Palesviaki Enosis of Melbourne and Victoria celebrates 2020 Ouzo Festival

·

By Bill Roumeliotis

The 2020 Ouzo Festival, an annual gathering celebrating the culture and secrets of one of the signature products of Lesvos, was held last Sunday for the 30th consecutive year in Bayswater, Melbourne.

The festival brought in over 3000 visitors from across Victoria and across Australia. Greek singers George Malliaros and Doukissa performed for crowds drinking Plomari Ouzo and eating Mytilenean seafood mezedes.

Photo: Bill Romeliotis

Organised by the Palesviaki Enosis of Melbourne and Victoria, the festival was held on Sunday 16th of February at Palesviaki Enosi Farm, Bayswater. 

Ouzo is without question the most traditional and most popular alcoholic drink on the Greek island of Lesvos. Yet surprisingly, the history of the iconic liquor only began in the mid-nineteenth century in Mytilene.

Visitors from Sydney Loui Trantalis and John Spanelis family. Photo: Bill Romeliotis

Lesvos, where the Greek beverage industry was born, is in the middle of a triangle comprising the cities of Constantinople, Smyrna and Alexandria. Greeks from Constantinople and Odessos brought the very first ouzo recipes to the island over a hundred years ago, popularising it with all the Greek islands.

Ouzo was officially labelled as an exclusive Greek product as early as 2006, with the Lesvos towns of Mytilene and Plomari obtaining the coveted PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) designation. At the same time, the EU established it as a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) product.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations

The Karpathian Progressive Association of Canberra came together on Sunday to host their annual BBQ and cutting of the Vasilopita event.

Fiona Martin MP, Member for Reid:

As the grandchild of Greek migrants, I feel a personal pride in the message of OXI Day. The democratic values I represent as an...

Ancient Nemea archeological site wins European Cultural Heritage Award

The European Commission delegation announced that the archeological site of Nemea, would be receiving the European Cultural Heritage Award.