Special Evening at Ktima Gerovassiliou.

Following on from my previous post on success stories in Greece, a local company that deserves praise is Ktima Gerovassiliou which has been placed among the 100 top wineries for seven years, while the owner, Vangelis Vassiliou, is regarded as among the six best wine producers worldwide and his wines attract significant distinctions every year.  2019 has been a particularly good year and I will let the following extracts, from their website www.gerovassiliou.gr . , speak for themselves.

                                     

19 distinctions from Europe

1 Platinum, 1 Grand Gold, 4 Gold, 10 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals for our wines from 4 international wine competitions of UK, Switzerland and France.

 Decanter World Wine Awards 2019, UK

Platinum Medal: White 2018 (97pts)
Gold Medals: Museum Collection White (96pts), Malagousia 2018 (95pts)
Silver Medals: Viognier 2018, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Museum Collection White 2017, Avaton 2016, Museum Collection Red 2016, Malagousia from overripe grapes 2015
Bronze Medals: Chardonnay 2018, Red 2017, Syrah 2016

 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2019, Switzerland

Grand Gold Medal: Museum Collection White 2016
Silver Medals: Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Museum Collection White 2017

 Sommelier Wine Awards 2019, UK

Silver Medals: Malagousia 2018, Viognier 2018

Citadelles du Vin 2019, France

Gold Medals: Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Viognier 2018

 
The winery frequently opens its doors to the public, offering a program of cultural and educational events in its glorious setting. And so it was, on the evening of June 21^st, we found ourselves driving out to the Epanomi area to attend a musical performance at the Wine Museum café.  

We were to hear a performance of 10 songs composed by Vasilis Tsitsanis, renowned composer, singer and bouzouki player of rebetika music.  Tonight the music was to be ‘upgraded’ to the lyrical level by lyrical soprano, Maria Tsakanika, and pianist, Nikos Ordoulidis, talented young Macedonians who have trained and taught both in Greece and abroad.

                            

 

 

Having sipped our welcoming glass of rose, we took our seats in this pleasantly packed area where the audience sat listening spell-bound to these talented musician give their unique take on Tsitsanis’ music.

                                 

 

Certainly, some members seemed ready to join in (!) as they played some well-known and well-loved numbers such as Ti simera, ti avrio.. and Kainourgia Agaph.

                                                      

As the sinking sun set over the rows of vines sweeping towards the sea, I could not think of a more memorable way to celebrate the summer solstice.