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.