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Shop › Boutari
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The company I. Boutaris & Son SA, founded by Ioannis Boutaris in 1879, launched its career with a wine so successful that it was to become a legend in the history of Greek wine: Naoussa Boutari - a bottled Greek red wine, one of the first of its kind at that time on the Greek market and a remarkably bold undertaking. The public appreciated the quality and novelty of the company’s product and received it warmly. Naoussa Boutari rightfully acquired the title of ‘king’ of Greek wines - a worthy forerunner in the long line of other fine wines the company would go on to produce. In 1906 the company acquired its first winery and cellars, at 35 Zafeiraki St. These premises have been restored and declared a listed building. Company headquarters had already been established in Thessaloniki, at 75 Solomou St. In 1935 Stelios Boutaris, took over from his father Ioannis, bringing youthful energy and new ideas to the already well- established business. His vision for the company extended beyond the frontiers of Greece and Boutaris wines now began to make their way into foreign markets (Austria, Hungary and Egypt were among the first) where the original Naoussa Boutari, as well as the company’s newer products were appreciated and enjoyed. Stelios Boutaris left an indelible stamp on Greek winemaking in the post-war period: he extended the company’s activities to Athens and to many European countries. He opened the company’s second winery in Naoussa, at 2 Vryssakiou St. Born into a family dedicated to the business of wine production, he was also gifted with brilliant commercial acumen and ideas often far in advance of his time. It was Stelios Boutaris who made the company the undisputed leader in the Greek market, its products known the length and breadth of the country. In the late 1960's his two sons, Yannis and Konstantinos Boutaris, took over the reins, building on the achievements of their father and grandfather to expand and develop the company even further. This was the time when the Naoussa vineyards were menaced by the disease phylloxera. Determined to treat the danger as a challenge, the two brothers decided that the company should embark on the cultivation of its own vines - a great turning point in the company’s history, second only to the original decision to bottle the Boutaris wines. Turning once again to innovation and development, the company now entered on a period of great investment, purchasing its own vineyards and equipment and investing in a properly trained and skilled workforce. The year 1967 saw the opening of the Boutaris Winery at Stenimachos, Naoussa, still the heart of the company’s wine production. It was around this time, too, that the necessary framework was put in place for the production of Greek VDQS wines. The Boutaris company was the first to establish vineyards dedicated to the production of Vins De Qualite Superieure, paying particular attention to the cultivation of Greek varieties of grape. Thus the company’s viticultural activities extended to Goumenissa, Santorini, Paros, Nemea, Crete and Mantineia. At the same time it established the first wineries at the site of its own vineyards in selected vine-growing areas of Greece. The Boutaris wineries are all provided with the latest in winemaking equipment. They play an active part not just in the viticultural life of their region, but also in its social, economic and cultural development. Moreover, the Boutaris company was the first to encourage the involvement of the general public in guided tours of the wineries, allowing visitors to watch the wine-making process, to see the cellars and vineyards and to watch multi-media shows dedicated to the world of wine thus making a visit to the winery a rich aesthetic and cultural experience. During the 1980's the Research and Development arm of the company eagerly followed international developments in the field, experimenting with the cultivation of foreign varieties of grape and producing limited editions of the new series known as Peiramatika Boutari - experimental wines. This initiative was warmly received by the consumer and led to the production in larger quantities of the more successful of the experimental series of wines. These, known as the Poikiliaka, are a superb combination of Greek and foreign varieties of grape. Meanwhile, the company’s investment in new wineries, vineyards and oenological research had established the necessary infrastructure and the company was ready to market wines from its own vines - the range known as Ktimata Boutari - the Boutaris Estates. The company’s overall strategy for development led to the decision to branch out into other areas of the bererages market. For example: Collaboration with multi-national companies producing alcoholic beverages (United Distillers Boutaris 1989-1993). Purchase of a majority shareholding in the traditional wine and beverages company Andreas Kambas - one of the few Greek wine-producers actually older than the Boutaris company (1991). Expansion into the brewing market with the purchase of Henninger Hellas SA (now known as MYTHOS ZYTHOPOIIA SA). In 1997 the company launched a new brand of beer under the name MYTHOS - and indeed, it rapidly acquired the status of a myth among connoisseurs of fine beer (1992). The importing and exclusive marketing of products from top foreign wine and beverage producers - companies like Antinori from Italy, Montes from Chile and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin from France. Today the Boutaris Winery is fully integrated into the Boutaris Group (a holding company listed on the Athens Stock Exchange). Following the departure of Yannis Boutaris, it is managed by Konstantinos Boutaris, Chairman of the company and of the Boutaris Group. Since 1995 the fifth generation of the family has taken its place in the business. Marina Boutari, daughter of Konstantinos is now playing an energetic role in the company as Director of Corporate Communication. It was the quality, dynamism and prospects of the Boutaris company which, in 1999, played a key role in the decision of a group of institutional investors, led by the company Venture Capital GLOBAL FINANCE, to increase the share capital of the company - assisting it to continue its dynamic growth and development both here and abroad. Reinforced by the personal vision of Konstantinos Boutaris - a staunch defender of the company’s traditions as well as the inspiration behind many of the most decisive and successful changes in the company’s history - the business continues to pursue ambitious goals, and the strategy adopted to attain these objectives is being fully vindicated by continuing success. The objectives of international growth, high quality and innovation are attained through an approach which never ignores the human factor. It is this focusing on the human perspective which lies at the heart of the Boutaris company’s mission as it embarks on the challenge of the new millennium. Filιria Estate is located in the Commune of Filyria in the Prefecture of Kilkis. Namely, it lies on the boundary dividing the Commune of Filyria from the Prefecture of Pella. The overall surface area of the estate amounts to 15 acres, of which 13.5 are covered by vines, planted on gentle inclines ranging in height from 171 to 187 metres above sea level. The Goumenissa wine-producing district is one of the smallest districts in Greece but has a long tradition in viticulture. The Filyria Estate was purchased by the Boutari company at the end of the 1980's, and, together with the operations of the Boutari Winery in Goumenissa has spearheaded the expansion of viticulture in Goumenissa. Planting commenced in 1991 over a small area of 2.5 acres and the rest of the estate was planted in 1992. It is one of the most densely planted vineyards in the area, with more than 1,600 plants per acre. The vines are laid out in a two-sided royat linear pattern with 3-4 fruit-bearing branches per vine. The Xinomavro & Negosca varieties that were planted in the vineyard are used to produce a high-quality wine with “Appellation d’origine de Qualite Superieure”, Domaine Filιria. The Research & Development department has also made experimental plantings of Agiorghitiko and Cabernet Sauvignon. The cultivation of the vine at the Filiria Estate is adapted to the rules of organic farming. Visit the Boutari website. |
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All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
