Eastern Europe Flashcards
In Greece’s infancy, wine was produced in regions where the vine grew wild. From its origins in the Near East cultivation of the grapevine spread to the Kingdom of Egypt, and, sometime around 2500 BCE, trade brought the vine to the Minoan Bronze Age civilization of ______.
Crete
Despite its latitude, Crete’s moderate climate proved suitable for the vine, and in viticulture the ______ surpassed all of their contemporaries.
Minoans
How did the Minoan’s understanding of viticulture travel from Crete to the main land?
The art passed to their successors, the Mycenaeans, to other islands in the Aegean, and finally on the mainland of Greece.
The _____ spread cultivation of the vine throughout much of Europe.
Greeks
The first vineyards in France were in _______, a Greek colony at modern-day Marseilles, and Southern Italy’s modern varieties Greco and Aglianico are may be Greek in origin.
Massalia
The Greeks took viticulture northward as well, to the banks of the _______ and the coastline of the Black Sea.
Danube
Ultimately, the Greeks were not only responsible for spreading the_________, but also for democratizing its consumption.
vine geographically
The _______ carried the Greeks’ vines even further, but the debt of many modern-day wine regions of Europe truly extends back to ancient Greece.
Romans
While preeminent in the ancient world, Greek wines languished until a late _____ century surge in interest and quality.
20th
_______, an aromatized wine flavored with Aleppo pine resin, hung like an albatross and is still a layman’s only reference point for the country’s vinous products.
Retsina
Wine was transported through ancient Greece in amphorae, often sealed with ______ to prevent spoilage, and over time the resultant flavor became an acquired taste.
pine resin
Retsina is generally produced as a white wine, from _________ grapes, and flavored with the addition of pine resin, rather than stored in resin-sealed casks.
Savvatiano
Can Restina list a vintage?
It cannot be labeled with a vintage.
Retsina is a Traditional Appellation protected by the EU (as a ______), and is rarely encountered outside of Greece.
PGI
Larger producers, such as _____ and _____, continue to dominate the Greek wine industry, but newer, smaller producers are generating a lot of the excitement.
Boutari and Tsantali
With over _____ indigenous varietals at their disposal, the future for high quality but uniquely Greek wines is bright.
300
Greece first implemented wine laws in _____ and _____, with most of the country’s appellations established in _____.
Greece first implemented wine laws in 1969 and 1970, with most of the country’s appellations established in 1971.
Refined in the 1980s and overseen by the _______, these appellation laws conform to EU standards and resemble the French model.
Greek Wine Institute
There are two levels of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) quality wine in Greece
Controlled Appellation of Origin/ (AOC/OPE)—a status reserved for traditional sweet wines
Appellation of Superior Quality (AOSQ/OPAP).
Even though Controlled Appellation of Origin/ (AOC/OPE)—a status reserved for traditional sweet wines and Appellation of Superior Quality (AOSQ/OPAP) exist, what other category will you possibly see?
While these two separate categories remain, “PDO Wines of Greece” will appear on current and future bottles of wines featuring a designation of origin, especially those destined for export.
Greece PDO wines may carry an aging designation.
“Reserve” indicates what?
“Reserve” indicates a minimum year of aging for white wines, with at least six months in barrel and three months in bottle.
A minimum two years of aging for red wines, with at least one year in barrel and six months in bottle.
Greece PDO wines may carry an aging designation.
“Grand Reserve” indicates what?
“Grand Reserve” requires a minimum two year aging period for white wines, including at least one year in barrel and six months in bottle.
A minimum four year aging period for red wines, including at least 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle.
Below Greece’s PDO category you have what other levels?
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) wines, “Varietal” wines, and “Table” wines.
Greece’s “varietal” category
The “Varietal” category, still awaiting its official unveiling in 2011 due to bureaucratic delays, comprises table wines that carry a vintage and variety on the label
Details on Greece’s “table” wine category
The ordinary “Table” wines cannot carry a vintage or varietal on the label
What is Verdea?
An oxidative white wine produced on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea
Verdea and Restinia are classified under a PDO or PGI?
PGI
Greece’s former vin de pays category
Topikos Inos/ Τοπικοί Οίνοι.
