The red grape variety originates from Greece; the name means "black laurel". Synonyms are Ahmar Mechtras, Fraoula Kokkini, Mauro Daphni, Mavrodafni (second main name) Mavrodanitsa, Mavrodaphvitsa, Mavrodaphni, Mavrodrame, Mavrodrami and Thiniatiko. It should not be confused with the other numerous Mavro varieties. The parentage is unknown, but it is suspected to be related to the Goustolidi variety. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2013, it is a parent of the varieties Tsaoussi and Zakynthino. The early-maturing, high-yielding vine with thin-skinned berries is susceptible to small berry and downy mildew and sensitive to drought. It produces aromatic, colourful and tannic red wines with aromas of vanilla and plums and ageing potential. Two clones are Mavrodaphne Tsigelo with smaller berries and Mavrodaphne Regnio with more compact grapes.
The fact that wines from this vine became known all over Europe and also overseas is the merit of two Germans. Gustav Clauss (1825-1908), who immigrated from Bavaria, founded the large Greek winery Achaia Clauss in 1861 and produced sweet, fortified wines from this variety for the first time. From the mid-1870s, the Neckargemünder wine merchant Julius Karl Menzer (1845-1917) then imported Mavrodaphne and also other Greek wines in larger quantities and thus made them known. In the meantime, it has become one of the best-known Greek grape varieties worldwide. It is mainly cultivated on the Ionian islands of Lefkada and Kefallonia, as well as in Achaia, the northwestern part of the Peloponnese. On Kefallonia it produces the POP wine "Mavrodaphne of Kefallonia" and in Patras (north coast of Peloponnese) the POP wine "Mavrodaphne of Patras". In 2016, 324 hectares of vineyards were designated (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
