One of the areas with the greatest grape production in Greece is southern Halkidiki and particularly the part adjoining the prefecture of Thessaloniki. It is a really impressive sight for someone starting his journey from Thessaloniki towards the three "legs" of Halkidiki. Slopes full of vineyards welcome the visitors and embellish the route with bright green images.

In this area, close to Nea Kalikratia and just before Agios Pavlos, there is small and relatively unknown village, Nea Gonia. It was established by refugees who came from Eastern Thrace after the Asia Minor disaster. Coming from Eastern Thrace, the residents of Gonia brought with them the knowledge of viniculture as well as the familiar to all of us now tastes of the East. One of their favourite dishes was the stuffed vine leaf - known as "dolmadaki" or "sarmadaki". So, they were naturally involved in the systematic utilization of this product that comes from the grapevine.

Why are the vine leaves of Nea Gonia special?

At the same time, the sensitisation of some farmers and the adoption of more environmentally friendly methods led to the gradual conversion of their vineyards form conventional to organic ones. Because the vine leaf is harvested in the early summer when it is still tender, that is May and June, a time when the grapevine is in great need of insecticides and fertilizers, the organic cultivation is the only method which guarantees that the product reaching the consumer is both healthy and tasteful.

Marianna Kazaki played a major part in the development and spread of organic utilization of the vine leaf and vine tops in the area of Nea Gonia. She started, as early as 1989, the harvest of vine leaves and their conservation with traditional methods, without preservatives, pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Her main aim was the satisfaction of her family and friends. At the same time, other farmers from Nea Gonia and the proximate village of Agios Pavlos decided to take advantage of the leaves of their grapevines promoting them into the market with their own brand names.

Where are the Nea Gonia vine leaves supplied?

Today, Nea Gonia is well-known for the Vine Leaves it produces. Over 100,000 vine leaf jars are produced annually in these slopes of Halkidiki. Of course, most of them are consumed in Greece, but a large amount is exported all over the world. For instance, Marianna's Vine Leaves (a main product of the Kazaki family with production that exceeded 60,000 jars in 2004) were exported to Germany, Britain and even Japan, China and the U.S.A.