A specialised educational seminar focusing on wine, wine heritage, and wine tourism in the islands of the Aegean Sea is being co-organized by the Rhodes Tourist Guides School of the Ministry of Tourism, the Association of Winemakers and Vine Growers of the Aegean Islands, and the Association of Licensed Tourist Guides of the Dodecanese.
The seminar, titled Wine & wine tradition in the islands of the Aegean Sea from antiquity to the present Wine tasting & visitable wineries of the Aegean islands, will take place on December 18, 19, and 20, 2025, at the premises of the Rhodes Tourist Guides School.
It is addressed to tourist guides active in the Aegean islands, as well as to graduates and students of the Rhodes Tourist Guides School, with the aim of enhancing their knowledge and skills in a dynamically developing sector of thematic tourism.
Wine from the Dodecanese
The program includes the presentation of a study on wine and wine tradition in the Aegean islands from antiquity to the present, delivered by instructors of the Rhodes Tourist Guides School specializing in archaeology and history. Participants include Anna Kalaitzaki (PhD in Prehistoric Archaeology), Ioannis Bardanis (PhD in Archaeology), Tsampika Afantenou (MSc in Applied Archaeological Sciences), Nektarios Zarras (PhD in Byzantine Archaeology), Sofia Grigoriadou (MSc in History), and Ilias Makrygiannis (MSc in History).
Special emphasis will be placed on national strategies for the development of wine tourism, which will be presented by the President of the Association of Winemakers and Vine Growers of the Aegean Islands and President of the National Wine Tourism Council, Ms. Mary Triantafyllopoulou.
Wine from Lemnos
The seminar also includes basic wine tasting courses led by oenologists Ms. Maria Tzintzi and Mr. Petros Vamvakousis, featuring products from members of the Association, as well as a presentation of visitable wineries in the Aegean islands.
The organization is supported by ASTER and the South Aegean Tourism SAEK of the Ministry of Tourism, through the provision of equipment, facilities, and specialized staff. The initiative aims to highlight the long-standing cultural and productive significance of wine and to further promote wine tourism in the islands of the Aegean.
