14. Greece Flashcards
What is Greece’s general climate?
Mediterranean - long, hot summers and short, mild winters
What climatic shift does inland Greece experience?
Becomes increasingly continental
What are two common viticultural risks?
1) Water stress as rainfall during the growing season is limited
2) Strong winds (particularly affecting Santorini) affecting flowering and fruit set
Irrigation is permitted in Greece, but reserved for what varieties and why?
1) International varieties i.e. Cabernet and Merlot
2) Local varieties have developed drought tolerance
What type of irrigation is common in Greece?
Drip
What challenge faces indigenous varieties and how has this been addressed?
1) Lack of recognition and pronounceability
2) Blending with international varieties
What are the two most planted white varieties?
1) Roditis
2) Savatiano
What is the most planted black variety?
Agiorgitiko
Describe Roditis (3)
1) Pink skin
2) High yielding
3) Mid-weight, high acid, ripe fruit - melon
Roditis and Savatiano are often blended into what?
Retsina
Describe Savatiano as a wine (2)
1) Citrus, pear, stone fruit
2) Nutty with age
Describe Savatiano in the vineyard (2)
1) Drought resistant
2) High yielding
What is Greece’s best, most prized white variety?
Assyrtiko
Name two other indigenous white varieties (besides Assyrtiko, Roditis, Savatiano)
1) Moschofilero
2) Malagousia
Describe Assyrtiko (4)
1) Adaptable to different conditions
2) High acid - ageable
3) Often high alcohol
3) Sweet or dry; citrus, stone fruit, tropical, smoke
Describe Moschofilero (3)
1) Citrus, floral, spicy (muscat-like)
2) High acid, light body, low alcohol (12%)
3) Pink skin
Describe Malagousia as a wine (3)
1) Mid-weight & medium acid
2) Complex floral and stone fruit
3) Herbaceous if picked early
What is bended with Xinomavro to soften it?
Merlot
What political event saw winemaking and viticulture improve in Greece?
1981’s accession to the EU
What are the origins of Retsina? (2)
1) Pine resin was used to seal amphorae and as a flavouring additive
2) With its popularity, Retsina was often poor quality with inexpensive resin used to try to mask faulty/poor wine
Retsina is commonly made with which two varieties grown where?
1) Savatiano and Roditis
2) The hot central plains
When is resin added to Retsina?
To the must before fermentation for an integration of flavour
What is Retsina’s special status?
Wine of appellation by tradition - OKP
What is Greece’s PDO equivalent?
POP - Prostatevmeni Onomasia Proelefsis
How many POPs are there?
33 representing 8% of the annual crush
What’s Greece’s PGI equivalent?
PGE - Prostatevmeni Geografiki Endiksi
What are the two key regions of Macedonia?
1) Naoussa
2) Amynteo
What is the climate of Naoussa and Amynteo?
Continental - cool due to altitude (mountainous) with more rain than elsewhere (650-700mm)
What is the climate of Macedonia’s plains?
Warm Mediterranean in the mountain’s rain shadow
Macedonia’s plains are suited to what style of wine and why?
Higher volume due to the fertility of the soils
Naoussa and Amynteo must be 100% which variety?
Xinomavro
Naoussa’s vineyards are planted on the south-east slopes of which mountain range at what altitude?
1) Mount Vermio
2) 150-400m offering shelter from cool north and west winds
Name two Naoussa producers
1) Thymiopoulos
2) Kir-Yianni
What are the three eras of Xinomavro production?
1) Traditional - large oak with less fruit focus
2) 1990s - barriques; firmer tannin, more oak and body
3) Modern - riper fruit, cold soak, whole bunch
On what side of Mount Vermio and at what altitude are Amynteo’s vineyards?
1) North-west
2) 570-750m
What helps moderate Amynteo’s temperatures given its northerly aspect?
Lakes - unusual for Greece
Rose is permitted in which of the two key Macedonian PDOs?
