From: Crete, Greece
Varietal: Dafni
Taste: Aromas of bay laurel, rosemary, citrus flower & fruit lead to a refreshing mouthfeel and intensely mineral finish. Balanced and savory with vibrant acidity and an intense aromatic aftertaste. If you love wines from varietals like Albariño, Assyrtiko, and Aligoté or places like Chablis or Sancerre, this lovely white wine will be a new favorite.
Pairing: Go with dishes that feature Mediterranean flavors, fresh ingredients, and citrus. Some great pairing ideas include fish tacos, ceviche, grilled or sautéed scallops, shrimp prepared as scampi, fried, grilled with lime or in tacos, citrus salad with radish and watercress, grilled watermelon and feta salad, grilled sardines or mackerel (check out the recipe below), Mezze platters, and smashed chickpea pitas.
Mackerel With Lemon Olive Oil and Tomatoes
By Melissa Clark
About. This unique and lovely white wine consists of 100% Dafní, an indigenous Greek variety saved from extinction in the early 90’s by the Lyrarakis family and planted in their “Psarades” estate vineyard. It is located in central Crête, at 480 meters above sea level. The soil is clay and loam. “Dáfni” means laurel (bay leaf) in Greek. The eponymous wine evokes its aromas. This goes through skin contact for 10 hours. 5% of the juice comes from grapes that are fermented for an extended time on the skins to balance the acidity—fermentation in stainless steel tanks, aging on the lees for 4 months. Sustainable and organic farming practices and this is vegan.
The Lyrarakis Estate was founded in 1966 by brothers Manolis and Sotiris Lyrarakis. The Lassithi mountains surround it, focusing on rare local varieties and single-variety wines. The Lyrarakis family is credited with reviving two ancient white Cretan varieties, Dafni and Plyto. At the same time, a third “vineyard treasure,” the indigenous Melissaki, was also recently added to their credit. Indigenous reds such as Kotsifali and Mandilari are highlights at the estate, as are Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, for which the great Symbolo is produced.
The winery is situated in one of Crete's most noteworthy vineyard regions, namely at Alagni, Heraklion, the most mountainous village of the appellation area (AOC) of PEZA. The company only started bottling wines under the Lyrarakis name in the early nineties, and 1992 was the first vintage. Today, the company is managed by the second generation: Bart (CEO), George (Chairman), and Manolis (viticulturist). The estate vineyards spread over 14 hectares at an average altitude of 550 meters. The soil is composed of gravel and limestone.
This wine's story gets better and better: Daphne was the dazzlingly beautiful nymph of Greek mythology who was turned into a laurel tree when she begged to be saved from Apollo’s advances. Daphne, or dafni, means laurel. It is also the name of an extremely rare white grape, native to the island of Crete, that is so-called because it makes wine that has a distinctive whiff of bay leaf.
According to Bart Lyrarakis of Domaine Lyrarakis, the Minoans would likely have drunk wine from Dafni. “A copper vessel dating back to the late Minoan period was found in the Cave of Ilithias [goddess of childbirth and fertility]. It’s inscribed – in ancient Linear A writing – with the words dafnitis oinos – laurel wine.”
Taste: Aromas of bay laurel, rosemary, citrus flower & fruit lead to a refreshing mouthfeel and intensely mineral finish. Balanced and savory with vibrant acidity and an intense aromatic aftertaste. If you love wines from varietals like Albariño, Assyrtiko, and Aligoté or places like Chablis or Sancerre, this lovely white wine will be a new favorite.
Pairing: Go with dishes that feature Mediterranean flavors, fresh ingredients, and citrus. Some great pairing ideas include fish tacos, ceviche, grilled or sautéed scallops, shrimp prepared as scampi, fried, grilled with lime or in tacos, citrus salad with radish and watercress, grilled watermelon and feta salad, grilled sardines or mackerel (check out the recipe below), Mezze platters, and smashed chickpea pitas.
