VOURVOUKELI ESTATE
This small family-owned winery from northern Greece has restored the legendary vineyard of Avdira, famous since ancient times. Vouvoukeli wines are made of indigenous and international grapes and show an authentic Greek character, while offering a great value.
About Vourvoukeli
The Vourvoukeli Winery was founded by Nikos and Flora Vourvoukeli in 1999, in the area of Avdira, in Thrace (northern Greece). Nikos’ grandparents used to own a winery and he had grown up surrounded by vineyards. Therefore, wine had always been his passion. While working as a doctor, he had a dream of reviving the famous winemaking area of Avdira and making wine under the Vourvoukeli label.
Wine has been made in Avdira since ancient times. In the Byzantine era, Avdira, along with the region of Maronia, constituted one of the vineyards of Byzantium and it was here that the celebrated Pamiti wine was produced. At the end of the 19th century the vineyard was destroyed by phylloxera and the locals turned to tobacco cultivation. Refugees from East Thrace and Asia Minor settling in the area planted small family vineyards here, but those were also destroyed in the 1960’s. From that time to the 1990’s there was no viticulture in the area.
From Vines to Wines
With a vision to restore Avdira to its former glory, Nikos and Flora planted 2 hectares of native and international grapes. The first Vourvoukeli wine was bottled in 2001 at a nearby winery. Further on, in 2005, they built their own modern winery, a step which took the quality of Vourvoukeli wine to a new level. As a result of the hard work of the whole family, the Vourvoukeli vineyard gradually grew into a 12-hectare parcel. Nowadays, the Vourvoukeli family have reverted to organic viticulture. Unfortunately, Nikos Vourvoukeli, the estate founder, passed away in 2014. Today, Nikos’ sons, Giorgos and Odysseas, who are both qualified oenologists, continue their father’s legacy. Their mother Flora helps helps her sons in their daily tasks. Vouvoukeli wines are made of indigenous and international grapes and show an authentic Greek character, while offering a great value.
