Great Greek Wines in Belgium (Brussels and Ghent): Two Strong initiatives in a High-End Market

Two significant events of Great Greek Wines (GGW) in Belgium were successfully completed, highlighting Greek wine in one of the most mature and demanding wine markets of Western Europe.

These initiatives were held in collaboration with the Belgian Sommelier Association and Christophe Heynen MW, on October 5 and November 16, 2025, as part of GGW’s broader outreach strategy.

October 5, 2025 – Brussels | Sommelier Competition Semifinal & Final

As part of the competition to crown the Best Belgian Sommelier, GGW participated for the first time with a Walk Around Tasting, presenting 10 award-winning wines to a specialized audience of 150 professionals: sommeliers, journalists, importers, and opinion leaders. Greek wine held its own alongside international brands such as California Wines, Famille Perrin, Bellavista, and Filipa Pato, receiving enthusiastic feedback and growing interest.

November 16, 2025 – Ghent | Awards Gala Dinner

During the annual Gala Dinner celebrating the winners of the sommelier competition, held as part of Belgium’s largest HORECA trade show, GGW hosted a Masterclass featuring 13 award-winning labels, curated by Christophe Heynen MW.

The masterclass took place prior to the official dinner and was attended by over 50 invited guests. The presentation made an excellent impression, reinforcing the positioning of Greek wine as a high-quality and authentic choice for the discerning Belgian consumer.

It is worth noting that different wine labels were presented at each event, with a total of over 20 wineries from across Greece and Cyprus participating.

This year’s events in Belgium mark the expansion of Great Greek Wines into new key markets. Brussels and Ghent served as the first stops of a targeted strategic approach, aiming to highlight the quality and identity of Greek wine in markets with high levels of knowledge and expectations.

GGW Founder Yiannis Karakasis MW stated: “Together with Grigoris Michailos, we aim to open new channels of communication for Greek wine on an international level. Belgium is a growing market with significant potential, which is why we designed two distinct actions this year. Our collaboration with the Belgian Sommelier Association is vital for the further development of Greek wine in the country.”

Christophe Heynen MW commented: “The wines were very appreciated, and every taster seemed to discover the varieties and current style prevalent in Greece – there was not only a formative element to the presentations of the wines (the “discovery” aspect) but these events allowed my fellow countrymen to better understand the positioning and quality of GGW. The result was a genuine interest in discovering more, in going towards these wines, in visiting the country, by sheer fact also of their presence and visibility during these events. I believe that Greek wines were/should be the next new trend for restaurants in our market, and from feedback, many agreed with me. This was demonstrated in how they fit in terms of style, price and how they can be attractive for customers and our rather “nordic” cuisine.”