Central Greece and Peloponnese Flashcards
What is Central Greece known as?
Sterea Ellada
How many PDOs of Central Greece?
NONE
Where is Retsina production mostly concentrated? What are the most planted grapes in this region?
Attiki (Athens)
Savatiano, followed by Rhoditis
Why is Savatiano preferred for Retsina? What other grapes are added?
Known as Greece’s most common white grape, it retains some varietal character even when resinated.
-it is the most common ingredient in Retsina, although Roditis and Assyrtiko are often added to compensate for Savatiano’s naturally low acidity.
What is the southernmost section of the Greek mainland
The Peloponnese
What connects the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece?
Gulf of Corinth
What is Moschoudi?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains in the Peloponnese
What are the PDO zones of the Peleponnese?
Patras
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras
Nemea
Mantinia
Monemvassia-Malvasia
What are the sweet wine PDO’s of the Peloponnese?
Monemvassia-Malvasia
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras
What is the sole PDO for dry reds in the Peloponnese?
Nemea
What are the styles and varietals of Nemea?
100% Agiorgitiko
Dry red
Semisweet red (17-45g/L)
VDL
VDN
Vin Liastos
Historically how were wines from Nemea made?
Dry Nemean reds were crafted in a light and fruity style, occasionally via carbonic maceration.
Who modernized winemaking in Nemea? When? How?
Skouras
mid-1980s
-through his popular Megas Oenos, a blend of Agiorgitiko and Cabernet Sauvignon that aged in new French barrels
What is the name of Skouras’ Nemea prestige cuvée?
Grand Cuvée
Who pioneered a richer, more extracted style of wine from Nemea? When? What is the cépage?
Gaia
1990s
100% Agiorgitiko
How are semi-sweet wines made in Nemea?
Produced by stopping fermentation or by adding must concentrate to dry wines.
How are Vin Doux wines made in Nemea?
Vin Doux Liquer
-Sweet Vin de Liqueur, produced by adding spirit to the must prior to fermentation
How are Vin Doux Naturel wines made in Nemea?
Sweet Fortified Red Wines
-produced by adding the spirit to the must during fermentation
What district is Nemea in? Where is this district?
Corinth
-occupies the northeast corner of the Peloponnese (though a small portion of the PDO crosses over into the Argolida district to the south)
How many villages is Nemea are located within Nemea? How many zones are these villages divided into? How?
17 villages
-divided into three distinct zones based on altitude
What are the zones and elevations of Nemea? Soils? Climate?
Lowest Zone:
-extends from 200-450 meters (650 – 1,475 feet)
-historically where dessert wine comes
-High temps and Red clay
Middle Zone
-450-650 meters (1,475 – 2,135 feet)
-cooler
-poor varied soils
-historically best for dry red wines
Highest Zone
-650-850 meters (2,135 – 2,790 feet)
-coolest
-limestone
-historically best for rosé
-producers are now embracing the more light and sculptural style of dry red that can be coaxed from the highest slopes
What is the nickname that is sometimes on the labels of wine from Nemea?
The nickname “blood of Hercules” (or “blood of the lion”) is sometimes attached to the wines of Nemea, commemorating the first of Hercules’ twelve legendary labors.
What is the most famous subzone “cru” of Nemea?
Koutsi
-headquarters of Gaia
What PDOs in Greece are producers trying to draw awareness to “crus”?
Nemea (Peloponnese)
Naoussa (Macedonia)
What is coolest, most continental part of the Peloponnese? What PDO is located here?
District of Arcadia
-Mantinia
What are the styles and varietals of Mantinia?
Min. 85% Moschofilero, plus Asproudes
Dry white wines (or vin gris style, accomplished through skin contact)
Sparkling white wines (brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra sec, sec, demi-sec, doux)
What are the three PDO’s that have the most vine cultivation concentrated in northern part of Peloponnese?
—Patras
—Nemea
—Mantinia
What is Asproudes? What is this usually referred to in Mantinia?
The generic term for indigenous
white grapes
-typically refers to Glikerithra,
a high-sugar, low-acid variety of middling reputation
What are the styles and varietals of Patras?
100% Roditis
Dry White Wine: maximum 4 g/l
Semi-Dry White Wine: 4.5 - 17.5 g/l
Semi-Sweet White Wine: 12 - 45 g/l
What is the elevation of Patras PDO? Why is elevation essential in Patras?
250-900 meters (820 – 2,955 feet)
-warm climate
-Corinthian Gulf does provide a moderate cooling influence
Where is Achaia?
District PGI
-located to the north of Arcadia and west of Corinth, forming the northernmost coast of the Peloponnese
What is Achaia’s main city?
Patras
What is the most famous of the Patras sweet wine appellations?
Mavrodaphne of Patras
When was Mavrodaphne of Patras created? By whom?
1861 by Achaia Clauss
-Founder Gustav Clauss had spent time in the Douro before establishing his estate, and had originally crafted his wine in Port’s image
What are the styles and varietals of Mavrodaphne of Patras?
