The Solidarity Economy Cooperative “Ifestio Anemotias”, started its operation in the village of Anemotia (Municipality of Western Lesvos) in the fall of 2017, when a group of young people self-organized collectively managing its wine products.

In Western Lesvos, one of the best preserved volcanoes is that of Anemotia, the volcanic material of which created a very fertile soil horizon at the base of the crater. This land favors the cultivation of the vineyard and is today the plain of the village. A significant number of amateur viticulturists have been active in this plain over time.

Taking into account the needs of the local community, we thought that the revival and professional involvement with traditional viticulture, winemaking and biotourism, within a Cooperative, will be an alternative activity of sustainable development based on the protection and utilization of particular natural and cultural resources of the region, with primarily a positive social impact and with economic benefit for the local community but also for the wider region of northwestern Lesvos.

Our Viticultural Team, via “Ifestio Anemotias S.C.E.” fights for its right to land, dignity and self-determination, building its own autonomous structures. Our main activities are specialized in sustainable agriculture, production and processing, fair and solidarity trade, and alternative, thematic and mild tourism.

We are active: In the cultivation of local wine grape varieties (Kalloniatiko, Fokiano, Kountoura etc), in the cooperative’s estates, in the plain of Anemotia. In the vinification of grapes in production facilities for the production of white – rosé & red wines, as well as in the distillation of marc in a small distillery for the production of tsipouro. In “Biotourism”, by providing reception, tour and hospitality services in areas that are functionally integrated, in our wine and viticultural (vineyards) facilities. In the alternative and solidarity trade of the produced wine products (wine, tsipouro etc). A commercial process that instead of the profit of the intermediaries, aims at the decent reward of the effort of the producers, at the provision of quality products at the most affordable and fair price to the consumers, as well as at the care for the protection of the natural environment.

For the distribution of our products we rely on an alternative network, which consists of solidarity economy initiatives (solidarity collectives, cooperatives, cooperative cafes, consumer groups, etc.), individual consumers who believe in the philosophy of cooperation but also small stores. and neighborhood cafes willing to join an alternative support chain. This is not a utopia, but a reality that engages producers with consumers and manages to create long-term relationships of reciprocity and trust.

We try to expand the practice of solidarity economy at the local level by developing partnerships with local vine growers to absorb their production. Our main criteria in the selection of producers are the quality of the grapes (with priority in the production with ecological methods), the ethical practices in the labor relations, the cultivation of traditional varieties, as well as their willingness to participate in an alternative distribution chain, which will bring more close the producer to the consumer.