2022 Kir-Yianni Cuvée Villages Xinomavro

Product Description

This is a relatively new cuvée for the estate. 100% Xinomavro in all its red-fruited, tomato-leaf-inflected glory, with a shorter maceration and aging than the winery’s flagship for increased freshness and drinkability.

Kir-Yianni was founded in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris after he left the historic family business – Boutari Wines. A visionary winemaker, Yiannis played a key role in the revival of Greek wine. The estate has championed indigenous varieties long before they gained international acclaim and has been instrumental in defining the potential of the native red Xinomavro.

Today, Kir-Yianni is led by Yiannis’ son, fifth-generation winemaker Stellios Boutaris, who has strengthened Kir-Yianni’s modern reputation through a clear focus on sustainability, site-specific winemaking and continuous research and development.

In recent years, the estate has deepened their environmental commitment by implementing no-tillage farming, composting of pomace, native cover crops, integrated pest management, and using drip irrigation only when necessary. In 2024, Kir-Yianni became the first Greek winery to measure its carbon footprint at both the Naoussa and Amyndeon wineries and joined the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) as a Silver Member, underscoring their pledge to continuous environmental improvement.

Kir-Yianni cultivate vineyards in two regions on the slopes of the Vermio Mountain range: Naoussa and Amyndeon.

Yiannis Boutaris first planted 40 hectares of Xinomavro in 1970, in the Naoussa village of Yiannakohori, at a time when many growers were uprooting vines in favour of more profitable peach orchards. His investment in Naoussa viticulture has paid dividends, and today, Kir-Yianni farms 48 hectares of Xinomavro (50%), Syrah (15%), Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) in the region, 10 of which are certified organic. These hillside vineyards feature a diverse range of aspects, soil types, and elevations reaching up to 280 meters above sea level. Kir-Yianni has mapped them into 42 individual blocks, with each parcel cultivated and vinified separately to achieve maximum precision and expression.

Amyndeon is Greece’s coolest vine-growing region. Kir-Yianni were among the first to explore the region’s poor, sandy soils, which favour fresh, structured Assyrtiko and lifted, elegant expressions of Xinomavro. They now own 54 hectares of vineyards in Amyndeon, planted at 700 metres above sea level and neighbouring a complex of NATURA 2000 protected lakes and mountains. In addition, Kir-Yianni collaborate with over 110 local growers across over 100 hectares in prime areas of the region. Together, they identify and preserve old, ungrafted pre-phylloxera Xinomavro vines across multiple villages in Amyndeon, a project known as “Kali Riza”, or “good root” in Greek.

Naoussa Cuvée Villages is produced from a strict selection of Xinomavro sourced from both the estate’s younger vines and small growers’ parcels across the different villages of the PDO Naoussa zone. The hilly landscape of Naoussa offers remarkable diversity in altitude, slope, soil composition and vineyard orientation, creating a complex mosaic of microclimates. This cuvée serves as an introduction to the richness of the region’s viticultural traditions, while showcasing the character and dynamism of Xinomavro in its heartland terroir.