Athens for Wine Lovers

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A Wine Tasting afternoon at Cinque Wine Bar and Deli in Athens

Wine lovers planning to visit Athens, I have a real gem for you. Last Christmas, I squeezed my head to find a thoughtful gift for my husband that wouldn’t be take up physical space. (Because we don’t have any. It’s all taken by piles of laundry and owl teddies). In an effort to beat the January blues, we already had tickets for Athens shortly after Christmas. (If you’re wondering whether it’s worth going to Greece in the winter, the answer is yes.) So this is what I came up with: A wine tasting experience in Athens (complete with childcare by my Auntie Poppy).

This being a rare occasion when childcare was sorted, the outing was a special treat for us. We could steal away a few hours of grown-up indulgence. Yay! A night out! Well, the booking was actually at 4pm so we could be back for bath time, but still.

Wine tasting at Cinque Wine Bar in Athens, Greece

Setting the scene

We arrived at Cinque Wine Bar and Deli panting and looking at our phones in distress, as it turns out they have 2 locations in the centre (luckily quite close to each other). We finally went through the Deli doors, 6 minutes late. After dashing through the busy Athens streets, the inviting charm of the place, the chilled out music and the owner’s warm welcome immediately relaxed us. Why am I so tense, I thought – this is not a job interview.

Before I carry on I should mention at this point, the bar was empty apart from us, it being January and not heaving with tourists. But what about Greek people, do they not go there, I hear you ask? Why of course they do! But Greek people would not go for a wine tasting at 4pm. This would be a wildly absurd timing for a Greek person. If you’re curious, I explain all about this here: The time of the day that only exists in Greece. Anyway, keep the timing in mind when visiting. If, unlike Greek people, you’re happy to visit outside peak hours that would be actually good, because the seating is quite limited.

A flight of red wine at the Cinque Wine Bar and Deli in Athens, Greece
14 empty glasses waiting

We settled on a comfy sofa bench to catch our breath. Owner Evangelia, friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about wine guided us through the wine tasting experience entirely in English. Meanwhile, other owner and husband Grigoris prepared our wines and platters.

The wine tasting experience

Our two-hour premium Greek red wine tasting in Athens began with an insightful introduction to Greek wines, offering us a glimpse into the different varieties and regional origins. Each bottle was presented with a brief history and context, adding to our understanding and appreciation of the wines we were about to taste.

Wine tasting at Cinque Wine Bar and Deli in Athens, Greece
Ready to begin the tasting

As much as I loved learning all about the wine, my restless mind did wonder: will this be a 2-hour long seminar? This was a rare opportunity. We could relax for a couple of hours sans children with good wine and uninterrupted conversation. But before I even finished overthinking, the introduction was over and we were left to enjoy the wines ourselves, in our own pace. Evangelia and Grigoris were around hanging by the bar and available any time we wanted to chat throughout the tasting. They were engaging, delightful and added a lot of humour and warmth in the whole experience. But without them taking over what was essentially our date. Perfect!

Getting to know Greek wines

Amidst the laughter and clinking glasses, this was also a personal triumph for me. Chris had actually been sceptical about Greek wine. OK, there might have been some taverna incidents that put him off before, such as ice cold red wine, light rosé “red” wine and some quite aggressive Xinomavro. Anyway, he always defaulted to ordering Portuguese wine whenever we found ourselves in Greece. Luckily, this tasting experience at Cinque Wine Bar and Deli proved to be transformative and exactly what I was hoping for. With each sip and anecdote shared by the hosts, his perceptions started to shift. He made himself familiar with the names of Greek wine varieties. Putting a name to each taste meant he would now be able to identify his favourites. Evangelia even tipped him on which Xinomavro vintages to seek out so he’d feel confident selecting the perfect bottle.

two wine glasses in Santorini, Greece
Santorini’s vineyards, beaten by the winds and on top of an active volcano, have been producing wine for 6000 years.

