Tyrnavos Celebrated for the Second Year the International Days of Limniona and Muscat of Tyrnavos
For the second consecutive year, Tyrnavos celebrated the International Limniona Day and the International Muscat of Tyrnavos Day through a two-day event dedicated to the region’s emblematic grape varieties and its gastronomic identity.
The Tyrnavos Coop Winery & Distillery (Tyrnavos Wines & Spirits), with the support of the Municipality of Tyrnavos, organized the annual two-day celebration focused on the two grape varieties that form the cornerstone of the area’s viticultural identity: Limniona and Muscat of Tyrnavos. Marking International Limniona Day on December 13 and International Muscat of Tyrnavos Day on December 14, the initiative—launched last year—continued to gain momentum. This year’s edition featured targeted activities, active participation from the region’s wineries and distilleries, and a series of events that highlighted the overall wine and gastronomic footprint of Tyrnavos.
Throughout the two-day celebration, winemakers and distillers opened their cellars to the public, offering themed tastings, presentations of new releases, and special initiatives dedicated to showcasing Limniona and Muscat of Tyrnavos.
At the same time, selected food and beverage venues across the city hosted dedicated activations, giving visitors the opportunity to become acquainted with the grape varieties that have shaped Thessaly’s wine identity and continue to evolve through the contemporary winemaking approaches of the Union’s members.
More specifically, on Saturday, December 13, local restaurants and wine bars participated in a special happy hour (20:00–22:00) entitled “Muscat of Tyrnavos and Limniona in the Glass,” during which tastings dedicated to the two varieties were held, alongside special pricing on selected wines and spirits.
The celebrations culminated on Sunday, December 14, at the Municipal Theatre of Tyrnavos (Maxim), at 11:00, with a major public event featuring the screening of the 1989 documentary by Yiannis Prokovas, “Tyrnavos: The City of Wine and Vineyards,” courtesy of the ERT S.A. archives. The documentary shed light on the deep-rooted relationship between the people of Tyrnavos and the land, the vine, the historical evolution of the city, and the development of its local culture.
The event was accompanied by local culinary creations from acclaimed Tyrnavos-born chef Sotiris Evangelou, who drew inspiration from regional traditions to craft exclusive recipes for the occasion. His dishes were paired with selected wines from local wineries, creating a refined gastronomic pairing that highlighted Limniona and Muscat of Tyrnavos while offering guests a holistic experience of taste, history, and tradition.
Limniona grape, the princess of Thessaly region
Limniona—with historical references dating back to the 19th century and a modern revival that has established it as one of Greece’s most promising red grape varieties—and Muscat of Tyrnavos, the region’s flagship variety cultivated across 15,000 stremmas of vineyards and the foundation of the renowned Tsipouro of Tyrnavos, stood at the heart of this year’s celebrations. The two-day event strengthened the region’s outward-looking profile, showcased the uniqueness of its products, and reaffirmed the close bond between the local community and the vine, wine, and spirits.
Today, the Tyrnavos Coop Winery & Distillery tirnavoswinery.gr represents 13 producers and covers nearly the entirety of the region’s wine and spirits production. It continues to work consistently toward promoting local grape varieties, safeguarding cultural heritage, and enhancing the wine tourism potential of Tyrnavos.
Source: Tyrnavos Coop Winery & Distillery
Photo Credit: Wines of Greece
