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Vidiano
White grape variety from Crete


#Vidiano


An old indigenous cultivar, which is also mentioned as "Avidiano". Vines of Vidiano were scattered among other varieties in the old vineyards of Crete. It is a vigorous and productive variety, late-ripening in the Dafnes vineyard and resistant to heat. Vidiano gives us wines with rich, fruity aromas, full body and balanced acidity. The strong points of the wine are its volume, its ageing potential and its suprising evolution over time. Those three characteristics make it unique, since there aren’t many varieties in Greece featuring such qualities.

Grape variety Vidiano from Crete, Greece


The History of the grape variety Vidiano from Crete, GreeceThe Holy Monastery of Panagia Vidiani at Lassithi Plateau.





VINEYARD CULTIVATION
VIDIANO GRAPE VARIETY


It is cultivated mainly in the prefecture of Heraklion but also in the prefecture of Rethymno, in Crete. The total cultivation on the island is about 1500-2000 stremmas of vineyards.
Vidiano prefers moderately fertile soils, calcareous with inclination and good drainage.
In Dafnes area the soil has medium texture and it is characterized as clay loam. It is rich in calcium carbonate in a percentage that exceeds 40%.
The presence of calcium carbonate that neutralizes the acidity of the soil, in connection with the pH that ranges from 7 to 8.5, is ideal for the absorption of most trace elements by the plant.
Calcium carbonate also improves soil structure, ensuring good drainage and good soil temperature. These soil characteristics contribute to the good phenolic and technological ripening of the grapes and therefore to the production of wines with rich structure and volume, intensity in colour and balanced acidity.
Vidiano is resistant to heat and drought, maintaining its aromatic character to an excellent degree.
The vineyards in Dafnes area are located northeast of Psiloritis Mountain, which is the highest of the island, with an altitude 2456m. The relief of the wider area is formed by rolling hills, almost parallel to each other, extending from the northern part of the prefecture to the south at an altitude of 300-500m. The vineyards are planted on the slopes of these hills, east or west oriented.
The elongated valleys that are formed between the hills serve as natural canals, transferring the conducive chilled breeze from Cretan Sea to the center of the prefecture, maintaining the temperature at the slopes at very good levels all around summer. Rainfall is rare during the summer, so plants and grapes avoid virus infections.
Due to this unique microclimate the cultivation of vines in the area is lasting for many centuries and written historical sources can be found since the time of Venetian rule from 11th to 15th century AD.
Moderately resistant variety to downy mildew, but susceptible to powdery mildew and grape berry moth.

CULTIVATION OF CRETAN GREEK VIDIANO GRAPE VARIETY




GRAPES OF VIDIANO VARIETY CRETE GREECE

Regarding the cultivation of Vidiano, we are constantly experimenting and trying to find the best way of pruning. We used to prune in a double Royat cord with a head with 2 eyes, but there has been a non-uniformity in the production, as other heads produce lots of grapes, and others produce none.
Lately, we apply long Guyot pruning, which corrects this imbalance, resulting in controlled production in both quality and quantity.
It is a characteristic of Vidiano to give large productions in the first years, but as the vineyard ages, it balances into smaller productions. The yields per stremma of the variety are high, but in our vineyards, we keep the production up to 1000kgr/stremma.
The weight of the grape is medium to large and the weight of the berry is small. The content of grape sugar is high, while the acid content is moderate to high.
The great advantage of Vidiano in Dafnes is that it fully matures in sugars and aromatic elements, while at the same time it presents a great concentration.
The vineyards of Vidiano cultivar are planted at a density of about 350-400 plants per stremma and are cultivated in linear shapes, at distances of 1.10 m. x 2.5m.



THE VINE DESCRIPTION OF THE VIDIANO VARIETY


Vine sprouting in Spring at Vidiano vineyards

PHENOLOGICAL DATA
OF VIDIANO VARIETY

The soil and the climatic conditions that prevail in each region have a decisive effect on phenols in wines. In Dafnes we have observed in general the following:
• Vegetation: March 10-20
• Full vegetation: In the second 10 days of April
• Flowering beginning - full flowering: May 15-20
• Maturation beginning: In the third 10 days of August – the first 10 days of September

TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUST
OF A FULLY MATURED VIDIANO

• Sugars: 210 - 250g/L
• Total acidity: 6.0 - 7.0 g/L
• Active Acidity pH: 3.2 - 3.4







For a great Vidiano the secret is good maturation!



GREEK LEGISLATION FOR VIDIANO VARIETY

The Vidiano variety belongs to the recommended vinifiable vine varieties in the viticultural department of Crete. Thus, the wines from Vidiano are characterized as CRETE Protected Geographical Indication (Crete PGI).
It also belongs to the permissible vinifiable vine varieties in the regions of North Aegean, Thrace, Macedonia and Peloponnese.

What must a Greek Vidiano wine label write on


How is the taste and aroma, Greek Vidiano wine


 

DOULOUFAKIS WINES FROM VIDIANO VARIETY


Dafnios White wine from Vidiano grape variety
Dafnios White
  • 100 % Vidiano
  • Dry wine
  • Tank vinification
Aspros Lagos White wine from Vidiano grape variety
Aspros Lagos White
  • 100 % Vidiano
  • Dry wine
  • Barrel fermentation
Sparkling wine from Cretan Vidiano grape variety
Sparkling Douloufakis
  • 100 % Vidiano
  • Sparkling wine
  • Champenoise Method
Amphora Vidiano wine from Vidiano grape variety
Amphora Vidiano
  • 100 % Vidiano
  • Natural wine
  • Clay amphora vinification


SERVING VIDIANO
As in all white wines, Vidiano is served cool. The best temperature range is 9-12⁰C.


PAIRING VIDIANO WITH FOOD
The food suggestions are correct only if we take into consideration the special character of each wine.





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DOULOUFAKIS WINES
FROM CRETE, GREECE