Mavrodaphni of Patra, Kourtaki 75cl

Producer: Greek Wine Cellars

Grape variety: Mavrodaphne

Winemaker: Vassilis Pyrovolakis

Agent: Adel UK Ltd

Vinification: The grapes are harvested in August and sun-dried before pressing. Normal fermentation takes place and is arrested by the addition of a small quantity of grape spirit. This kills the yeast and thereby preserves the sugar content (at 130 gms/lit). The wine is then aged in oak barrels for a minimum of one year using a ‘solera' system

History: Mavrodaphne of Patras is a traditional wine of Greece. It is made from grape varieties unique to Greece. The wine was first made famous by Gustav Clauss, a Bavarian, who came to Greece with the Bavarian prince, Otto, who was offered the Crown of Greece in the 1830s. In 1864 the Mavrodaphne was introduced - so called in memory of Gustav's fiancee, a black-haired Greek girl called Daphne, who had died before they were able to be married. In the succeeding 150 years it has become a famed wine of Greece.

Regional information: The Mavrodaphne wine possesses a Protected Designation of Origin - Patras. It originates from vineyards on the low hills and lower slopes of the Peloponnesian mountains surrounding the city of Patras, from which it takes its full name, Mavrodaphne of Patras. The vineyards overlook the Gulf of Patras and are kept cool during the hot summer days by the onshore sea breezes. The soil is generally alluvial clay underlain by limestone.