Aegean Islands Flashcards
PDOs of Aegean islands (cyclades)
Santorini, Paros, Rhodes, Lemnos, Samos, Muscat of Rhodes, Muscat of Lemnos, Malvasia Paros
Paros (Aegean Island)
100% Monemvasia (white)
Red: co-fermentation of minimum 35% Mandilaria grape, and Monemvassia must
Mandilaria is the main red grape
Main grapes and Styles of Rhodes PDO (Aegean Islands)
much closer to southern Asia Minor than Greece itself
produces PDO red, white, and rosé varietal wines from Mandilaria (Amorghiano) and Athiri
Whites: 70% Athiri min (balance Assyrtiko and Malagousia)
Reds: 70% Mandilaria (balance Mavrothiriko)
Muscat of Rhodes PDO wines are rarely encountered.
The most common red variety throughout the Aegean
Mandilaria, blended with Kotsifali to produce the Archanes PDO and red Peza PDO wines of Crete
Styles of Samos PDO
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (Moscato Aspro)
vin de liqueur
vin doux naturel
naturally sweet versions
The naturally sweet version is called Samos Nectar, and is similar to vin de paille—the wine is produced from dried grapes and aged for a minimum of three years prior to release, with 300g/l sugar before vinification
PDOs of Lemnos﹡ (Agean, north of Paros)
Lemnos PDO:
Sweet and Dry from White: Moschato Alexandrias (only place the grape is featured in Greece)
Dry Red: Limnio (Kalampaki) only place for limnio
Muscat of Lemnos PDO:
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)
Fortified Wines (VDN)
Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru)
Fortified Wine (VDL)
Variety: Moschato Alexandrias
PDO of Muscat of Rhodes (Agean, East of Samos)
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)
Fortified Wines (VDN)
Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru)
Fortified Wine (VDL)
Moschato Aspro (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
What year was Greece’s first cooperative established
1934 Samos
What is EOSS?
Union of Vinicultural Cooperatives of Samos (1934)
First cooperative for island growers
What is Vin Liastos?
Naturally Sweet White, sun dried
These island PDOs in Greece feature Mandilaria as a prominent grape
The reds and rosés of Rhodes PDO 70%
Mandilaria min.
Paros reds mandate min 35% mandilaria and monemvassia must
White wines and sparkling wines of Rhodes feature this white grape blended with Malagousia and Athiri
Assyrtiko
The Aegean is grouped into four island groups:
Cyclades*
Dodecanese*
North Aegean*
Sporades (don’t really contribute to wine industry)
Cyclades is named for this
Circlular formation of island chain, just North of Crete
How many islands in the Cyclades
33
Most Important: Paros and Santorini
When does the Meltemi really kick up
Late summer
How does the Meltemi affect vines
Stalls photosynthesis
high winds cause leaf stomata to close*
*This benefits as extends growing season and prevents Cyclades wines from becoming overripe
Dominant White grapes in Cyclades
Assyrtiko and Monemvasia
Most widely planted red in Cyclades
Mandilaria
Two PDOs of Paros
Paros and Malvasia of Paros
Paros is a flat island with one central peak:
Mount Profitis (750 meters)
Soils of Paros
Fertile: Sand, loam and limestone
Best sites of Paros are at this elevation
250-400 meters (820-1310 ft)
Malvasia of Paros is a sweet wine from Sun dried grapes. What is the encepagement and aging
Monemvasia with max 15% Assyrtiko. Fortification optional
Aged min 2 years to be labeled with a vintage
Malvasia of Paros may be labeled with an average age in four year increments if aged for at least __ years
4 years: (eg. 4, 8, 12, 16 years old)
Regional PGIs of Cyclades
Aegean Sea
Area PGIs of Cyclades
Syros, Thapsana
How many Dodecanese Islands (East, closer to turkish coast)
12
Most serious PDO of the Dodecanese
Rhodes
Mountain of Rhodes PDO
Mount Atavyros
This PDO in the Dodecanese was for decades a source of “Greek Champagne”
Rhodes
Main producer of Rhodes
CAIR cooperative founded in 1928, reputation for sparkling. Dominates today
Main grapes of Rhodes PDO
Athiri (Excels on upper slopes)
Mandilaria (Amorghiano) on lower elevations
Rhodes PDO allows for these styles:
White, red, rosé, quality sparkling
Dry, semi dry or semi sweet
still and sparkling from 70% Athiri (white) 70% Mandilaria (red and rosé)
White med dry and semi sweet called “Lefkos”
this grape is native to Rhodes
Mavrothiriko
District PGI of Rhodes
Dodecanese
These two islands in the Dodecanese closer to Turkey have PDOs for sweet wine
Rhodes (Muscat of Rhodes)
Samos (Muscat of Samos PDO)
What is Pramnian red?
traditional high alcohol red from Ikaria area PGI in Dodecanese, made from Fokiano grape
Main grape today of the Ikaria area PGi in Dodecanese (Northern Aegean)
Mandilaria
Belgeri (white grape is the focus of the modern wine movement)
this PGI in the Northern Aegean was created in 2010 and known as a source for Ouzo
Lesvos
Eresos-Antissa, Kalloni and Plomari are all expected to earn area PGI soon
What year was a law passed stating that only wines made from Muscat could claim a Samos origin
1934
Same year UWC (United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos) was founded: first Co op
Local name for Muscat Blanc (Samos)
Moschato Aspro
Red Grapes of Samos
Ritino and Fokiano
soil type of Samos
Granitic, steep
Mountain of Samos
Mount Ampelos
Best vineyards planted at this aspect in Samos
high elevation up tp 900 meters, North facing
This PGI in Samos is a zone that pertains to the production of dry whites made from Muscat
PGI Ambelos
the only Muscat based PDO of Greece that doesn’t include the name of the grape in the origin
Samos PDO
Does Samos PDO need to be aged in oak?
No, both oak aged and unoaked Muscat are produced
What was the first commercial distillery for Ouzo?
Tyrnavos (in Thessaly)
1856
2006 became a PDO
Min Abv% 37.5
Origin of the grape Limnio
Lemnos, though no longer plays important role there
What is Kalambaki
The local name for dry reds made from Limnio in Lemnos
Muscat of Lemnos PDO uses this Muscat
Muscat of Alexandria (Not Moschato Aspro)
Generally considered inferior to Samos
Soils of Lemnos
flatter, volcanic, and limestone
Most vineyards on West side of island 0-300m elevation
District PGI of Lemnos
Chios
Area PGIs of Lemnos
Ikaria
Lesvos
Slopes of Ambelos
soil type of Samos
Granitic, steep
