Corkscrew collection at Gerovassiliou winery in Greece

Domaine Gerovassiliou is one of the most respected family-owned wineries in Greece. Vangelis Gerovassiliou, the winemaker and owner of the Gerovassiliou winery, has been lauded by the global wine trade as one of the best winemakers in the Mediterranean. Aside of winemaking, his vinous zeal comprises a large corkscrew collection that attracts thousands of visitors annually to his winery in Northern Greece.
Underground the slopes of the Gerovassiliou winery at Epanomi nests one of the biggest corkscrew collections in the world. As a part of the Domaine’s Wine Museum, this collection amuses the young schoolboys as well as curiosity seekers visiting the area.
Since 1976, Vangelis Gerovassiliou has been collecting interesting objects related in some way to wine, winemaking and even barrel making. In the 1980s he became so fully intoxicated with collecting corkscrews that this hobby turned into a lifelong quest. Amused, wonder at human creativity as anything from head-shaped corkscrews, corkscrews shrewdly hidden in walking sticks, coffin-shaped corkscrews, and much more can be found in the broad collection at the Gerovassiliou winery.
The only part that defines a corkscrew is the pointed metallic helix (known also as a “worm” or “screw”) attached to a handle. The modern corkscrews can be needle shaped and the head is often made from plastic or wood. In the past metallic materials such as steel or even the shining silver were more popular, but also wood and ivory lent themselves to be artistically shaped into the head of a corkscrew .
I learned something beguiling during my tour of the museum. Not only gentlemen carried their corkscrew with them on their walks and journeys, but also ladies seemed to enjoy the wonderful flavours of wine, since many of the ladies’ beauty sets included one. Look below at my pictures at these personal care masterpieces.
Another design made from a mother of pearl was part of a lady’s travel set. Curiously, the engraved corkscrew being the most elaborate piece of her set. It seems that ladies like to open wine in style when journeying around.
With over 2000 pieces Mr. Gerovassiliou’s collection belongs to one of the most important in the world in its category, and is worth visiting by anyone who find himself in the proximity of Thessaloniki, the cultural capital of Greece (also airport) in the Northern Greek region of Central Macedonia.

 Mon-Fri: 10am-3pm; Sat: Closed; Sun 11am-5pm.

Closed on big holidays (11th May – Day of St. Argirios, patron saint of Epanomi) & Aug 1-15th.