- By Chrysa Kakiori
A special evening at the Hotel Grande Bretagne brings tomato and Xinomavro together – and finally together. On Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Atrium of Alexander’s Lounge, the flavors tell stories, while the wines awaken old and new memories.
Xinomavro is perhaps the most “tomato” Greek variety. Not only because it often exudes aromas of tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and tomato leaf, but because its character: high acidity, robust tannins, earthy elegance, ideally converses with the umami sweetness and fresh acidity of the tomato.
Award-winning Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis dedicates his entire menu to a single ingredient: the tomato. Varieties, cultivated with natural practices exclusively for the hotel on the slopes of Mount Pateras, become the thread that unites tradition and modern technique. Tomatoes reveal the richness of their flavor, taking different forms: raw and crispy, slow-cooked, consomm?, the tomato appears in multiple variations of texture and intensity.
Head Sommelier Evangelos Psofidis frames the menu with selected expressions of Xinomavro that combine with the transformations of the tomato on the plate. From the sparkling elegance of Domaine Karanika Extra Cuv?e de R?serve 2017 (Amyndeo), to the ros? Xinomavro 2024 of Domaine Gerovassiliou (Epanomi) for the freshest versions, to the classic structure of “Ramnista” 2013 of Kir-Yiannis (Naoussa) and the aged Rapsani Palaia Klimata 2016 of Dougos. At the peak, the Domaine Alpha Ecosystem Xinomavro Reserve Vieilles Vignes Single Block “Barba Giannis” 2017 (Amyndeo). The evening opens with Tsilili Grape Distillate from Xinomavro.
The dinner will be attended by distinguished winemakers: Kostas Tsililis (Meteora), Laurens Hartman (Domaine Karanika, Amyntaio), Argyris & Vasiliki Gerovassiliou (Epanom?), Thanos & Louisa Ntougou (Rapsani), Angelos Iatridis (Alfa Estate, Amyntaio), Stellios Boutaris (Ktima Kir-Yianni, Naoussa), who before each course will share personal stories and little secrets of their labels, while grower Nikos Tsombanoglou will talk about his relationship with the land and the natural practices that give tomatoes character, memory and place; all together they will illuminate the strong bond between cultivation, winemaking and gastronomy.
Reservations (required): 210 33 30 748 | Evangelos.Psofidis@luxurycollection.com
