From: Crete, Greece
Varietal: Vidiano
Taste & Critical Acclaim: This is the only Vidiano wine I’ve had, so I included a few other tasting notes, plus a blurb from the winery, below. My impression of this wine was that it leaned more into texture than aroma, and though it had a medium to full body, it felt fresh, well-balanced, and food-friendly. Notes of beachy citrus meet stone fruits like white peach and just-ripe apricot alongside pear, honeysuckle, and an undercurrent of fresh herbs. You'll find a new love here if you know and love high-quality French Viognier, Albariño, Grillo, or Assyrtiko.
“Their Vidiano explodes with aromas of white flowers, herbs, pears, citrus and wet rocks. The palate is medium bodied, citrusy, herbal with ripe pear and a slightly bitter, mineral, long finish. For lovers of Assyrtiko and Albarino. Serve with pork roast with leeks or octopus with chickpeas and peppers.” Giselle Hamburg
“Pale golden colour. Peach and apricot aromas are dominant and quince traces. There are floral notes of chamomile, jasmine and herbs. Rich flavour with the same dominant aromas. On the palate well-balanced acidity, full-bodied with a fine finish.” - Winery
WE 91 pt Douloufakis 2021 Dafnios Vidiano, Crete, Greece
“From an esteemed Cretan winery comes this lemon-colored Vidiano, an ancient, near-extinct indigenous grape revitalized by historically minded producers like Douloufakis. It has bold lychee and cantaloupe aromas, followed by citrus and floral notes on the medium-bodied palate. Aged entirely in stainless steel, this food-friendly wine has a crisp, acidic finish.” — Emily Saladino
Pairing: Grilled, baked, or fried white fish, seafood pasta (clam linguine!), fish stews like bouillabaisse or Greek Fisherman’s Stew, souvlaki (check out the recipe below), herb-marinated, grilled swordfish or swordfish piccata, creamy chickpea pasta with spinach and rosemary, and so much more. This is an easy pick for picnic fare, too, and will be just as at home with fried chicken and potato salad or ham and cheese sandwiches.
Souvlaki
By Lidey Heuck
Published Oct. 18, 2023
About. In 1930, Dimitris Douloufakis became one of the first winemakers in Crete to produce wines professionally in his traditional, old winery. A consistent award winner, Dimitris's grandson, Nikolas, who received his oenology degree from the university at Alba, now runs the winery carrying on his grandfather's traditional practices but with more modern equipment and facilities.
This region has a long history in viticulture and has been established as a Protected Designation of Origin for Liatiko wines. The average altitude is about 300 meters above sea level. In addition to the natural choice of Liatiko, Nikolas grows other Cretan indigenous varieties such as Kotsifali, Vilana, and Vidiano, along with other international varieties such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Nikolas also cultivates a host of international varieties (including Barbera and Sangiovese) on an experimental basis, but the focus here is on native varieties.
The privately owned vineyards are certified 100% organic and span over 70 acres of rolling hills in the Dafnes sub-region, a village close to Iraklio in Crete. The organic fever that is sweeping the world leaves Nikolas bemused. He says, "Crete has an advantage in transitioning to natural cultivation – we never adopted unnatural methods. The only obstacle I face in getting certification is the certification fee."
Farming Practice: Practicing Organic
This wine. Vidiano is an ancient Cretan variety that was fading into extinction before being revived by young winemakers like Nikolas and the Alexakis brothers. Dafnios is the adjectival form of Dafnes, the hometown and principal appellation of the family. (The town's name is a reference to the laurel tree.) 100% Vidiano made entirely in steel. Vidiano Dafnios is unoaked and dry and comes in at 13 % alcohol. This has a beautiful purity of fruit, a sense of elegance, and a fresh feel. The finish is long, tasty, and delicious. At the price point, you can't go wrong.
About the varietal, Vidiano from Wines of Greece.
