Santorini wines are gaining their place on dinner tables abroad
Efforts to promote Santorini wines abroad are starting to pay off as wineries from the Greek island make inroads into foreign markets. A series of initiatives have been launched in a bid to introduce the wine to foreign palates, including promotional events at last month’s World Sommeliers Competition held in Rhodes, an event which attracted wine experts from about 47 countries around the world. Konstantina Chryssou Hatzidaki, owner of Hatzidakis winery, said that her 70,000-bottles-per-year winery is looking into expanding into the Netherlands and Belgium after penetrating the difficult French market. «We are looking at Belgium. A market which is next to France where we have built a good reputation,» said Hatzidaki. The winery has been exporting to France since 2004. The business, which began operating in 1997, exports around 40 percent of its output to countries including the US, England and Germany. The figure is expected to rise over the next few years, particularly in the US. «The English market has warmed to our product. Our wines show the good side of the Assyrtiko grape of Santorini,» she added.
