A Greek business owner was astounded when an unexpected turn of events unfolded at his wine shop. One of the greatest joys of travel is stumbling upon hidden gems and savouring local delights.
American student Josie, 20, from the University of Michigan, has been exploring Europe, sharing her Greek adventures with her 24,000 TikTok followers.
Captioning her experience at a quaint Athenian wine establishment on @josiestoffan, Josie recounted: “This local man was so happy we were the first people to take his wine tasting class at his small wine shop in Greece.”
Footage showed Josie as the lone customer with her friend, while the passionate proprietor personally conducted their wine tasting session. Amidst sips of various vintages accompanied by bread, dips, and nibbles, Josie’s TikTok feed overflowed with heartwarming moments.
Urging Athens-bound travellers, Josie remarked: “If you got to Athens please reserve this class on Airbnb experience.”
Little did she suspect that her video shoutout would catapult the humble Greek wine shop owner into an uplifting whirlwind of internet fame. Locals and travellers alike have been charmed by a small wine shop after a video went viral, attracting waves of support and attention.
A resident living near the shop expressed their admiration: “I live right next to this shop and he’s really such a sweet man to all of his costumers! Definitely recommend.”
Meanwhile, a travel advisor was moved to declare their intention to promote the shop: “Omg my heart. I am a travel advisor and book a ton of Greece I’ll make sure to share this with my clients.”
An enthused couple planning their honeymoon eagerly requested details: “Send me the details would love to add this to our honeymoon itinerary for Athens! ,” while another individual yearned for such an authentic experience, commenting: “Now this is the type of experience I want,”.
One eager traveller marked the wine shop as a must-visit: “So glad I saw this before my trip at the end of the month! My friend and I are so excited for our wine tasting – thank you for sharing this special spot.”
The Greek hospitality received yet more praise: “Greek people are the best. Always the sweetest with the warmest hospitality. Cannot wait to visit his shop!”.
Appreciation for locally-owned businesses was clear in another comment: “Oh my heart, I love a locally owned spot, the owners always make dining such a memorable experience too.”
An optimistic observer encapsulated the spirit of small business ventures: “Just small people with big dreams. Even if you have one attendee, it’s a success,” and another announced imminent plans: “We are going on Monday,”.
Jodie, the woman behind the viral sensation, later shared that the shop owner was overjoyed with the newfound popularity: “I have received a message from him that he got many bookings and people stopping by the shop and is so happy with all of this support! Thank you all!”.
She revealed: “I know that video changed his life. He originally did not know that I shared the video, I told him that I recommended it and he told me that he got dozens of listings and that he was so happy about it. People saw the video and went to his small wine shop in Athens to shop wine and showed him the video.”
The shop owner expressed his gratitude on Tripadvisor, stating: “We are the one of the founders of Wine Tourism in Greece with over 25years experience in European, American and Asian markets. We are offering ultimate wine, brandy. extra virgin olive oil and honey tastings with some of the most low production but high quality products of Greece.”
Thrifty travellers can indulge in cooking classes starting at just £12, an extra virgin olive oil experience paired with wine and herbs from £13, and for the connoisseurs, an ultimate food and wine masterclass is available from £38 per person.
For further details on this Athenian gem, check out the Cru Tasting Room page on Trip Advisor.