It was important to me, as one half of a mixed-ethnicity couple, that he would experience these new flavours with an open mind and heart. I saw this as a shared exploration of culture and a step towards embracing further my Greek heritage. I do credit the owners for this. Their passion for Greek wine was infectious and made the whole experience a real joy.

A sweet goodbye

So the tasting was drawing to a close. Not that we would have been kicked out, we actually could have stayed there until closing time. But it was getting close to 6pm. And I already had a couple of texts off Auntie Poppy informing me Sophia was trying to suck the paint out of a marker nib. It was time to make a move.

As we were saying goodbye, our hostess surprised us with a thoughtful gesture. She presented us with the framed ‘reserved’ sign that was sitting on our table throughout the tasting, personalised with our names and date—such a lovely souvenir! This touching gesture basically encapsulates the hospitality and attention to detail at Cinque Wine Bar and Deli. The frame is now sitting on our bookcase and it is a reminder of our first and only (so far) date of the year: the day Chris discovered he actually loves Greek wine, and the day Auntie Poppy had to put our toddler in a headlock to confiscate a Posca marker.

But what if I’m in Athens with kids?

That’s not a problem because (and this is coming from the horse’s mouth) (the horse being Evangelia) you can actually go to Cinque with kids! Back home we feel limited to soft plays and family cafés for all our outings.

Knowing we can enjoy a glass of wine at an establishment aimed at adults is a big relief. Keep in mind this is not a place that specifically caters for children. However, they wouldn’t turn you away like it would happen in the UK. So if the baby’s asleep, or your little ones are the kind that can sit still with a sticker book for a wee while, I wholeheartedly recommend Cinque for a nice glass of Greek wine or two, (outside peak hours).

Cinque Wine Bar and Deli at a glance

Cinque Wine Bar Deli Athens
Image source: https://www.cinque.gr/
  • Location: Voreou 10, 105 51, Monastiraki, Athens. Just a minute’s walk from Monastiraki metro station in the very centre of Athens.
  • Family owned, by a couple of passionate wine experts and oenologist son Nikitas. 🍷
  • Offering a wide range of flights and wine tasting experiences in central Athens, perfect for both experts and novices.
  • Walk-ins welcome, so there’s an idea if you’re feeling spontaneous. 😃
  • Info and services in more detail: https://www.cinque.gr/

Our favourite resources for exploring Greece 🇬🇷 ⛵️ ⛴ 🐙 🥙

  • booking.com: We use booking.com for most of our stays in Greece and Europe. As we prefer booking trips well in advance, we’ve got to embrace the unpredictable (meaning we really love the free cancellation feature). 🏨
  • Welcome Pickups: Pre-book your airport transfer with this stellar, reliable service. (Knowledgeable, local drivers). 🚖
  • Baby Traveller: Baby equipment rental based in Athens. These guys will meet you at arrivals and hand you a stroller and a car seat. How convenient is that? 🧸
  • Athens combined ticket: If you’re in Athens for more than 1 day, don’t pay the 20 euros ticket just for the Acropolis. The combined ticket will get you in 7 archaeological sites (kids under 5 go free).
  • Ferryhopper: Taking the faff out of planning your island hopping itinerary (especially if you’ re using different ferry companies for different legs of your trip). Handy fare comparison tool. Frequent deals and offers too. ⛴
  • Get Your Guide: Our preferred travelling style is a combo of leisurely stumbling upon fish huts and pre-booked kid-friendly activities. This helps us be efficient and pack as many experiences as we can in our available time (without stressing about it). 🥾

Conclusion

So, wine lover friends, if you find yourself in Athens not knowing where to begin your wine education, give Cinque Wine Bar and Deli a go. With a lovely selection of wines, attentive service and welcoming atmosphere, you are guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face.

Our afternoon there was a reminder that amidst the demands of parenthood, moments like that are not only well-deserved but absolutely necessary.

Cheers to that!

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A wine tasting experience at Cinque Wine Bar in Athens, Greece

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