We set off early in the morning from ena, winding along the road that follows the bed of the Kosynthos River towards Stavroupoli. The surrounding winter landscape was dotted with stone bridges that transport you back in time.
Ο Nikos Charalambogiannis took on the roles of driver and guide, sharing information about the region and the surrounding mountain peaks. An experienced mountaineer himself and originally from Dafnona, he knows the area very well.
A few kilometers past Stavroupoli, on the northern slopes of the Nestos valley, at the foothills of the Rhodope mountain range and at an altitude of 110–130 meters, we visited Passas Winery, owned by Kyriakos Papadopoulos. A family business that, since 2016, has been producing quality wines with love and expertise on its privately owned vineyard in Stavrochori, Xanthi. Kyriakos welcomed us with a broad smile and a warm “welcome.”
Η ομάδα του Αναπτυξιακού ΝόμουThe Development Law team immediately got to work. Giannis opened the investment file, and together with Nikos and Kyriakos, began inspecting and documenting the winery’s machinery and equipment to ensure everything was in perfect order before the on-site expense certification audit by the Development Law inspectors.
Winemaking equipment, tanks, pallet crates, label printers, grape presses, and much more were checked and photographed one by one. “Priorities,” smiled the Development Law team. “Soon it will be Marketing’s turn,” we replied.
Soon, a winter storm hit, and Kyriakos led us to a sheltered area with wooden tables and chairs, decorated with traditional tools and a lit wood stove in the center. There, we were welcomed by Kyriakos’s son, Giorgos, who introduced us to Mavra Nera, the signature label series of Passas Winery, for the much-anticipated wine tasting.
The labels of Passas Winery encapsulate more than 14 years of experience in quality winemaking. Combined with the Papadopoulos family’s passion and dedication, they give life to the distinctive Mavra Nera wines.
The first Passas Winery vineyards were planted in 2007. They are linear and currently cover an area of 50 stremmata (about 12.35 acres). The idea of winemaking and wine production gradually emerged in 2015. Kyriakos, a tobacco and apple grower, decided to plant vineyards in an area where vineyards had existed 100 years ago but had nearly disappeared by 2007.
In 2015, with the help of an oenologist, the first wines were produced, confirming the work of Kyriakos and Giorgos.
“Joy, love, and passion are enough to create. Dreams have no limits, ever,” Kyriakos adds, continuing:
“So we started the winemaking, we liked the product, and began planning where to go next. Our main focus is on local varieties, working with Mavroudi. But also Greek varieties, like Vidiano and Assyrtiko. We also work with international varieties like Syrah, and we plan to plant new vineyards with the Papaskara (or Karapapas) variety, a Thracian grape.”
Passas Winery continuously invests in research and development through experimentation. They keep experimenting with both international and Greek varieties such as Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Vidiano to assess their performance in the local soil and microclimate.
The unique soil morphology of the company’s vineyards helps improve soil drainage and the spread of the vine root systems. The region’s climate is continental, with large temperature differences between summer and winter, and a wide daily temperature range (significant fluctuations between day and night).
“The soil where we planted the vines is full of water. You sink with the tractor. Between the vines, we dug underground drainage channels. To plant the vines, we dug channels, put stone on top, then geotextile fabric, soil, and then planted the vines. All our vines are covered on top to protect them from weather conditions.”
How was the “Mavra Nera” label name chosen and where does the name Passas come from?
“We chose the name Mavra Nera for our label to honor our land because the Nestos River, where our vineyards are located, is known as ‘kara su,’ meaning black water,” Giorgos explains.
The story behind the name Passas dates back to the population exchanges. Grandpa Papadopoulos came to the Nestos valley area from Paphra in Pontus. His sister called him by the nickname Passas because he was older than her. Back then, that was a term of respect. This nickname was passed down through generations, and people in the area where I was born know me as Passas, not Papadopoulos,” Kyriakos explains.
The “Mavra Nera” wines, bottled and marketed since 2019, include: White Dry (Sauvignon Blanc 70% – Assyrtiko 30%), Rosé Semi-sweet (Syrah 60% – Mavroudi 40%), Rosé Dry (Syrah 60% – Mavroudi 40%), and Red Dry (Syrah 60% – Mavroudi 40%).
The conversation continues as we taste the Mavra Nera wines, when the door opens and the winery’s oenologist, Giannis Dimakis, joins us. He explains from his perspective what makes the labels of Passas Winery stand out:
"The grape varieties we use produce different results depending on where they’re planted. So, Mavra Nera, because of the location of the vineyards, develops that distinct aroma and unique taste. Our goal is to use local varieties and natural yeasts that exist in the area’s microclimate. In addition, Mavra Nera wines are certified vegan. When wine is young, it’s naturally cloudy, so clarifying agents are used. The ones used by Passas Winery are all certified for vegan use."
"The grape varieties we use produce different results depending on where they’re planted. So, Mavra Nera, because of the location of the vineyards, develops that distinct aroma and unique taste. Our goal is to use local varieties and natural yeasts that exist in the area’s microclimate. In addition, Mavra Nera wines are certified vegan. When wine is young, it’s naturally cloudy, so clarifying agents are used. The ones used by Passas Winery are all certified for vegan use."
The owners of the business express their complete satisfaction with their collaboration with the members of ena’s Development Law team (Nikos Charalampogiannis, Giannis Kaltsas, Dimitris Firbas) and wholeheartedly recommend ena Development Consultants as the ideal partner.
Ultimately, what makes Mavra Nera so special is a combination of factors, George tells us. “It’s the vineyards, the climate, the philosophy behind it, and the fact that it’s a family business — father and son. To reach the final product, it has to go through three people. Our wine isn’t produced by machines, but by human hands. Mavra Nera is our wine. It’s our way of expressing ourselves.”
Future plans for Passas Winery include the creation of a distillery, the cultivation of new grape varieties, and the expansion of the business into new markets. Mavra Nera wines can currently be enjoyed at selected restaurants and mini markets in the regions of Xanthi and Komotini.
We wholeheartedly encourage you to try them—cheers!
On our way back to ena, we realized how important it is for remote villages like Stavrochori to have active entrepreneurs such as Kyriakos and Giorgos Papadopoulos — individuals who breathe new life into the region.
On our way back to ena, we realized how vital it is for remote villages like Stavrochori to have active entrepreneurs such as Kyriakos and Giorgos Papadopoulos—individuals who breathe new life into their communities.
Contributing to the creation of our 14th Business Story were members of ena Development Consultants' Investment Law team, Nikos Charalampogiannis and Giannis Kaltsas.
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