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

Alumni excellence celebrated in style at Oakleigh Grammar

Oakleigh Grammar has inducted two more former students into the prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame.

A pilgrimage to heroic Souli: Remembering the legacy of the Souliotes and Souliotises

Nestled in the rugged mountains of Epirus, Souli is more than just a historical site—it is a symbol of resilience and bravery.

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea: Defining Orthodoxy and preserving Hellenism

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine the Great, stands as a pivotal event in Christian history.

From PAK to PASOK: Sakis Gekas to lecture on anti-dictatorship resistance in Toronto

The talk will feature some of the key moments of the anti-dictatorship struggle and its manifestations in the public sphere.

US urges EU to abandon protections for feta and other regional products

The United States is ramping up pressure on the European Union to eliminate its system of geographical indications.

You May Also Like

Brie Larson and Chris Hemsworth throw support behind Jason Sotiris’ charity

Since launching in 2018, Supertee has helped thousands of Australia’s sickest children and their parents. Now Disney is in their corner.

High-achieving Year 12 students honoured by Archbishop Makarios of Australia

The Archbishop of Australia recognised and awarded students from three Greek Orthodox colleges in Sydney for completing their 2023 HSC exams.

Adelaide Festival Centre to receive $35 million upgrade

South Australia’s iconic Adelaide Festival Centre is set to receive a $35 million make over. Read more of the story here.