14 September 2024

BREAKING NEWS: Ktima Alpha Acquires Boutari Winery in Santorini

By Yiannis Karakasis MW

Significant developments in the Greek wine scene signal the beginning of a new chapter for wine production and development in the country. Ktima Alpha, one of Greece's top wineries, awarded three consecutive times in the 50 Great Greek Wines, announced on Friday the acquisition of the historic Boutari Winery in Santorini from Premia Properties, which had owned the winery in recent years. The agreement was finalised on September 13, 2024, for an undisclosed amount of money.

The acquisition comes after lengthy negotiations and fulfils the estate's long-standing desire to have a presence in the country's premier wine region. According to the press release, this is a decisive move that extends Ktima Alpha's activities into two of Greece's most renowned wine production areas, PDO Amyndeo and PDO Santorini and opens a new chapter in the Greek and international wine scene.

"We are viticulturists, and we like challenges," commented Angelos Iatridis (pictured below with Makis Mavridis), winemaker and co-owner of the estate, during our communication, adding that there is a plan for the productive restructuring of the island. A concise yet substantial statement describing the challenge Santorini is called to meet.

Despite its challenges in recent harvests, Santorini remains a unique and globally recognised wine region. Its allure continues to attract prominent names in the Greek wine industry, such as Ktima Alpha, the third estate from northern Greece to operate on the island, following Ktima Kir-Yianni and Biblia Chora. In recent years, efforts from wineries in central Greece and the Peloponnese, such as Ktima Avantis and Tselepos, respectively, have also been noted.

However, the acquisition marks the end of a chapter for the Boutari Winery, a historic establishment founded in 1989. With its immense contributions to Santorinian wine, the winery served as a benchmark for the island, producing iconic labels such as Kallisti and Kallisti Reserve. The Boutari Winery's role was pivotal in establishing Santorini as a top wine destination in Greece and worldwide, also paving the way for new generations of winemakers.