Yiannis Karakasis MW is part of the select group of roughly 400 Masters of Wine worldwide, holding the wine world’s most respected title. A writer, consultant and educator, he has played a leading role in raising the international profile of Greek wine.

He is the founder of Great Greek Wines. This pioneering communication platform has helped reshape the global perception of Greek wine, presenting its varieties, producers, and regions with a contemporary and dynamic approach.

He also founded FIRST GROWTH, a WSET Approved Programme Provider in Limassol, Cyprus, offering certified courses for both professionals and enthusiasts. In parallel, he serves as wine director for major hospitality and restaurant groups.

Karakasis is a member of the technical committee of the Symposium of Mediterranean Wines, co-organiser of Selene Vedema, and a regional ambassador for the Old Vine Conference. His publishing work includes an extensive series of digital books, the annual e-guide “Greek Wine Explained,” and “The Wines of Santorini”—long-listed for the Andre Simon Awards—which helped cement Santorini’s status as one of the world’s most compelling terroirs.