Mavrodaphne (pronounced Mah-vroh-DAHF-nee, meaning “black laurel”) is a deep-colored red grape variety native to the Peloponnese and Kefalonia, long celebrated for its fortified dessert wines, the most famous of which is Mavrodaphne of Patras.

This grape produces powerful, aromatic wines with notes of black cherry, prune, spices, and herbs such as bay leaf and sage. Although historically associated with sweet port-style wines, its dry expressions are increasingly recognized for their structure, complexity, and aging potential, highlighting a modern dimension of this classic grape variety.