Important people’s legacies are often allowed to wither on the vine after their passing. While in life they may have been distinguished for the creativity and accomplishment of significant initiatives, these good works tend to end with them. This was not the case with Yiannis Boutaris (1942-2024), who made sure that a life dedicated to his vineyards – among many other pursuits – would always bear fruit. Now, after his passing, his sons, Stellios and Michalis, have revived one of his favorite passion projects.

On Sunday, November 9, they will be inaugurating a novel initiative, a wine library, at a listed building that was the Boutaris family’s winery and residence in the early 20th century, at 17 Hatzimaloui Street in Naousa, northern Greece. It has been baptized BIBON and is a part of the network of the Veria Central Public Library. A multifaceted space, it will be dedicated to study, research, education and interaction, offering access to specialized books and journals, a reading room, electronic resources and databases.

BIBON’s initial collection includes donations from respected oenologist Dr Stavroula Kourakou-Dragona and from Yiannis Boutaris, as well as archival material from Kir-Yianni and Boutari wineries. The goal is to continuously enrich the collection, while work will also begin on the first Digital Wine Library, featuring material (archives, labels, objects, photographs, etc) contributed by local producers.

Boutaris had often expressed regret about the fact that the history of wine in Greece was largely confined to the memories and conversations of winemakers and viticulturists, and that, although the country has been making wine since ancient times, no repository had ever been established to connect theory with practice. This is where BIBON comes in, designed to serve as a bridge between the rich history and the sustainable future of Greek wine.

The roots of the project lie in an encounter between Yiannis Boutaris and Yiannis Trohopoulos, the man responsible for the resounding success of the Veria Municipal Library and of the Future Library, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the collections of libraries all across the country. Many other parts of the world have libraries dedicated to wine, of course, with Bordeaux being the most obvious, but a similar effort had never been made in Greece.

While rooted in the past and in this rich wine-growing region, BIBON will also be very much attuned to the future, where climate change looms large as one of the biggest threats to vineyards. Its effects are already being felt worldwide, as well as in Greece’s own wine-producing regions, such as Santorini.

BIBON, therefore, aspires to serve as a space where science can also find a welcoming home for the collection of data, and the organization of conferences and workshops. Yet its ultimate goal is to become a vibrant hub for the people of Naousa, of all ages, as well as for visitors to Imathia and everyone who loves wine.

Originally published in Greek at kathimerini.gr