Ch14 GRE Flashcards
How long has Greece been producing wine?
For at least 5000 yrs
Some claim even longer
Is Greece the 1st wine producing country?
How is Greece important to wine?
Greece is NOT the 1st wine-producing country (web: Georgia is generally considered the cradle of wine production)
It greatly advanced grape-growing and wine production techniques
What were the “symposium”?
In Greece, wine was an integral part of everyday life and a central feature in the “symposium” which brought together art, philosophy, food and wine
What is considered to be the height of Greek wine culture?
During the “Golden Age” — around 500-300BCE
At this time, the Greek empire spread around much of the Mediterranean, taking its wines, considered the best in the world at the time, and wine culture came along w/ it
When does some of the earliest-known wine writing come from? What does it cover?
Greece’s “Golden Age” ~500-300BCE
The writing shows an understanding of how and why wines from different locations can vary in quality
What did some of the first wine laws, coming from Greece, entail?
Laws included
Protecting certain wines from particular locations
Preventing fraud
Raising taxes
How was the wine of ancient Greece different than that we know today?
Why?
A wide variety of substances, including herbs, spices, flowers, honey, and oils was added
This was done to protect the wine from oxidation and to mask off flavors
One common additive was pine resin, and, although the use of other substances have long disappeared, it continues to be used today in production of “Retsina”
When did Greece become part of the Roman Empire?
What effect did this have on wine?
In 2nd century BCE
This intro’d wines from elsewhere in the Empire and effectively prevented Greece from exporting its own produce
What factors led to the decline of the Greek wine industry after its “Golden Age”?
First, becoming part of the Roman Empire in 2nd century BCE b/c they were no longer allowed to export their wine
Then under Byzantine Empire
And further during the Ottoman Empire
The decline was to the point that the only wine produced for consumption was in and around the village where the grapes were grown
When was a the modern Greek state established? What effect did this have on winemaking?
The modern Greek state was established in 1830, following the revolution of 1821
The retreating Ottomans destroyed most of Greece’s agricultural land
Then 2 Balkan wars, the 2 World Wars, and a civil war prevented the recovery of the greek wine industry
In addition, many of the vineyards that survived at the end of the 19th century were destroyed by phylloxera, which appeared in Macedonia in 1898
What was Greece’s wine industry known for during most of the 20th century?
Despite efforts to revitalize the wine industry, Greece was seen as a source of cheap, often poorly made wine, in particular Retsina
This wine was produced by co-ops and the handful of large companies which began to emerge
When did Greece begin to see more small, quality-minded producers emerge?
By the 1970s, some smaller producers were bottling their wines and even selling them outside their local area
The 1980s saw a rapid rise in the # of small, quality-minded producers
Some had previously worked for the larger co’s
Many were people who had benefited from the growth of the Greek Econ and now wanted to make wine
This led to the creation of a modern Greek wine culture of estate-produced, higher quality wines
How did the emergence of a modern Greek wine culture in the 1980s affect export markets?
Initially, wines only made a small impression on export markets
Most Greek wine is still consumed domestically
The financial crisis of 2008 led to a significant drop in consumption and forced producers to look to the export market
Exports have increased significantly, but from a very small base
What latitudes are Greece’s vineyards?
between 34 and 42N
Describe Greece’s climate
Temps
Hazards
Rainfall
Generally Mediterranean
Temps usually over 30C/86F and reaching 45C/ 113F some yr
Short, mild winters
Inland, the climate turns increasingly continental: summer temps are even hotter and winter temps can go below freezing
Spring frost can be a problem in areas of N Greece such as Amyndeon
There is a much wider variety of conditions than might 1st appear b/c Greece is very mountainous
Many vineyards on mountains are cool enough that grapes struggle to fully ripen
Strong winds on islands are a threat that can stop photosynthesis
Rainfall varies from 400-700mm, and generally little during the growing season except in mountains
Where in Greece do grapes struggle to ripen?
In areas such as Amyndeon and Mantinia, it can be cool enough that grapes do not always reach full ripeness, depending on the variety
What areas of Greece are known to be flatter? What are the implications?
Plains of E Macedonia and central Greece
These areas are hotter, although toward the coast the sea is a moderating factor
What is a constant threat to vineyards on many Greek islands? What implications?
Strong, onshore winds, especially on the Cyclades islands, such as Santorini, are a constant threat
These can stop photosynthesis, interrupt flowering and berry-set, and delay ripening
They can be strong enough to destroy unprotected vines
They also are drying and can increase water stress
Is irrigation allowed in Greece?
If so, where? Under what conditions?
What type?
Yes, and often essential, where water resources are available
Generally there is little rainfall during the growing season, except for the mountainous areas to the N & W
It is mostly used for international varieties such as Cab Sauv and Merlot as local varieties have developed drought tolerance
Water-holding capacity of the soil in the area is always a key influence
Where used, it is always drip irrigation
Describe the soils of Greece
Wide range of soils
Vineyards planted on everything from limestone to volcanic
Apart from the fertile plains, soils tend to be low fertility
Greek farmers usually keep their more fertile soils for more lucrative or demanding crops, leaving less fertile for olives and vines
This means yields have been traditionally low
How many ha of vines are in Greece (2018)?
Around 106K ha of vineyards
Only around 61.5K of those are for wine, w/ remainder for table grapes and drying grapes
What is the average vineyard size in Greece?
Implications?
Tend to be very small - avg 0.5ha
Many sell grapes to larger producers and co-ops or simply produce small volumes to sell locally
How are Greek vineyards generally harvested?
Small vineyards, often on tricky terrain
This means most are still worked by hand
Is Greek viticulture more traditional or modern?
It is a mix
Larger co’s began modernizing in the 1960s-70s
They passed expertise on to smaller growers and producers who supplied them
However industry really began to move forward when GRE joined the EU in 1981, gaining access to funding
Many have learned from working abroad, but also recognize how retaining some of the more traditional methods can help create more distinctive wines
Does Greece have many Organic or Biodynamic vineyards?
The hot, dry conditions make GRE suitable for organic and biodynamic viticulture
Many have been using organic practices for centuries
The use of chemicals is a relatively recent occurrence
There are a growing # seeking organic certification and/or experimenting w/ biodynamic techniques
How are Greek vineyards typically trained?
Majority are trellised
Usually cordon-trained with VSP
In some places, specific trellis and pruning systems have been developed over centuries to suit local conditions
In particular, Santorini to cope w/ high winds and low rainfall
What are the main grapes in Greece?
One of the most distinctive aspects of Greek viticulture is the large # of indigenous grape varieties, which account for around 90% of plantings
The precise # is unknown; estimates suggest ~300
Most are round on a very small scale in limited areas
Around 60 are currently grown in significant amounts, offering an important differentiator for Greek wines
Savatiano (w)
Roditis (w)
Agiorgitiko (R)
Xinomavro (R)
Assyrtiko (W)
Cab Sauv (R)
Merlot (R)
Syrah (R)
Moschofilero (W)
When did International Grape Varieties become popular in Greece? Why?
Only began to make their mark in the late 1980s
Prompted by demand for these wines on the domestic market and by a concern that foreign consumers would be unwilling to buy wines make from grapes they struggle to pronounce
Does Greece produce a lot of single-varietal wine from International Grapes?
Some producers have made successful single-varietal wines from the likes of Chard, SB, CS, Merlot, Syrah
These varieties were often used in blends w/ local varieties to give consumers something they could recognize on the label
A # of blends have been particularly successful — ex: SB w/ Assyrtiko, Merlot w/ Xinomavro