How are Greece’s PGI zones divided?
regional, district, and area levels
Greece’s PGI zones are divided between regional, distract, and area levels. What is an example of a region?
PGI regions are equivalent to the major regions of Greece, such as Peloponnese and Crete
Greece’s PGI zones are divided between regional, distract, and area levels. What is an example of an area?
PGI areas are so small they may only include a single estate.
Greece’s PGI zones are divided between regional, distract, and area levels. What is an example of a distract?
PGI districts correspond to the peripheral units of Greece, a form of political state that replaced prefectures during administrative reform in 2010.
What does “Cava” indicate on a Greek wine label?
“Cava” indicates at least one year of aging for white and rosé PGI wines, and a minimum three years of aging for reds.
How long are whites and reds labeled “Cava” aged in oak?
White and rosé “Cava” wines spend at least six months in oak prior to bottling, and reds are in barrel for at least one year.
What type of Greek wine label would you find the term “Palaiomenos se vareli” on a label and what does it indicate?
may be added to label of Cava, Reserve or Grand Reserve wines to indicate oak aging beyond the requirement minimums.
What do these regions have in come in?
Macedonia, Epirus, Peloponnese, Thessalia, Thrace, and Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)
Greek mainland regions
Macedonia, Epirus, Peloponnese, Thessalia, Thrace, Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)
Greek islands are broadly categorized into the ______ and______ Islands
Aegean and Ionian Islands
Although _______ in northeastern Greece cannot claim any PDO appellations, neighboring Macedonia is home to some of Greece’s best dry red wines.
Thrace
Macedonia’s PDO regions of _______ and ______ produce red wines solely from firmly tannic red grape Xinomavro (“acid-black”)
Naoussa and Amynteo
What varietal does Macedonia’s PDO regions Naoussa and Amynteo produce?
Xinomavro (“acid black”)
Macedonia’s other PDO, Goumenissa, also produces lighter Xinomavro wines with the addition of at least 20% ______.
Negoska
________, established in 1971, is one of Greece’s most successful appellations and is the home of Boutari, one of Greece’s two largest producers and a major force in the modern rejuvenation of Greek winemaking.
Naoussa
What is one of Greece’s most successful regions? Hint: one of Greece’s largest producers is located there.
Naoussa PDO (est. 1971) in Macedonia and Boutari is located there.
________ is Greece’s coolest region and one of the few PDOs allowing production of rosé wines; these may be dry to semisweet, and still or sparkling.
Amynteo
What is Greece’s coolest region and what do they produce?
Amynteo is Greece’s coolest region and one of the few PDOs allowing production of rosé wines; these may be dry to semisweet, and still or sparkling.
What is Greece’s only monopole and where is it located?
Macedonia’s fourth PDO, Slopes of Meliton (Plagies Melitona) is a single appellation for Domaine Carras, a tra
ilblazing, ambitious Greek estate.
Slopes of Meliton (Plagies Melitona) is single appellation (Greece’s only monopole), who owns it?
Domaine Carras
What type of reds are coming out of Greece’s “Slopes of Meliton” PDO?
Red PDO wines from the estate are blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and the native Limnio
What native red grape is the Slopes of Meliton PDO producing?
Limnio
What type of white wines are coming from the Slopes of Meliton PDO?
white PDO wines are blends of the Greek varietals Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Rhoditis.
Who is the winemaker that launched Domaine Carras?
Evangelos Gerovassiliou (he studied under Emile Peynaud)
What white varietal did Evangelos Gerovassiliou of Domaine Carras save from near extinction?
the native white Malagousia grape
What label does Evangelos Gerovassiliou release his Malagousia wine under and where?
His own domaine in the PGI district of Thessaloniki in northern Macedonia
In Thessalia, south of Macedonia, _______ PDO includes four villages on the lower slopes of Mt. Olympus.
Rapsani PDO
In Thessalia, south of Macedonia, Rapsani PDO includes four villages on the lower slopes of Mt._____ Olympus.
Mt. Olympus
The appellation is the southernmost outpost of the Xinomavro grape, wherein the grape’s tannins and acid structure are softened by the warmer climate and mandatory blending with the lighter Krasato and Stavroto grapes. What PDO is this?
In Thessalia, south of Macedonia, Rapsani PDO includes four villages on the lower slopes of Mt. Olympus.
