Oenops, Vidiano

Quintessential Vidiano with abundant citrus notes and white floral, herbal and mineral overtones. Creamy and layered with a lively freshness and flavours of stone fruit, lime and subtle spice.

Producer Note

Oenops was founded in 2015 by talented winemaker Nikos Karatzas, who operating as a négociant, produces a stunning range of distinctive wines from his newly established state-of-the-art winery. He sources indigenous and rare grape varieties grown on exceptional terroir focussing on cool-climate sites and old-vine plots, from carefully selected vineyards in Drama and Macedonia, which have been cultivated by ambitious winegrowers using an organic philosophy. Niko adopts a minimal intervention approach, and vinifies plot by plot using stainless steel, concrete, oak barrels and amphora. His aim is to source great fruit and craft wines that reflect the nuances of the native varieties and the identity from the terroir and as a result, he produces a collection of authentic, elegant and delicious wines.

Vineyard

The Vidiano grapes come from old vineyards in the mountainous area of Heraklion in Crete. The vineyards are situated at 600 metres elevation, at this altitude the diurnal temperature differences influence the vines, with the warm summer days building concentrated flavours, and when the evening temperatures drop, the refreshing natural acidity accumulates in the grapes, resulting in wines of great balance. The old vines produce low yields of concentrated fruit. The vines are Double Cordon trained in order to control yields, and the vines are cultivated following an ecological philosophy, with minimal spraying. The grapes are hand-harvested; they are picked during the cool of the night and transported by a refrigerated truck, via a ferry, to the winery. 

Winemaking

Slow spontaneous fermentation took place with wild yeasts, in four different types of vessels, made from four different elements: clay amphorae, concrete tanks, 600-litre large barrels and stainless steel tanks, imbuing the wine with impressive complexity and depth. To make this wine, no less than 18 different vinifications took place. Once fermentation was complete, the wine was aged for six to nine months in amphorae and concrete tanks, in order to preserve the purity of fruit, with a small percentage in old, large barrels. The wine was bottled unfiltered to retain its purity and elegance. 

Tasting Note

Quintessential Vidiano with abundant citrus notes and white floral, herbal and mineral overtones. Creamy and layered with a lively freshness and flavours of stone fruit, lime and subtle spice

Grape

Vidiano 100%