Paul Pavlatos (second from r.) presents the Rev. Gerasimos Ballas with an award from the POA Honor Society of the Pan Arcadian Federation of America. Cephalonian Brotherhood of New York President Elias Lourentzatos and his son hold an award from Pavlatos to the Cephalonian Brotherhood of New York. Wine, international diplomats and a scholarship award were the main attractions of the 2009 Robola Social of the Cephalonian Brotherhood of New York, Brotherhood President Elias Lourentzatos, presiding, on Saturday evening, December 5 at St. Demetrios of Jamaica Church. More than 250 persons attended. Louka Katseli, Greece Minister of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping, and Consul General of Greece Ms. Aghi Balta were present. The Youth of the Cephalonian Brotherhood performed dances. Robola, boiled goat, homemade Greek dips and appetizers and rizogalo (rice pudding) were enjoyed by all the guests of the Cephalonian Brotherhood of New York.

Katseli commended the organization for promoting the wine industry of Robola. Demetrios Kalamaras, president of the Federation of Greek Societies, congratulated the society for holding on to their island customs. Theodore Pantelatos spoke with pride on the role of the organization in encouraging youth as a large family. Spyros Milas described the custom of the Robola festival. It is the 13th time it is taking place in New York. A scholarship was granted to Paul Pavlatos through the outstanding efforts of the Rev. Father Gerasimos Ballas and his Presvitera Kyriaki. The young scholar said he would never forget his father’s words to be proud that he is a Kefaloniti. Pavlatos, a 19-year-old college student, is a Black Belt in karate. He is a champion wrestler and plays soccer. He has played the violin for 15 years. Ballas was honored for his unique efforts to promote Hellenism and save the Modern Greek program at the college Pavlatos attends.
Greek-American businessman Gerasimos Stefanitsis founded the Cephalonian Brotherhood of New York 13 years ago. His aim was to preserve and promote his island culture. The Brotherhood organizes a number of events on a yearly basis in order to bring the youth and Cephalonians of the tri-state area closer. The organization is credited with establishing in New York the Robola Celebration every December, honoring the unique wine variety produced exclusively in Cephalonia. About a year ago, another breakthrough came with the establishment of the Cephalonian Brotherhood Youth that added dynamism. A dance group was formed. Excursions and other events brought teenagers and their friends together to forge bonds of friendship. Voula Kavallieratos is Cephalonian Brotherhood Youth president, with Elian Stefanitsis vice president and Petros Stellatos treasurer. Public relations liaisons are Elias Georgatos and Denise Grouzis.
“The youth is our future and we understand that we have the ability to guarantee the promotion of Hellenism and specifically the culture of our beautiful island,” Lourentzatos said.

Cephalonia is a unique island. Lying at the island’s center is the V.Q.P.R.D zone of Robola, where grape growers, with zeal, experience, knowledge and dedication, cultivate vineyards with restricted yields per hectare, on the slopes of Mt. Enos. The fertile red soils on its contours, the weather from the micro-climates the mountain produces, spring and summer sunshine, altitude, geology and even the island’s notorious seismic activity, all combine to create conditions allowing production of superior quality grape varieties.    The Robola Coop’s fine Kefalonian wines include “Robola Of Kefalonia”, “San Gerassimo”, “Bio-Robola”, “Slopes Of Enos”, “Melambus”, “Brillante”, “Linos” and “Glykorogos”, any of which will grace a table on special occasions. Their unique tastes carry colors, flavors and textures, but also the pride of the 301 Coop’s active members who created them. In the Coop’s winery in the Omala valley, located 400 meters from the Convent of St. Gerasimos, the island’s patron saint, the visitors can sample the wines after a short guided tour through the stages of production and vinification and then have the opportunity to purchase wines at factory prices to take home authentic Kefalonian wine gifts.
According to mythology, Cephalus, the son of Hermes, being persecuted by the gods left Athens. After having wandered to many places he finally established himself at a place called “Athenian Land”, which had been a colony of Athens and was located in the middle of the sea, being attacked and harried by pirates, known by the name Televoes. As soon as he set foot on the land, he planted into the soil the vine he had brought along, so that he might be reminded of his homeland. With the course of time “Athenian Land” got the name of ”Thenea Land” and was finally named “Thenia”, while the island he had set foot on was named Cephalonia after him. The original vine he had brought along spread, and its growing occupied the whole island. The grapes developed into various colors such as white, yellow, red, and black, which produced excellent varieties of wine, such as Moshato, Vostilidi, Theniatico, Tsaousi, and above all, the divine wine, “Robola”, the vine of which requires thin soil, cool weather and plenty of sunshine as prerequisites for bearing fruit. The Robola grapes with their delicate flavor, their golden color with a fruit-like taste, have rightfully claimed the name of “Nectar of Immortals” or “the wine of the gods”.    This is the bequest to  Cephalus’ descendants made by the omnipotent Dionysus. Three generations after Cephalus established his settlement, his grandson, Laertis, was born. He later became the father of the king of Ithaca, Ulysses. He really reigned in Ithaca, but virtually became the leader of Cephalonian people. In those days, wine constituted an expensive as well as a much sought after present, capable of contracting new alliances, solving disputes and forging new bonds. In Homeric times, heroes used to drink wine produced in Cephalonia, while Ulysses, using “Maronean” wine, managed to mislead and finally subdue the mythical gigantic Cyclops, Polyphemus, Consequently the famous Robola wine, has survived through the centuries and, being constantly improved, has reached the peak of perfection today. It is being strictly protected by special legislation, as an exceptional wine characterized by its superior quality and origin. The restricted Robola zone consists of seven geographical communities; lying in the southern-central mountainous sector of the island, they offer an ideal soil, with the most favorable climatological conditions. Over the past decade, the establishment of the Robola growers’ cooperative has greatly contributed to the expansion of the area cultivated, giving at the same time impetus to a better quality product. For more information, contact Kefalonian Robola Wine Cooperative Omala Kefalonia P.C. 28100 P.B. 56, Tel: +30 26710 86301, +3026710 86481, +30 26710 24563, fax:+3026710 86481 - Telex: 312606 ROBL, e-mail info@robola.gr.

For more information on the organization and its activities, call 914-472-7828 or e-mail brotherhood@cephalonia.com. For more information about the Cephalonian Brotherhood Youth, call 917-335-4193 or e-mail kefalonianbrotherhoodyouth@gmail.com.