Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy 2025 25th Edition Marks a Milestone for the Greek and Cypriot Wine & Spirits Industry

Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy 2025, the only recognized wine and spirits competition held in Greece, successfully concluded its 25th edition. This landmark year underscored the competition’s enduring role in promoting quality, excellence, and export readiness within the Greek and Cypriot wine and spirits industries.

Held between February 25 and 27, 2025, the competition recorded its highest participation, with 1,030 samples submitted from 243 wineries and distilleries across Greece and Cyprus. These included 947 wines and 83 spirits, reflecting an 8% sample increase from the previous year’s numbers, reinforcing the event’s relevance and reach within the industry.

Established in 1999, Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy has consistently elevated the global profile of Greek and Cypriot producers by offering objective wine evaluation and international recognition. Its long-standing mission is to reward authenticity, innovation, and excellence while fostering greater awareness of the region’s distinct terroirs and craftsmanship.

The competition operates under the presidency of Mr. Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, whose leadership has contributed significantly to its international credibility and the refinement of its evaluation standards. The judging process grounded in Australian guidelines and was carried out by a distinguished jury of 30 professionals, including:

This year’s international participants were prominent figures such as Roderick Smith MW, President of the Institute of Masters of Wine, and Ronan Sayburn MS, Chief Executive of the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe.
Demonstrating its commitment to education and future leadership, the competition also included six trainee (non-voting) judges invited to observe and engage with the evaluation process.

The official Awards Ceremony was held on March 9, 2025, at Athens Conservatoire, bringing together producers, partners, and leading professionals from the wine and hospitality sectors.

The evening began with the presentation of the Greek Wine Industry Award 2025, bestowed upon Mr. Konstantinos Spiliadis, founder of the globally renowned Milos restaurants, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the international promotion of Greek wine and gastronomy.

This symbolic recognition highlighted the connection between culinary excellence, cultural identity, and Greek wine's global visibility.

Beyond its competitive framework, Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy is integral in advancing the sector. It facilitates direct connections between producers and global influencers, strengthens the industry’s presence in strategic markets, and champions the values of professionalism, transparency, and quality.
The 25th edition reaffirmed the Trophy’s evolving impact as a recognition mechanism and a catalyst for growth, export development, and international dialogue.

The essence of competition does not end here but continues to exist in every corner of the world with medal-stickers and symbols of distinction decorating the bottles of the award-winning wines. Professionals on wine trade, sommeliers and consumers are invited to recognize them by their distinctive logo, the White Tower, the symbol of the city of Thessaloniki and the Competition that bears its name.