Thessaloniki to Join Urban Vineyard’s Global Network

Wine production from the Thessaloniki urban vineyard. Photo source: Thessaloniki Municipality.

The Municipality of Thessaloniki recently announced that it will be joining the Urban Vineyard Association’s (UVA) global network of cities with urban vineyards.

Launched in Italy in 2019 with the aim of protecting the rural, historical and natural heritage represented by urban vineyards and enhancing it from a cultural and tourist point of view, the network today is comprised by cities such as Paris, Venice, Milan, Lyon, New York and now Thessaloniki.

According to the municipality, Thessaloniki is the only Greek city to have created its own organic urban vineyard – located in the Doxa area near the Kaftanzoglio Stadium.

The Thessaloniki urban vineyard. Photo source: Thessaloniki Municipality.

“Our urban vineyard is expanding, becoming an asset to the city’s tourism identity,” said Thessaloniki Mayor Konstantinos Zervas, adding that by joining the network the city’s wine and gastronomy culture is enriched, making it an attractive tourism destination.

The history of Thessaloniki’s urban vineyard

The Thessaloniki urban vineyard. Photo source: Thessaloniki Municipality.

The Greek city’s urban vineyard was created in 2013 as a collaboration between the municipality, the Agriculture School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Gerovassiliou Estate.

It is half an acre in size and houses wine-making grape varieties such as Robola, Malagouzia, Agiorgitiko, and Xinomavro.

Since its launch, the vineyard has become a popular destination for students, visitors, and locals, who gather every September for the annual harvest celebration.

Wine production from the Thessaloniki urban vineyard. Photo source: Thessaloniki Municipality.

Last year, the municipality auctioned wine bottles produced from the urban vineyard to financially support the municipal nursery “Agios Stylianos“.

Greece was recently included in the Top 20 of the world’s best wine destinations. Last autumn, international wine expert Nina Caplan hailed Thessaloniki’s and Central Macedonia’s wines as “Liquid Gold” in a story published in Club Oenologique.