Douloufakis Vidiano Dafnios

A great example and expression of a wine made by a local variety that was to be extinct but was revived by the Douloufakis and Alexakis families in Crete. Spring like aromas followed by crisp textures and citrus flavors.

The Vidiano Dafnios is unoaked and comes in at 13.5% alcohol. Vidiano on Crete is definitely becoming “a thing” at this point. The train’s already left the station. There’s no rush, though. I’ve saved room for you on board. This fine bargain is precise and crisp, with a fruity edge that always turns dry. It’s not even a little bit fat or sweet. It’s very elegant. Fresh, lifted, precise and lovely, this is pretty hard to resist now, but I won’t be surprised if it improves for a couple of years and lasts well for several years after that. Let’s be conservative at the moment, but it should hold nicely. It still drinks well now.

Douloufakis Winery is widely recognized in Greece for its excellence in traditional wine making but with a focus on the future.

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, now runs the winery carrying on his grandfather’s traditional practices but with modern equipment in a new facility.

The privately owned vineyards are certified 100% organic and span over 70 acres reaching 1,800 feet elevation in Dafnes, a village close to Iraklio. This region has a long history in viticulture and also has been established as a Protected Designation of Origin for Liatiko wines. In addition to the natural choice of Liatiko, Nikolas grows other indigenous varieties such as Kotsifali, Vilana, Vidiano, along with other international varieties such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay.