Magical evening with music, tango and rosé wines of Aegialia, at the beginning of the “Oinoxenia” Festival

Dreams, music, love, dance… beautiful, full of emotions were born on Friday at the opening night of the “Oinoxenia” Festival. The “Giorgos Pappas” Outdoor Theater in Agios was flooded with unforgettable and timeless Greek tangos, creating a magical vintage atmosphere, with the Athens Chamber Orchestra, tango dancers and the award-winning rosé wines of Aegialia as protagonists.

There were interesting presentations and speeches. The president of the “Oinoxenia” Festival and Mayor of Aegialia, Mr. Dimitris Kalogeropoulos, announcing the opening, noted that the timeless viticulture and wine production of Aegialia is now recognized all over the world, as wine requires sweat and effort in its creation and offers pleasure and joy to all. The Deputy Regional Governor Mr. Charalambos Bonanos and the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism Policy Mr. Panagiotis Sakkelaropoulos spoke about the undivided and essential support of the Region of Western Greece at the Festival, with a special mention of the enthusiasm and the culture of cooperation that has wonderful results.

The University of Patras is always next to every initiative that takes our blessed place forward, the Rector of the educational institution, Mr. Christos Bouras, noted in his greeting. Afterwards, the vice-president of the Wine Network, Mr. Tasos Drosiadis, presented the main fabric of the event’s program, with the president of the “Iter Vitis” Network of the Council of Europe, Mrs. Emanuela Panke, emphasizing the uniqueness of the Festival that connects wine with local culture and which resulted in the inclusion of the Municipality of Aegialia in the said Network.

The honorary president of the Hellenic Wine Association and president of the Oinoxenia Network, Mr. Angelos Rouvalis, spoke with interesting historical facts on the cultivation of wine on the slopes of Aegialia and also on the Aegialians who, since the 8th century BC. they started from the port of Aegion on their journeys to the Mediterranean to establish colonies. Finally, Ms. Marianthi Anastasiadou, Head of the Department of International Relations and the European Union of the Ministry of Culture, spoke about European culture and its connection with the ancient Dionysian Symposia, which were a main feature of the ancient Greek culture that spread and became widely established.

After the end of the show, the spectators enjoyed famous rosé wines from the wineries of Aegialea in the garden of the Cultural Center of Aegis “Alekos Megaris”.

The evening was coordinated by Mrs. Ilianna Niaskou, while the presence of the volunteer group “Achaios EOPP” was important.