Friends, political leaders including the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as other political party leaders, and all those who knew him personally or through his work will pay their respects.

The body of Giannis Boutaris will be displayed in the courtyard of the City Hall for the public to say goodbye, after which it will be cremated, according to his wishes. He had fought for the establishment of a crematorium in Thessaloniki throughout his tenure.

The iconic politician, businessman, and oenologist passed away at the age of 82, leaving behind a rich legacy. During his nine years as mayor (2011-2019), Boutaris reshaped the face of the city and gained broad acceptance for his bold initiatives in culture, tourism, and social policy.

Widely known as “Kyrios Giannis,” he became beloved for his unconventional personality and his willingness to openly discuss his struggles. Those who stood by him for years say he never held back his words, and he always stood up for his views with passion, which sometimes led to conflicts, but also battles that he won “bravely.”

“Visionary, charismatic, pioneering, unconventional, Giannis Boutaris is the history and inspiration behind the renaissance of Greek wine. And much more. An inexhaustible force of nature who went by the simple name of Kyrios Giannis. He will always be in our hearts,” said his family’s announcement.

“I lived it, I savored it… Goodbye!”

His famous quotes were poignant… “I lived it, I savored it… Goodbye!” and “History will judge whether I was a good mayor for Thessaloniki.” These were his words in the last interviews he gave to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, shortly before making his final decision not to run for a third term as mayor, and just before packing up his office to hand over to his successor, Konstantinos Zervas.

Though he admitted that moving out caused him irritation, he never regretted his decision not to run again, believing that his nine years in office brought “recognition” to the city thanks to its “unconventional” mayor. “Everyone started talking about the city, and there were publications about it,” he said.

Among the memorable meetings he had during his two terms were with German Ambassador Jens Plotner, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, historian Mark Mazower, and British bestselling author Victoria Hislop.

His Political Career

Giannis Boutaris was born on June 13, 1942, in Thessaloniki. A chemical engineer by education and a certified oenologist, he followed in his family’s winemaking tradition, founding “I. Boutaris & Sons” in 1879. He later established his own company, “Kyrios Giannis,” in 1996.

His political career began in 2002 when he became a city councilor with the combination of Agapios Sahinis. In 2006, he led the independent initiative “Protoporia for Thessaloniki,” and in 2010 was elected mayor with a narrow margin of 329 votes.

As mayor, he focused on boosting the city’s international presence and tourism, advocating for social issues like the country’s stay in the Eurozone during the 2015 crisis and the Prespa Agreement in 2018.

He decided not to run for mayor again in 2018, and after his tenure, he remained involved in politics as a councilor.

His admission of alcohol dependency and its end

He publicly confessed that during the 1980s he suffered from severe alcoholism, claiming that he had not consumed alcohol since 1991.

“The mechanism of addiction is the same for all substances. The addict wants to escape reality, tries everything, and whatever works for him, it doesn’t matter what type,” he described in an excerpt from his book Sixty Years of Harvest.

His last partner

He had a 13-year relationship with the Austrian Gabriela Seiner, with whom he separated in 2015. In June 2018, at the age of 76, he signed a cohabitation agreement with his then-partner Maria, which was dissolved in October 2020.

A Legacy of Environmentalism and Humanitarian Work

Giannis Boutaris also became a renowned environmental advocate, founding the organization “Arktouros” in 1992 to protect wildlife. His legacy is intertwined with his commitment to the environment and his efforts to make Thessaloniki a more cosmopolitan city.

Tributes from Political Figures

President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have both expressed their condolences. Sakellaropoulou described him as a pioneering mayor who turned Thessaloniki into a globally recognized city. Mitsotakis referred to him as a “noble citizen” and a “gentleman of everyday life.”

A Life Lived Fully

Giannis Boutaris will always be remembered for his unwavering dedication to Thessaloniki, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his bold, unconventional approach to politics. His life’s work has left a lasting impact on the city and its people.