2023 Douloufakis Aspros Lagos Vidiano, Crete

Douloufakis Aspros Lagos Vidiano from Crete is a refined and deeply expressive white wine made from one of Greece’s most exciting indigenous varieties. Vidiano, often described as the white hope of Cretan wine, thrives in the island’s mountainous vineyards where cooling breezes, limestone soils, and old vines combine to create wines of texture, perfume, and mineral clarity.

The Aspros Lagos vineyard lies at around 400 metres above sea level near the village of Dafnes. Its name means white hare, and its rocky limestone terrain is key to the finesse and structure of this single vineyard expression. Nikos Douloufakis, a third generation winemaker and a leader in the modern renaissance of Cretan wine, crafts this cuvée with meticulous attention to detail. The fruit is hand harvested and fermented in French oak barrels, followed by ageing on lees which brings complexity and texture without overshadowing the natural brightness of the grape.

In the glass, the wine shows aromas of ripe stone fruit, citrus peel, white flowers, and toasted almond. The palate is rich and creamy yet beautifully balanced by acidity and a long saline finish that speaks of the vineyard’s limestone bedrock. There’s a quiet power here, a wine that combines the generosity of Mediterranean sunshine with restraint and elegance.

It pairs beautifully with grilled fish, lemon chicken, or dishes with aromatic herbs like thyme and oregano. Douloufakis Aspros Lagos Vidiano is a shining example of what Crete can deliver—modern, precise, and full of identity.