Guild Somm:
Natural Sweet Red Wine (VDL from dried Grapes)
Sweet Red Wine (VDL from non-dried grapes with the addition of additional must)
Red VDN
min 51% Mavrodaphne plus max 49% Mavri Korinthiki
note: top producers use VDN (adding spirit during fermentation)
production oriented producers use VDL (adding spirit before fermentation)
What are the aging requirements for Mavrodaphne of Patras?
1 year in oak barrels of 1,000 liters or less
“Reserve”: Min. 3 years, including 2 years in cask and 1 year in bottle
“Vieille Reserve”: Min. 5 years, including min. 2 years in cask and 2 years in bottle
“Grand Reserve”: Min. 7 years, including a min. 3 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle
Non-Vintage blends require a minimum 3 years of aging after the final blend.
What are the styles and varietals of Muscat of Patras?
100% Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (Moscato Aspro)
Fortified Wine (VDN)
Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru)
Fortified Wine (VDL)
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)
What are the styles and varietals of Muscat of Rio Patras?
100% Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (Moscato Aspro)
Fortified Wine (VDN)
Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru)
Fortified Wine (VDL)
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)
What is difference in flavor profile of Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras?
Muscat or Patras - richer in texture, even heavy.
Muscat or Rio Patras - more high-toned, floral wines
What wine is used for Greek Orthodox communion sacrament?
Mavrodaphne of Patras
What is Vin Liastos?
Straw wines - grapes dried in the sun
What are the styles and varietals of Monemvassia-Malvasia?
Naturally Sweet White (Vin Liastos/Sun Dried)
Fortified Sweet White (VDN)
min. 51% Monemvassia, plus Assyrtiko, Asproudes, Kydonitsa
Are chaptalization and addition of concentrate grape must is allowed in the sweet wine PDOs of the Peloponnese?
NO
What are the aging requirements for Monemvassia-Malvasia?
Min. 2 years in an oxidative environment (if the wine is aged for a longer period, it may be aged for 4 years, or in multiples of 4 years thereafter)
What is the minimum rs of Monemvassia-Malvasia?
Naturally Sweet White: 80 g/l
What are the District PGIs of Central Greece?
Evia
Attica
What are the climatic differences of the Western part of Central Greece vs the Eastern part?
West = significant rainfall, high elevation sites are cold
East = hot and arid
Name 3 PGIs in Central Greece for Retsina.
Evia
Attica
Viotia
Where is Viotia PGI located?
Attika, Central Greece
Where are the best vineyards of Central Greece located?
North facing slopes of Mount Parnitha
What are the most widely planted grape varieties of Central Greece?
Savatiano
Roditis
Where is Fthiotida PGI? Grapes?
Northwest of Viotia
-in Central Greece
-on border of Thessaly
-int’l grape varieties like Chard, Sav Blanc, Cab Sav, Merlot
Why is Attica so hot and dry?
Warm winds from the Aegean.
Presence of mountains cut off Attica from any cooling breezes in the North.
What is the most important variety of Central Greece?
Savatiano
What is the Hellenic Trench
Where the African plate and the Eurasian plate meet.
Southern shores of Peleponnese
What is the climate of Peleponnese?
Center = continental
other areas = mediterranean
-elevation and proximit to the coast mitigate heat
rain in the west
arid in the east
Where is the Argolikos Gulf?
Eastern Peleponnese
Touches Arcadia on the east
Why is ripeness sometimes hard to achieve in Mantinia?
-750m (2,460ft elevation)
-a plateau that is surrounded by mountains
-the mountains sequester the region, which create a separate climate where winter snows are common
What is the minimum potential alcohol of the distillate used to fortify VDL Mavrodaphne of Patras? Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras VDL and VDN?
96% abv
95%
What is min potential alcohol of the sweet wines of Mavrodaphne of Patras, Muscat of Patras, and Muscat of Rio Patras at harvest? After fortification?
At Harvest
Mavrodaphne
12.5%
15-22%
Muscat of Patras/Rio Patras
Naturally Sweet Wine: 14.8% (17.6% after sun drying)
Fortified Wine (VDN): 14%
VDN Grand Cru: 14.8%
Fortified Wine (VDL): 13%
After fortification:
Mavrodaphne
15-22%
Muscat of Patras/Rio Patras
Naturally Sweet Wine: 17.6% (9% acquired)
Fortified Wine/VDN Grand Cru/VDL: 15% - 22%
What is Mercouri?
Local name for Refosco in Peleponnese
What are the aging requirements for Muscat of Patras/Rio Patras?
Muscat of Patras:
Fortified Wine (VDN, VDN Grand Cru, VDL): may be aged up to 5 years in oak barrels
Rio Patras:
Fortified Wine (VDL): may be aged up to 5 years in oak barrels
What is the minimum potential, after drying and actual alcohol of Monemavasia-Malvasia?
Minimum Potential Alcohol at Harvest: 13%
Minimum Potential Alcohol after Drying: 18.8%
Minimum Actual Alcohol:
Naturally Sweet White: 10%
Fortified Sweet White: 15 - 22%
What are the most important District PGIs of Peleponnese from North to South?
Achaia
Ilia
Corinth
Arcadia
Laconia
