Papadopoulos Viticulture: Reviving the Historic Vineyards of Rapsani

Papadopoulos Viticulture is a family-run winery in Rapsani PDO, one of Greece's most historic wine regions, located on the slopes of Mount Olympus. Founded in 2015 by brothers Dimitris and Nikos Papadopoulos, the winery is dedicated to restoring old vineyard parcels and showcasing the unique character of Rapsani through minimal-intervention winemaking.

The vineyards of Rapsani

Rapsani is a mountain wine region in northern Greece, where vineyards climb the slopes of Mount Olympus.

The combination of altitude, diverse soils and cooling breezes from the Aegean Sea creates conditions for wines with freshness, structure and a distinctive sense of place.

For Papadopoulos Viticulture, restoring old vineyard parcels is central to the project. The brothers work with old vines and traditional vineyard sites, helping to preserve the viticultural heritage of this historic region.

The traditional Rapsani blend

One of the most distinctive things about Rapsani is that its red wines are traditionally made from a blend of three indigenous Greek varieties:

Xinomavro, Krassato and Stavroto.

Xinomavro is the best known of the three and one of Greece's most important red grapes, known for its high acidity, firm tannins and savoury character.

Krassato and Stavroto complete the traditional Rapsani blend, contributing fruit, colour, structure and balance.

Together, the three varieties create wines that are unmistakably linked to their mountain origins.

Papadopoulos Rapsani

The Papadopoulos Rapsani is a beautiful introduction to the region and its traditional blend.

Made from the classic Rapsani combination of Xinomavro, Krassato and Stavroto, it captures the freshness and savoury character that makes wines from this mountain appellation so distinctive.

It's a wine with enough structure to work alongside hearty food, but the mountain freshness keeps it energetic rather than heavy. Think grilled meats, slow-cooked dishes, mushrooms, tomato-based stews and the rich flavours of northern Greek cuisine.

Old vines and minimal intervention

Papadopoulos Viticulture's approach in the cellar is deliberately hands-off. The wines are made using spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, minimal sulphur and minimal intervention, allowing the character of the vineyards and varieties to remain at the centre of the wine.

This approach is particularly interesting in Rapsani, where the combination of old vines, altitude and traditional varieties already gives the wines a strong sense of identity.

Rather than trying to make the wines taste like something from elsewhere, the aim is to preserve what makes them distinctly Rapsani.

Preserving Rapsani's viticultural heritage

The Papadopoulos project is also about more than making wine.

The brothers work alongside experienced local growers whose families have farmed these vineyards for generations, helping to maintain the knowledge and traditions associated with the slopes of Mount Olympus.

In a region where old vineyard parcels can easily be lost, restoring and continuing to work these sites is an important part of preserving Rapsani's identity. For me, this is one of the most compelling aspects of the wines: they aren't simply expressions of a grape variety, but of a place, a traditional blend and generations of viticultural knowledge.

Why Papadopoulos Viticulture?

Papadopoulos Viticulture represents exactly the kind of producer I look for at Pale Ruby Wine.

It's small-scale, rooted in its region and focused on indigenous varieties, old vines and minimal-intervention winemaking.

Rapsani is still relatively unfamiliar to many UK wine drinkers, despite having one of Greece's most distinctive wine identities. Bringing these wines to the UK is an opportunity to introduce people to a part of Greek wine that sits far beyond the better-known regions and grapes.

And if you're interested in discovering more of Greece's indigenous varieties and lesser-known wine regions, the Greek Wine Discovery Case brings together six bottles chosen to showcase the diversity of Greek wine. Or if you prefer minimal intervention wines, check out the Greek Natural Wine Case.

Discover Papadopoulos Viticulture

I'm proud to import Papadopoulos Viticulture to the UK, giving you the opportunity to discover wines from one of Greece's most exciting small producers.

Shop Papadopoulos wines.

Start with Papadopoulos Rapsani and discover the traditional blend of Xinomavro, Krassato and Stavroto from the slopes of Mount Olympus.

For more on the region and its signature grape, explore Xinomavro: Greece's Noble Red Grape.

Old vines. Indigenous grapes. Mountain vineyards. A wine with a genuine sense of place.

Shop Papadopoulos wines