Μake us preferred on Google Wine lovers have another reason to head to the Peloponnese this weekend. On Sunday, November 15, the town of Megalopoli, in the heart of Arcadia, hosts the first-ever Tsabi Fest, a wine festival bringing together some of the region’s most exciting producers. It’s an opportunity not only to taste exceptional wines but also to meet the people behind the bottles and discover the stories, traditions, and distinctive character of Peloponnesian winemaking.
November is already a special month for wine enthusiasts in Greece. November 8 is International Wine Tourism Day, an annual occasion that encourages people to get closer to the world of wine by visiting vineyards, discovering grape varieties, and exploring the facilities of wineries, both large and small, across the country.
This year, however, November 8 also coincided with the Athens Marathon. With roads closed, crowds gathering along the historic race route to cheer on runners, and much of the capital caught up in the excitement, getting out of Athens to visit a winery was not necessarily the easiest option.
Fortunately, there is another opportunity to celebrate wine this Sunday—and one that comes with the added bonus of a beautiful trip to Arcadia, in the heart of the Peloponnese.
Enter Tsabi Fest, an event organized for the first time by people who know the world of wine inside and out. Their ambition is simple: to bring wine lovers closer to Greek winemaking, helping them discover more, taste more, and fall even more deeply in love with wine.
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24 wineries, 100 wines, and the people behind them
Located close to the renowned Mantinia wine region, Megalopoli will become a meeting point for 24 wineries from across the Peloponnese. The festival will take place at Anamiktirio, an alternative and particularly interesting venue that offers a fitting setting for this celebration of wine.
Visitors will have the opportunity to discover around 100 different wine labels, but the experience goes well beyond the tastings themselves. The people behind every bottle will be there, too: the producers who know better than anyone the journey, particularities, and characteristics of their wines.
They will be ready to share their stories, exchange ideas, answer questions, and guide visitors through the fascinating world of Peloponnesian wines.
Tsabi Fest is, therefore, a wonderful opportunity to taste outstanding wines and meet the people who make them. But there is much more to the program.
Four wine masterclasses led by a Michelin Guide restaurant sommelier
From 1 p.m., when the festival opens its doors, visitors will also have the opportunity to attend four different masterclasses, all curated and presented by Christos Theodoropoulos, a true wine enthusiast and expert.
The sommelier at Hervé restaurant, which once again retained its Michelin Guide star this year, Theodoropoulos is originally from Megalopoli. He will be returning to his hometown to take participants on a journey through the vineyards of his native region, sharing his knowledge and passion for the wines of the Peloponnese.
Christos Theodoropoulos, sommelier at Hervé restaurant, is originally from Megalopoli. He will lead four masterclasses exploring the wines of the Peloponnese.
Each of the four sessions he has designed offers participants the chance to taste and learn, exploring different aspects of the region’s wine production. The selection ranges from sparkling and rosé wines to international grape varieties that have found a home in Greece’s distinctive terroir, as well as rare, aged wines from older vintages.
Each masterclass will feature six wines, offering a concise yet meaningful insight into the potential and possibilities of the region’s grape varieties and winemaking.
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The program begins with sparkling wines, followed by rosés and international grape varieties cultivated in Greek terroir. The grand finale is dedicated to impressive aged wines, offering a particularly intriguing opportunity to explore how these wines evolve over time.
Places in the masterclasses are limited, so those interested should plan ahead. Even if you don’t manage to secure a spot, however, there will be plenty to enjoy throughout the day.
Wine, delicious food, and music will accompany the festival, with the sounds growing louder as the evening progresses. Tsabi Fest promises to be a proper celebration: a tribute to one of the finest things Greek gastronomy and local tradition have to offer.
The grape, and everything that comes from it.
