“Sustainability as a way forward for the rebirth of the countryside”

For us, sustainable production was the only way to go from the outset. We make no discounts in our approach: our cultivations respect nature, the vine itself, and of course the consumers of our products. Our philosophy is based on the revitalisation of our villages. We aim not just to produce wine, but rather, through the teams of producers we establish in each village, to provide incentives for young people to stay or return to their ancestral homes. We want to breathe new life into small communities and provide people the opportunity for a quality life with a respectable income.

Wine tourism is one of the fastest-developing sectors in Greece. As its popularity grows, it leads to job openings for more and more locals and is a major source of financial security for businesses. Concurrently, it helps promote Greece as a quality-oriented, all-inclusive tourism destination. Learning lessons from countries with long-standing wine tourism traditions, such as Italy, France, and Spain, is vital for us to develop our own identity and experience for our wine, hospitality, and land.

Young people thinking of getting into agriculture or viticulture should know that nothing is easy, but the joy of creation and contact with the land is truly one-of-a-kind. For true lovers of nature, this job is certainly capable of making you both whole and happy. To succeed, however, it takes vision, goals, a systematic approach, and an eye for innovation. It’s the only way to breathe life back into the countryside and build a future for the land that nourishes us.

Iliana Malichin – Wine professional

The views expressed in this article are the author’s personal opinions and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.