It is with great joy and pride that we share with you a significant moment for our winery and for Aigialeia: the award of Theodora Rouvalis with the European Iter Vitis award, certified by the Council of Europe, in the category “Young Winemaker Investing in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.”
The award ceremony took place on October 17 in Thessaloniki, during the annual meeting of the Iter Vitis network, in the presence of representatives from many European countries: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Moldova, and others. The award recognizes Theodora Rouvalis’ contribution to mountain viticulture and to the production of high-quality wines with a strong identity, which highlight the memory, tradition, and landscape of Aigialeia.
During her presentation, both in the morning and at the evening celebratory dinner, Theodora Rouvalis focused on the strong support that vine cultivation offers to rural areas, especially in mountainous regions: protection from slope erosion, natural barrier against wildfires, water management, retention of the local population. She also emphasized the added value that quality wine production brings to the economy and to the enhancement of a region’s image.
Iter Vitis is an official Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2009, aiming to highlight the cultural heritage of the European vineyard and to promote sustainable wine tourism in historic wine-growing regions.
Theodora Rouvalis stated upon receiving the award: “Wine is — and always has been — more than just a product. It is a carrier of culture, memory, and identity. Let us continue to cultivate not only the land, but also the values that connect us to it.”
As part of the same event, the Oinoxenia Festival was also awarded for its contribution to the promotion of Europe’s cultural heritage, as one of the most innovative wine-centered festivals. It is a double honor for Rouvalis Winery, as it has played a decisive role in the founding and development of the Oinoxenia institution, strengthening the extroversion of Aigialeia on the wine map of Europe.
*In the photo, Theodora Rouvalis stands between the President of Itervitis, Ms. Emanuela Panke, and the representative of the Ministry of Culture, Ms. Marianthi Anastasiadou.