25. Greece Flashcards
Describe the climate in Greece.
Hot Mediterranean climate
- Coastal areas moderated by sea
- Altitude and wind have cooling effect
- Strong, dangerous winds
- Best sites in cooler spots
- Not much rain, drought is concern
Overall, describe the grape varieties in Greece.
- Over 200 native varieties
- Only a few are grown elsewhere
- Adapted to survive in arid, hot conditions
- Some international varieties but most PDO wines require native varieties
What are the top three varieties in Greece? In what regions are they grown?
- Xinomavro - Naoussa PDO
- Agiorgitiko - Nemea PDO
- Assyrtiko - Santorini PDO
Where is Naoussa PDO located?
Macedonia (northern Greece)
Describe the geography and climate of Naoussa.
- vineyards at altitudes of ~400 meters
- noticeably cooler
Describe the wines of Naoussa.
- red wines
- grape: Xinomavro
- often compared with Nebbiolo
- high tannin
- high acidity
- medium color that quickly fades to tawny
- lack fresh fruit aromas even in youth
- long-lived
- complex spicy and earth with age
- other styles: deeply colored, less tannic; oak aged
Where is Nemea PDO located?
North of the Peloponnese
-close to the narrow strip of land that joins the peninsula to the rest of mainland Greece
Describe the wines of Nemea.
- red wines
- Agiorgitiko
- deep ruby color
- high levels of smooth tannins
- low to moderate acidity
- sweet spice
- red fruit
- great affinity for new oak
- age well
Describe the geography of Nemea and how the different areas affect the wine style. Where do the best wines come from?
- wide range of altitudes 230-900 meters
- best wines come from middle range
- lower slopes = overly jammy, fruity wines for early consumption
- high slopes = high acidity, less fine tannins; adds tannins to red blends but best suited for rosé
Where is Santorini located?
Windswept volcanic island in the Aegean Sea
Name a climate concern in Santorini. How do wine grower combat this concern?
- Strong winds
- requires unique training to protect the vines
- permanent wood is trained very low into a basket shape; fruit grows on the inside
Describe the wines of Santorini. Which wine has the highest reputation?
- red and wine wines
- dry and sweet styles
- highest reputation: Assyrtiko
Describe Assyrtiko wines from Santorini.
- dry
- perfumed, concentrated
- ripe citrus, stone fruit
- high acidity
What are the sweet wines of Santorini known as? How are these wines made? Describe the wine.
Vinsanto
- Assyrtiko
- late harvested grapes are sundried for up to 14 days
- aged in old oak barrels for a min of 2 years
- luscious sweetness, high acidity
- older: oxidative character of caramel and nuts
How do producers of exported dry PDO wines in Greece label their wines?
- “Protected Designation of Origin”
- or less frequently: Appellation d’origine de qualité supérieure (sub-category within the PDO classification)
