A five-day "mosaic" of activities for harvesting and wine, an open invitation to visitors to be introduced to the wine, cultural and historical tradition of the city
(Naoussa, 30 August - 3 September)

The 3rd Harvest Festival, co-organized by the Municipality of Naoussa together with the Association of Vine Growers - Winemakers of Naoussa and with the support of the Region of Central Macedonia - Regional Unit of Imathia and the Chamber of Imathia, starts next week.
It is a five-day "mosaic" of actions for harvesting and wine, an open invitation to visitors to be introduced to the wine, cultural and historical tradition of Naoussa, following a series of events from 30 August to 3 September.
The Harvest Festival is part of the general planning for the promotion of wine tourism of the Municipality of Naoussa, which recently established the Wine Tourism Committee. The aim is the annual establishment of the festival, specifically every autumn, as a meeting point for the country's wine lovers, the further promotion of the great wine tradition of Naoussa, the strengthening of wine tourism, etc.
"The promotion of wine tourism and the wine tradition of our region is one of our main priorities. From September 2021 we launched the Trygos Festival, an important effort in cooperation with our winemakers, with original actions focusing on sour wine, such as the immersion of 500 bottles of wine in the historic river of Arapitsa, in order to age them. At this year's edition of the 3rd Trygos Festival, among the various events, our winemakers will also carry out the first tasting of wines that were submerged in our river two years ago, to see the first results of this project.
We are intensifying our actions in an institutional and holistic way, so that actions are organized throughout the year, focusing on Naoussa and the high quality wines produced in our place. For this reason we have recently established the Wine Tourism Committee, while at the same time we are proceeding with the procedures for the creation of a Master's Degree Programme in the field of Oenology and Wine Tourism in our city, in cooperation with the International University of Greece", says the Mayor of Naoussa Nicolas Karanikolas in a statement.

Rich events focusing on sour wine

Within the framework of the Festival, Naoussa is highlighted and promoted as a unique wine destination, where the traveller will have the opportunity to discover the secrets of the Xinomavro wine and its impressive vineyard, to visit its historical monuments, its traditional neighbourhoods, to listen to the pioneers of wine talk about their journey and to indulge in the music of the place and the world along with the tasting of the unique and globally recognised Xinomavro wine.
The productive and amateur associations of Naoussa Municipality are actively participating in the Festival: restaurateurs, hoteliers, confectioners, cultural associations, wine lovers, volunteers, musicians, café-bars, etc.

Programme of events of the 3rd Naoussa Harvest Festival

Main Actions - Events:

Wednesday, 30/08

Opening Ceremony, Naoussa Municipal Summer Theatre
Opening time: 20:00, Free entrance
Open discussion on "Memories and Perspectives"

Speakers: Ioannis Boutaris, Giorgos Tsantalis, Nikolas Karanikolas, Mayor of Naoussa, Giorgos Fountoulis, President of the Association of Vine Growers - Winemakers of Naoussa, Stella Arabatzi, Delegate Councillor of Tourism of the Municipality of Naoussa
Presentation by Thomae Manganari, President of Naoussa Wine Tourism Committee
2. Music Concert "With the Song with Wine": timeless and beloved songs with wine as a common reference point are united in a quality programme that aims to get into the hearts and lips of the listeners. Artistic curator - orchestra curator: Apostolis Zafeiriou. Interpretation: Mary Doutsi. Participating musicians' orchestra of Naoussa: Virginia Karafousia, Tryphon Bates, Vangelis Psathas, Paris Tseneklidis, Paschalis Ignatiadis

Thursday, 31/08

-Musical storytelling for children: "Grape the Grape", Agia Paraskevi Open Air Space - Time: 18.30, Free Entrance
A story about the production cycle of wine and the life cycle of the grape. Curated by Dimitra Mitrentsi, Accompanied by Roger Rovento.
City confectioners offer their sweets based on the must and the sour cherry
-Screening of the film "Arcadia 1900. The Campania of the East". The film contributes to the promotion of the history of Greek wine.
Vetlands Hall, Time: 21:00, Free entrance

Friday, 1/09.

