Openings in Athens are soaring: our ambassadors give us the lowdown

Aris Sklavenitis and Eleftherios Hanialidis, Star Wine List's Athens Ambassadors.
Rachel Fellows
Published 28-August-2024
Interview / Athens

As 10 new Red Stars hit the Athens list, we asked ambassadors Aris Sklavenitis and Eleftherios Hanialidis MS about their top picks.

Thank you for a new set of listings. How would you describe the food and wine scene in Athens recently – has it changed?

We have a lot of new restaurants in Athens and we expect those numbers to increase in the years to come. They are all getting more and more involved in wine, expanding their lists, something which is hugely beneficial for the wine industry in general.

What can you tell us about your new Red Stars?

They are located in Athens and several of its suburbs. It is quite a diverse selection including wine bars, fine dining restaurants, and bistros.

How do you go about finding venues for Star Wine List?

We keep an eye out for new openings in town, like Gamay and Gallina, but we also try not to overlook venues located outside our vicinity, like Jerár, Nebbiolo, Terroirist, Krabo and Patio.

What grabs your attention in a wine list?

There are many factors affecting this. It might be finding wines that can be difficult to get hold of, like old vintages and rare releases. It can also be a by-the-glass selection with ‘hidden treasures’ from its cellar, with fair prices. And it can also be a short wine list that is satisfyingly diverse for a wine lover, in combination with some nice service.

Was there a wine of the summer this year?

In Greece, we usually drink a lot of white and rosé wines because of the high temperatures, but I think Provence-style rosé wines are even more fashionable during the summer.

All the new addidions:
Barolo
Cookoovaya
Gallina
Gamay
Jerar
Krabo
Patio
Lost Roots
Nebbiolo
Terroirist

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