- Kalabaka Mayor Lefteris Avramopoulos promotes wine tourism to retain the region’s youth and boost the local economy.
- Kalabaka boasts vineyards with deep local roots and international recognition.
- Collaboration among wineries and tourism businesses is key to growing the area’s appeal.
- Wine tourism includes the chance to explore heritage, gastronomy, and nature all in one stop.
- Plans include a stronger focus on year-round attractions, combining wine with cultural, religious, and geological tourism.
- Conference tourism adds another boost to the area’s economic landscape.
- Grants of up to 65% are available for developing new or modernising existing hospitality businesses.
Meteora Meets the World of Wine
Kalabaka (Greek: Καλαμπάκα, Kalabáka, alternative transliterations are Kalambaka and Kalampaka), at the foot of Meteora, welcomes millions of visitors each year. With its 2.5 million annual tourists, the area is Greece’s second-most visited mainland destination. These figures would make any other place happily rest on its laurels, but not Kalambaka.
Mayor Lefteris Avramopoulos has set sights on expanding this tourism beyond the jaw-dropping rock formations of Meteora. His bold vision leans heavily into wine tourism. Why wine? Why now? Because the region’s vineyards aren’t just about grapes—they’re about culture, memory, and a serious punch of authentic Greek charm.
Taking advantage of the area’s rich winemaking history, Mayor Avramopoulos aims to invest in tourism that does more than passively attract visitors. Instead, it’ll aim to keep residents—especially young people—rooted in their homeland. With no access to the sea and its holiday resorts, Kalambaka is pivoting, quite literally, towards cultivating “wine roads.”
Turning Grapes Into Gold: Wine Tourism as a Strategy
At a recent community event—the first of its kind—local businesses and producers discussed integrating wine into Kalabaka’s broader tourism story. Held under Greece’s LEADER/CLLD 2014–2020 programme and supported by the Ministry of Agricultural Development, the event was a milestone in organising local wine tourism.
Here’s the pitch: wine is not just another product. It’s an experience. From vineyard tours to wine tastings, the visitor can connect with everything that makes the area unique—its agriculture, food, folklore, and beautiful surroundings.
The mayor emphasised how wine tourism could combine with gastronomy, religious tourism (thanks to the monasteries of Meteora), and geo-tourism (those epic rocks aren’t going unnoticed). Still, he acknowledges that they haven’t quite cracked the all-encompassing package yet. The aim isn’t only to keep visitors entertained but to encourage longer stays.
Of course, it’s not just the wine. The local hospitality sector is stepping up, with:
- 7,000 beds in hotels and guesthouses available.
- Over 800 short-term rental options ready to meet rising demand.
- For those looking to expand their grip on the market, grants from the LEADER initiative offer up to 65% funding for upgrading or building new accommodation.
In addition to drawing wine and nature lovers, Kalambaka is also rapidly building a presence in conference tourism. This niche sector thrives on top-tier attractions and cutting-edge facilities. Whether pairing seminars with vineyard tours or offering authentic culinary workshops, wine tourism provides a creative touch to planning conferences here.
