors to taste with the producers themselves rather than at a free-pour tasting. We believe that direct conversation with the people behind the wines adds an important dimension to understanding Greek wine today.
What masterclasses are you running on the day and why did you choose those themes?
The diversity and complexity of Greek wine will be examined during a masterclass to be held during Great Greek Wine tasting
We are hosting one masterclass: Greek Terroirs: An In-Depth Exploration. The masterclass explores the diversity of Greek wine through three distinct geographical landscapes.
Firstly the Greek Islands and Cyprus, secondly the mountainous Peloponnese and Central Greece, and thirdly the continental North.
The selection goes beyond benchmark wines. Alongside some of Greece's most celebrated terroir expressions, it features rare releases, mature vintages and experimental bottlings that capture the dynamic evolution of the country's wine scene.
From the aged Vilana Pirovolikes 2021 by Lyrarakis and the benchmark Assyrtikos of Santorini and Tinos to Alpha Estate's Experimental Xinomavro Clone 37, participants will experience both the heritage and the future of Greek wine in a single tasting.
You are also showing a lot of aged wines from Greece - do you think this is an area that could develop into one of the country's key areas of discovery and recognition?
I think it's already happening. For many years, Greek wine was judged almost exclusively on its taste when young. Today, we're increasingly discovering that many of our finest wines have remarkable ageing potential, whether from Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, Vidiano or other indigenous varieties.
Showing mature wines is important because it changes perceptions. It demonstrates that Greek wine is capable not only of freshness and vibrancy, but also of complexity, longevity and graceful evolution in the bottle. I believe this is one of the most exciting stories Greek wine has to tell over the next decade.
What are your personal reflections on how fast and far the Greek wine industry has evolved over the last 10 years?
It has been an incredible decade. Greek wine has evolved faster than I could have imagined, but I don't think we're still on that same steep upward curve. That's perfectly natural. The challenge now is not rapid improvement, but sustained excellence, building brands, strengthening distribution and ensuring that today's momentum becomes long-term success.
What excites you about the next 10 years and where it can go next?
I hope the next 10 years won't simply bring more exports or more awards. I hope they bring a deeper understanding of what makes each part of Greece unique. That's how truly great wine countries are built, not by chasing trends, but by expressing their own identity with confidence. I think Greece is now ready for that stage.
What does the industry and its winemakers need to guard against to make sure it is does not take full advantage of its potential?
The biggest risk is trying to make wines for the market rather than for the place. Producers shouldn't ask, "What style will sell?" They should ask, "What is the most authentic expression of my vineyard?"
The role of a winemaker is not just to produce wine, but to be a custodian of their place. Markets change, fashions come and go, but authenticity has lasting value. I believe Greece's greatest strength lies in protecting its identity rather than adapting it to meet short-term trends.
Great Greek Wines London 2026
When: October 19, 12pm to 5pm.
Masterclass takes place between 10am-11.30am.
Where: OXO2, South Bank, London.
Register: Click here.
