It’s time for a blind tasting in the competition to create the collectible anniversary wine hosted by the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum as part of the “ZORBA – The Festival”. This event is included in the Region of Crete’s programme “Crete European Region of Gastronomy 2026”.

2026 is a landmark year for the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum — it marks eighty years since the publication of the iconic novel Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas. It’s also a year of creativity and outreach for Cretan gastronomy. In this spirit, the Museum and the Region join forces in a special project that culminates on 24 January with a blind tasting to choose the anniversary collectible wine “Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas”.

This initiative is part of the Region of Crete’s actions following its recognition as European Region of Gastronomy 2026, and its aim is not simply to pick an outstanding wine, but to create an active, creative process that reflects the spirit of exploration — a trait shared by Kazantzakis and his hero, Alexis Zorbas.

As part of the scientific groundwork, a team of museum researchers gathered and analysed passages from Kazantzakis about Zorbas, highlighting key traits of his character: multidimensional, nonconformist, joyful, vibrant, authentic. Winemakers were invited to express these qualities in the wines they created for the competition.

On Saturday 24 January at 12:30 pm, in the G. Anemogiannis Hall at the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum in Myrtia, an open blind tasting will take place. Four esteemed wine experts will explain the methodology and scoring system for full transparency, then taste and rate the candidate wines.

The results will be handed to the Museum Director, who will announce the winning winery on the same day. The collectible anniversary wine will be officially revealed at a special ceremony during the Wine and Culture Festival (7–8 February 2026).

Tickets are limited.
Get your tickets here.