Wine tourism strengthens the Greek countryside and the local economy, connecting production, culture and tourism.
Wine tourism is increasingly playing a decisive role in strengthening the Greek countryside and the local economy, as it connects production with culture and tourism. On the occasion of World Wine Tourism Day, it is noted that the Ministry of Rural Development and Food has designed a strategy for the development of the wine sector through targeted investments and synergies that upgrade the visitor’s experience in Greek wineries.
“Wine tourism is a bridge between production and experience, it keeps the countryside alive, creates added value for producers and offers visitors an authentic way to get to know the place,” the Secretary General of Rural Development and Food, Spyros Protopsaltis, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
At the “heart” of the policy are the financial tools of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, which aim to support the income of winegrowers, upgrade the quality of Greek wine and strengthen the resilience of the sector against the effects of the climate crisis.
Indicatively, the following are allocated annually: 8.43 million euros for Vineyard Restructuring and Conversion, 7.2 million euros for Winery Investments – with eligible costs for exhibition and tasting rooms -, 1.4 million euros for information actions within the EU and 5 million euros for promotion in third countries. “With these tools, we strengthen the core of quality and create the conditions for a comprehensive wine tourism experience”, underlines Mr. Protopsaltis.
The dynamics of wine tourism are also reflected in the numbers: Greece has over 1,200 wineries, according to data from EDOAO/Wines of Greece, while more and more are obtaining the Visitable Winery Label of the Ministry of Tourism. Greek wine exports remain stable at around €100 million per year, with key markets being Germany (€26.53 million), the US (€18.99 million) and Canada (€9.61 million), according to ELSTAT.
In addition, the country’s wineries are being transformed into places of experience and culture, creating reception, exhibition and tasting spaces. “We support businesses that open their doors to the world; the visitable vineyard and winery become living cells of local development and culture,” notes Mr. Protopsaltis.
However, the climate crisis continues to put pressure on the wine-growing population, with drought and prolonged heat waves reducing production and causing abandonment tendencies. “We are fighting to ensure that not a single hectare of our historic vineyards is lost and that young people remain in the countryside with sustainable prospects. Greece is not a country of overproduction and will not accept further shrinkage of its vineyards, especially where there are no alternative crops,” points out the secretary general of the Ministry of Tourism.
At the level of governance, wine tourism is gaining institutional depth through the Wine Tourism Council of the Ministry of Tourism, in which executives of the Ministry of Tourism also participate.
The mission of the Council is to promote Greek vineyards, visitable wineries and production units, as well as to formulate proposals for sustainable development. “The Wine Tourism Council is the table where planning becomes a common cause – the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Rural Development & Food and industry stakeholders sit together to take wine tourism to the next level”, Mr. Protopsaltis tells APE-MPE.
Finally, the contribution of the Ministry of Tourism is reinforced through LEADER/CLLD programs and the Recovery Fund, which support agritourism actions, mobilize private investments and strengthen local networks. “We want more visitable vineyards, more wine routes and modern tasting centers, integrated into a sustainable tourism product that respects the landscape and the producer” concluded the Secretary General.
Source: tanea.gr