D3 Greece Flashcards
How long has Greece been making wine for?
At least 5000 years .
When was the height of Greek wine culture (in Ancient Greece)?
The Golden Age (500-300 BC).
Greek Empire spread around Mediterranean, bringing wine and culture with them.
What did the wind writing during the Golden Age show?
It showed an understanding of how and why wines from different locations can vary in quality.
The Greeks were the first to introduce wine laws. What were these sines laws put in place for? (3)
To protect certain wines from particular locations
Prevent fraud
Raise taxes
What sorts of substances were added to the wines in Ancient Greece?
Herbs Spices Flowers Honey Oils Pine resin
Why were substances added to wine in Ancient Greece ?
To protect the wine from oxidation
To mask off flavours
What happened when Greece joined the Roman Empire in the 2nd Century BC?
Introduced wines from elsewhere in the Empire, effectively prevented Greece from exporting its own produce. Decline continued under Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire to the point where wines only produced for the villages around where grapes grown.
What events prevented the recovery of the Greek wine industry (post modern Greek state being established in 1830.
- Following a revolution in 1821, the retreating Ottomans destroyed most of Greece’s agricultural land.
- wars (two Balkan wars, two world wars, a civil war) prevented the recovery of the wine industry.
- phylloxera (appeared in Macedonia in 1898
In what decade did we see a rapid rise in the number of small, quality minded producers, leading to the creation of a modern Greek wine culture?
1980s
What happened in 2008 in Greece? What did it lead to?
Financial crisis.
Led to significant drop in consumption and forced producers to look to export market.
Latitudes of vineyards?
34 - 42 degrees North
General climate?
Mediterranean, with long hot summers (around 30 and sometimes up to 45), and short mild winters.
Climate inland?
More continental. Summer temperatures even hotter. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing.
What hazard can be a problem in northern Greece (like Amyndeon)?
Spring frosts
What moderated the climate in the best vineyards?
Altitude.
What is a constant threat on the Greek islands, especially in the Cyclades, such as Santorini)? What can these do during grape growing?
Strong onshore winds.
Stop photosynthesis
Interrupt flowering and berry set
Delay ripening
Can be strong enough to destroy unprotected vines
They are very dry so increase water stress.
Average rainfall? When does it fall? Irrigation?
400-700mm
Santorini is much drier though
Little or no rain during growing season (except in mountains)
Irrigation often essential. Water stress common issue.
Why are most of the soils where grapes are growing in Greece low infertility?
Greek farmers usually kept their fertile soils for more lucrative or demanding crops , Leaving the less fertile land for olives and vines.
How many hectares of vineyards in Greece?
106,000 ha.
61,500 ha produce grapes for wine.
Average size of vineyards?
Small. Just over 0.5 ha.
What do growers do with their grapes?
- sell to larger producers
- sell to co-ops
- produce small volume to sell locally
Are most vineyards worked by hand or machine? Why?
By hand,
Because of small vineyard size and often tricky terrain.
Greek viticulture is a mixture of traditional and modern. Explain why/how/when this happened.
- larger companies started modernizing in the 60s and 70s and passed on their expertise to smaller producers.
- Greece joined EU in 1981 and gained access to funding
- many of mes breed of producers studied viticulture and gained experience in other parts of the world
- new breed still recognize how retaining more traditional methods can allow to create distinctive wines
Why is Greece suitable for organic and bio dynamic viticulture?
Because of the hot, dry conditions.
How are the majority of vines trained?
Trellised, cordon trained, VSP
Is irrigation permitted?
Yes.