-Christos Stanisi Shadow Theatre "Karagiozis at the wine festival", Alonia Square. Karagiozis' performance on the theme of wine accompanied by a traditional music orchestra.
Time: 20:30 - Free entrance
20:20:00 - Screening of the film "Arcadia 1900. The Campania of the East", Naoussa Municipal Summer Theatre Film - contribution to the promotion of the history of Greek wine.
Time: 21:00 - Free entrance

Saturday, 2/09

- "Xinomavro matures in the embrace of our river", lifting of bottles of Xinomavro wine and the first tasting by the winemakers two years after the immersion of the wines in the river of Arapitsa, accompanied by a traditional music group - Vangelis A. Psathas - zourna, Stavros M. Pazarentzis - dulcimer.
Time: 10:00, Entrance Free

-Competition of traditional pie with awarding of the first 3 winners
Time 12:00 Pavement of Naoussa Park Entrance Free
-Wine Street Food. Chef Kallidis cooks together with the restaurateurs of Naoussa and highlights the local gastronomy.
Park of Naoussa, Time: 12:30 Admission Free
- Guided tour of the Aristotelous School - "Journey to the History and the World of Wine"
Time: 18:30 Admission Free
-This will be followed by a music concert in the courtyard of the Aristotle School's Cultural Center: Natasha Pavlidou and her quintet will dress the event musically, with melodies we have all come to love. Songs from the jazz of the 30s to the present day, always with the characteristic aesthetics of the group. A journey through the eras of Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra that will lead to swing covers of contemporary Greek and foreign songs. Their presentation will not lack the soul element, with timeless hits from this scene.
Voice: Natasha Pavlidou, Saxophone: Sofia Moysiadou, Keyboards: Tasos Korkovelos, Bass: Dimitris Christonis, Drums: Nikos Vargiamidis

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Representation of Trygos, Kokkinou Winery
Free Entrance Time: 12.00
12:00 noon - 12:00 noon - Re-enactment of the traditional harvest by the Lyceum of Hellenic Women of Naoussa with the participation of the choir of the Association.
Serving of wine and traditional dishes
-Fine Dining, Kir-Yianni Estate. The chef Gikas Xenakis cooks high gastronomy dishes and the Naoussaian sommelier Nikolas Tzavellas combines with them the excellent wines of the vineyard.
Time: 19:00 - Entrance only with ticket (pre-sale)
-Documentary screening "Portrait of a Land" - Municipal Summer Theatre.
Time: 20:00 - Free entrance
- Portrait of a Land presents, through 20 wineries, the wine producing community of the region in 40 static one-minute shots. Through image and sound, the film aims to make the viewer observe, listen and experience a sense of space and time.
The film will be introduced by the director Antonis Karampatakis
-Musical Concert of the closing of the Trygos Festival, Naoussa Municipal Park
Time: 21:30, Free entrance
Music concert of the band "Swing Tales" that culminates the events and invites you to dance and have fun. Stergios Koias on drums, Agamemnon Mardas on double bass, Nikos Taras on keyboards, Dimitris Tselios on saxophone and Eleftheria Bargiota on vocals. Dancers: Magda Nenou Olina Topsioti, Giorgos Pliakis and Thodoris Bozinis.
Parallel actions - events:
1. Special menus with sour mavro in the restaurants of the city.
2. Special desserts with must and xinomavro in the city's pastry shops
3. Special prices - packages in hotels of the city
4. Special prices and events in wineries of the city

Wineries and actions to visit
During the Harvest  Festival, participating wineries will be open for visits and activities, according to the following schedule:
- Argatia Winery
Saturday 2/9 to Sunday 3/9, hours 11.00 - 16.00
- Domaine Kir-Yianni
Wednesday 30/8 to Sunday 3/9, 11.00 - 18.00
Every day vertical Xinomavro tasting of 4 vintages (by reservation).
- Dalamaras Winery
Wednesday 30/8 to Saturday 2/9, 11.00 - 14.00
Friday 1/09 Old Town.
- Kelisidis Estate
Wednesday 30/8 to Sunday 3/9, 10.00 - 15.00 (by reservation)
- Kokkinos Winery
Wednesday 30/8 to Sunday 3/9, hours 09.00 - 16.00
- Founti Estate
Wednesday 30/8 to Friday 1/9, hours 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday 2/9 to Sunday 3/9, hours 12:00 - 17:00
- Domaine Chrysochou
By telephone at 23320 45080
-Kappa Winery
Wednesday 30.08. to Saturday 2.09., hours 11:00-15:00
Sunday 3/09, 11:00 - 17:00 tasting of Premium wines, music
- Vaeni Cooperative
Wednesday 30/8 to Friday 1/9, hours 08:00 - 15:00
Useful information
* At all events, local winemakers will serve bottled wine with accompanying food from local producers for a fee, except for the Opening Ceremony (30/8) during which wine will be offered free of charge.
* On Friday 1/09, 17:00 - 20:00 and Saturday 2/09, 10:00 - 13:00 there will be an info point in front of the gate of Naoussa Municipal Park
*For the participation in the Pie Contest it is necessary to register (Pigi Mantziou - Delichristou tel. 6975551011)

More information about all events:
Thomae Manganari 6948409474
Stella Arabatzi 6948948011

Special thanks to Kalliopi Theodoropoulou, journalist, member of ESIEM-Th
Special Associate for Press and Communication of the Mayor of Naoussa