Title – Name
Karimalis Winery
Scope / Sector / Industry
Agro-wine tourism
Country / Region
Greece, Ikaria
Why is it good practice?
The Karimalis Winery is considered a good practice of an agro-wine tourism business, as its mode of operation and the services it offers go hand in hand with the Ikarian way of life. Known for the gentle rhythms of daily life, away from stress, as well as for the healthy lifestyle of its inhabitants, Ikaria is an important tourist destination for all those looking for a way to achieve longevity. The Karimalis Winery is a business that promotes this special way of life in many ways and the visitor has the opportunity to get to know it through the authentic experiences it offers.
How is it applied?
The Karimalis Winery is located in Ikaria, on an estate of 50 acres. The Karimalis family, based on the records it owns, has been cultivating vines and producing wine for at least 5 centuries. Initially the family’s only activity was the winery, but over the years it began to operate as an agro-tourism unit and to be active in wine tourism as well. Today, the estate includes the winery, two of the family’s four total vineyards (the other two are located in other areas of the island), planted with local grape varieties, and two traditional Ikarian restored stone houses, which have been renovated with special architectural care style and sensitivity in the choice of materials (wood, stone, cane, fabric, traditional metals, etc.).
In addition to the stone houses, two stone mills are preserved, a small one for grain and a large one for the production of olive oil. The “petalo” is also preserved, which is an old wine press in which the ancestors of the family made wine. Also, in different locations there are olive trees, fruit trees, a vegetable garden and a small animal and poultry farm.
As part of the operation of the agro-tourism unit, the Karimalis family created authentic experiences for the guests of the estate, based on the Ikarian way of life. These experiences are summarized below:
- Tasting experiences which includes, a walk in the vineyard of the estate and a tour of the winery, tasting of wines accompanied by dishes of the estate (sourdough bread, goat cheese, vegetables, olives, etc.). There is also a presentation of the traditional way of producing wine in Ikaria with a guided tour of the traditional wine press and the old wine cellar that are located and maintained within the estate.
- Breakfast consisting of products that come 100% from the gardens and the farm’s animals (e.g. hand-kneaded sourdough bread, handmade jams, spoon sweets and petimezi, goat’s milk and cheese, fresh eggs, seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbal drink, tahini with Ikarian honey, Greek coffee, etc.).
- Meal from recipes of the local gastronomy, cooked with ingredients from the estate itself. Meals are mostly vegetarian and cooked lightly to retain all their nutrients.
- Ikarian cooking classes, mainly vegetarian cuisine.
- Hiking experiences with stops at cultural monuments of the island.
- Cycling routes, with mountain bikes, on the forest roads around the estate.
- Group afternoon run in the mountain 5-10 km.
- Ikariotic dance lessons.
- Morning training based on martial arts.
- Archery activities in the area of the estate.
- Participation in the harvest and picking of the estate’s grapes.
- Participation in the production of petimezi.
- Participation in the production of raisins and the drying of other fruits.
- Collection of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs and herbs.
- Collection and drying of aromatic plants.
- Milking of the estate’s goats and cheese production.
- Collection of eggs from the hens of the estate.
- Feeding the estate’s animals and birds (goats and hens).
In addition to the services provided by the winery, another important reason why Karimalis Winery is a good practice wine tourism business is because it makes a significant effort to provide services in terms of sustainability. In this context, all the vineyards, crops and agricultural activities of the family have been certified as organic by the organic farming organization (Organization for the Control and Certification of Organic Products), while all the wines produced are Protected Geographical Indication Ikaria and are produced with minimal interventions. In addition, the entire facility is supported by many ecological applications that operate according to the principles of sustainability and by recycling and alternative energy production systems.
The sustainability of the estate is achieved in a variety of ways, indicative of which are presented below:
- Construction of a hybrid water heating system, which is used both for domestic use and for space heating. By combining solar energy with biomass/wood (fireplace wood burning) the needs of the whole year are covered. This ensures the heating of both the premises and the water for domestic use, as well as the water for the underfloor heating of the houses. Thus the buildings acquire bioclimatic behavior, excluding the need to use air-conditioners.
- Production of electricity with a 5KW photovoltaic unit. Specifically in the estate, the electricity produced is used directly with the electricity supply but also indirectly through the hybrid heating system.
- Composting of organic waste from all activities of the estate, winery and homes. Grapes from the winery are excluded, which are dried and fed to domestic animals. Organic waste includes leaves and branches from the estate, wine lees and grapes from the winery, and food and paper scraps from homes. The compost produced acts as a natural fertilizer and is used in gardens and vineyards, when required, to enrich the soil with organic matter.
- Aerobic system for the biological purification of liquid waste from the winery and homes (Activated Sludge Model). Two products result from the treatment of wastewater. The sewage sludge transferred to the composting bin, and a relatively clear water suitable for irrigation, thus saving water and avoiding the waste of water from public networks. A necessary condition is the use of biodegradable detergents and cleaners.
- Construction of a rainwater collection system for use in irrigation.
- Avoiding the consumption of fossil fuels by using different technology machines and techniques.
- Recycling of packaging and materials.
- Construction of houses exclusively with natural materials such as wood, stone, reed, fabric, traditional metals, etc.
- Manufacture of furniture and frames from natural wood and their maintenance with natural materials (wax, oil).
- Use of cork underlays and ecological 100% latex underlays.
- Use of 100% cotton linen.
- Use of soaps from natural materials and 100% biodegradable detergents.
Where is it applied?
The Karimalis Winery is addressed to those who wish to experience an authentic agro-wine tourism experience, which introduces visitors to the healthy Ikarian way of life, which is known for the longevity it brings to the island’s inhabitants.
When did it applied?
The establishment of the Winery began in 1997.
Other Information
The local gastronomy is inextricably linked with longevity and this has emerged from relevant research, especially by American and European scientific missions that have collaborated with the Karimalis family to provide information both about the Ikarian way of life and gastronomy through local traditional recipes. In this context, the family holds “Cooking and Longevity Workshops” around the world every year (United States of America, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Australia), in which it presents the healthy lifestyle as lived by the inhabitants of the “Blue Zones”.
The term “Blue Zones” was first coined by Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner, an explorer and National Geographic contributor and journalist, during a project he led in 2004 to investigate longevity, looking for the regions of the world with alleged high longevity. Ikaria is one such region, 1/3 of its population reaches 90 years of age.
In the mentioned workshops, the Karimalis family shares the ancient gastronomy philosophy of Ikaria, which directly links food with health and longevity.
The official website of Karimalis Winery is: https://www.ikarianwine.gr/