Amynteo
Name a significant Amynteo producer
Alpha Estate
Amynteo’s Xinomavro tends to be what style?
Lighter body and tannin with more floral characters than Naoussa due to aspect and altitude
Describe the general terroir and growing conditions of Peloponnese (2)
1) Mountainous with poor rocky soils
2) Temperatures moderated by altitude given its southerly latitude
Name two significant PDOs of Peloponnese
1) Nemea
2) Mantinia
Nemea must be 100% what variety?
100% Agiorgitiko - dry or sweet
Name two significant Nemea producers
1) Gaia
2) Tselepos
Describe Nemea’s climate
Mediterranean with varied rainfall affecting yields and harvest dates
What are the three distinct zones of Nemea by altitude?
1) Valley floor (230-400m) - hottest, most fertile
2) Middle (450-650m) - best for quality due to poor soil (talk of cru system)
3) Highest (up to 1,000m) - often used for PGI rose Agiorgitiko as it struggles to ripen
Mantinia must be what variety & what percentage minimum?
1) Moschofilero
2) 85%
Name two significant Mantinia producers
1) Boutain
2) Semeli Estate
Describe Mantinia’s growing conditions (3)
1) Southerly latitude
2) Plateau at 600m
3) Long growing seasons
What five islands of Greece make wine of repute besides Santorini?
1) Paros (sweet)
2) Tinos
3) Samos (sweet Muscat)
4) Lennos (sweet muscat)
5) Crete
How do grapegrowers protect vines from strong winds in Santorini? (2)
1) Vines are trained low in a hollow
2) Each year the vines are woven around the previous year’s growth
How is rainfall managed in Santorini? (2)
1) Fog moisture that rises in the morning is trapped by the training system
2) Vine densities are only around 2,500 per ha
Why are Santorini’s yields as low as 15hL/ha?
Infertile volcanic soil with low rainfall
PDO Santorini whites must what what variety and what per cent?
1) Assyrtiko
2) 75%
PDO Santorini’s sweet whites must be what variety and what per cent?
1) Assyrtiko
2) 51%
What is the famous sweet wine of Santorini?
Vinsanto
Describe Vinsanto (3)
1) Late harvest
2) Sun-dried up to two weeks
2) Aged in oak for two years minimum potentially not in full barrels to encourage oxidation
What is the dominant winery type in Greece?
Large producers/co-ops that buy fruit
What is both a positive and a negative for Greek wine?
Its unfamiliar grape varieties can also be a point of difference
What two factors contribute to many vineyards being harvested by hand?
1) Steep and/or rocky terrain
2) Small individual holdings
Is organic viticulture common in Greece?
Yes, due to the hot, dry climate
What international variety is commonly blended with Assyrtiko?
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the three main regions for Greek wine outlined in the book?
1) Macedonia
2) Peloponnese
3) Island (Aegean Sea)
Agiorgitiko can be used to make what styles of wine? (4)
1) Light and fruity
2) Complex, full-bodied
3) Rose
4) Sweet
Describe Agiorgitiko as a wine (4)
1) Deep colour
2) Medium acidity
3) Medium to high tannin
4) Ripe red fruit and spice
What Italian variety is Xinomavro often compared to and why?
Nebbiolo due to its light colour, high acid and grippy tannins suited to bottle ageign
What PGI/PGE in Macedonia is known for full-bodied Bordeaux blends?
Drama
Which PDO’s vineyards are higher in Macedonia and what does this mean for site selection?
1) Amynteo
2) The altitude and northerly aspect means vines are exposed to cold northerly winds leading to cool summers and cold winters
Semi-carbonic maceration might be used for which variety?
Agiorgitiko
What is the caldera?
A submerged crater on Santorini as result of a collapsed volcano
What are the maximum yields of Santorini PDO?
60 hL/ha
What is a common residual sugar range for Vinsanto?
200-300 g/L
Name two significant producers of Vinsanto
1) Estate Argyros
2) Domaine Sigalas
