Sometimes a journey begins long before you know you’re making it.

Two years ago, my wife ordered a glass of Greek wine in a restaurant in Sweden. It was Ramnista, produced by Kir-Yianni in Naoussa. She was immediately captivated. Rich and full-bodied, yet elegant, it had a depth unlike anything she’d tasted before. Her first comment was that it seemed to carry the very soil it grew in.

Curious, she looked up the producer.

To her surprise, the winery turned out to be only about an hour’s drive from our family home in northern Greece.

Two years later, we finally drove through the gates of the Kir-Yianni estate.

Nestled among rolling vineyards on the slopes of Mount Vermio, the winery enjoys spectacular views across the Macedonian countryside, the mountains as well as the nearby municipal capital town of Naoussa. The setting alone is worth the visit, but we had come to learn more about the wines that had sparked our curiosity.

As we had to drive back to the village, we limited ourselves to a single glass after the tour. But that did not disappoint and instead left us trying to plan our next visit.

One thing that surprised me was how approachable the experience felt. There was no pressure to already know about wine. Questions were welcomed, and the guide explained everything in a way that made the process easy to understand.

After the tour we settled into the restaurant overlooking the vineyards and sampled two of their wines. Tasting them in the very landscape where the grapes had grown somehow made the experience richer. Whether that’s chemistry or psychology, I’ll leave for others to decide.

Whatever the reason, we enjoyed it enough to leave with a full case of bottles, including Ramnista, Naoussa and The Fallen Oak.

We’re still far from wine connoisseurs, but that’s perhaps the point. You don’t need years of study to appreciate visiting a vineyard. You only need curiosity—and maybe one memorable glass of wine that starts the journey.

Would we recommend a visit? Absolutely. You don’t need to be a wine expert to enjoy the experience—we certainly aren’t. The guided tour is informative without being overwhelming, the setting is beautiful, and the restaurant provides an excellent opportunity to sample the wines, while overlooking the vineyards.

If you’re looking for a relaxed introduction to Greek wine, Kir-Yianni is an excellent choice. Whether you’re already a wine enthusiast or simply curious, the estate offers a welcoming experience in a beautiful setting overlooking the vineyards of Naoussa.

• Location: Yiannakochori, near Naoussa, Central Macedonia
• Founded: 1997
• Signature grape: Xinomavro
• Best-known wine: Ramnista
• Our visit: Guided tour, wine tasting, restaurant, winery shop

🌐 Official website

📷 Instagram (@kiryianni)

📍 Google Maps