Eastern Mediterranean Flashcards
Describe what makes a wine Kosher
Essentially, the grapes and wine are only to be handled by Sabbath observing Jews. If the winemakers are more secular, they can’t engage in the physical activities of winemaking, or even touch the barrels. No winemaking on Sabbath- automation is important. All additives and cleaning materials must be kosher certified.
Most stringent certification is mevushal, meaning “cooked,” which required flash pasteurization. Not all Kosher wines are cooked.
Who invented drip irrigation?
Simcha Blass, in Israel in the mid 1900s.
What is the major wine region in Lebanon?
Bekaa Valley
other region is Batroun, on the northern coast
Between which two mountain ranges is the Bekaa valley?
Mount Lebanon range
Anti-Lebanon Mountains- form the border with Syria, ends at Mt Harmon, beginning of Golan Heights
Bekaa Valley elevation? Climate?
900-100m
Mount Lebanon barricades the Bekaa from Mediterranean humidity, while the Anti-Lebanon range shields the valley from the Syrian desert’s heat.
The Litani River, which frequently runs dry in the summer months, extends the length of the Bekaa Valley before emptying into the Mediterranean just north of Tyre.
alluvial soil, lots of variation though
Lebanon important red grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault,
Lebanon important white grapes
Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscat
indigenous: Obaideh and Merweh
What is arak?
an unsweetened grape-derived spirit. Arak undergoes multiple distillations (typically two to four), most traditionally in a Moorish copper still, with anise seed added before the final distillation. The spirit is then aged in cloth-covered clay amphorae. For serving, arak is typically cut with two parts water to one part spirit, which gives it a cloudy appearance, similar to absinthe when diluted.
National drink of Lebanon
Eastern Mediterranean
What is Raki?
anise flavored grape spirit from Turkey (similar to arak)
Turkey major winegrowing regions
Thrace: western side, borders Bulgaria and Greece.
Aegean: further down coast
Anatolia: inland regions
Marmara - in the NW
Marmara and Aegean account for around 90% of production
Turkey climate and influencing factors
Thrace: influence of Marmara, Aegean, and Black Seas- mediterranean.
Aegean: very warm, planting on higher elevation inland valleys that are cooled by wind
Anatolia: continental. more humid summers, colder winters
Turkey major international grapes
Cabernet, Merlot, Grenache, Tempranillo, Cinsault, Alicante Bouschet
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Turkey indigenous red grapes
Okuzgozu (“bulls eye” - large berries)
Kalecik Karasi
Bogazkere (“throat puckerer”)
other reds: Çalkarası, Papazkarası, and Karasakız
Papazkarasi (“black priest”)
Turkey indigenous white grapes
Narince
Emir
Yapincak
Sidalan
Israel main wine regions
Golan Heights- mountainous, volcanic soil
Upper Galilee - hillier. limestone, volcanic, terra rossa
Lower Galilee - around Mt Tabor
Coastal Plain - hot and humid
Judean Foothills
Central Mountains
Mount Carmel
Shomron Hills
Negev
Israel old wine regions
Galilee- including Golan Heights
Shomron- including the Northern Coastal Plain, Mount Carmel, Menashe Hills, Shomron Hills
Samson including the Central Coastal Plain and the Judean Foothills
Judean Hills
Negev- southern desert region
Israel important red grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Syrah
Carignan
Argaman (Carignan x Souzao)
Indigenous: Baladi Asmar, Bittuni
Israel important white grapes
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Marawi (indigenous)
Dabouki (indigenous)
Emerald Riesling: riesling x muscadelle
Cyprus grapes
Xinisteri- white, indigenous, promising
Mavro- red indigenous, best in Commanderia
white: Promara, Morokanella
red: Maratheftiko, Yiannoudin
Cyprus geography
The island was formed through the subduction of the African plate beneath the Anatolian plate, forming Cyprus’s stark, mountainous terrain. As such, much of Cyprus is blanketed in various volcanic-derived soils, particularly along the central Troodos Mountain range, around which most vines are cultivated.
Cyprus important PDO and PGIs
there are 7 PDOs, but only Commandaria is notable
PGIs are used: Larnaka, Lemesos, Lefkosia, Pafos
Turkey occupies the northeastern sector
What is Commandaria?
both a PDO in Cyprus, and the world’s oldest continually produced named wine, documented as early as 800 BC (though likely made earlier). originally called “nama” - sweet wine
region covers 14 villages in south-central Cyprus, south of the Troodos Mountains.
It is an amber colored dessert wine made from dried Mavro (red) and Xynisteri (white) grapes. bush vines. grapes are sun dried for about 2 weeks.
two main styles: non-vintage, fortified wines composed primarily of Mavro made at the larger firms, and vintage-dated, unfortified examples with a higher concentration of Xynisteri
large firms: KEO, Etko, Sodap, and Loel
Syria- grapes? Name a producer?
Cabernet
Chardonnay
Arak- anise flavored spirit
Domaine de Bargylus
Jordan- grapes?
mostly grapes for Arak
Also: Cab, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Chenin
Israel producers
Three largest: Carmel Winery, Barkan Wine Cellars, and Golan Heights
Carmel (Baron Edmond de Rothschild - Lafite)
Golan Heights
Margalit
Domaine du Castel
Israel indigenous grapes
white: Marawi, Dabouki
red: Baladi Asmar, Bittuni
Emerald Riesling
riesling x muscadelle
successful in Israel
Lebanon important producers
Chateau Ksara- largest. also makes arak
Chateau Musar
Chateau Kefraya
Domaine des Tourelles
Chateau Nakad
Where did the Phoenecians come from?
modern Lebanon, northern Israel, and southern Syria
the Phoenicians essentially invented the commercial wine trade. they were a maritime civilization, and merchants
they spread the vine throughout the mediterranean and southern Europe, notably to Northern Africa, the Greek Isles, Sicily, and as far west as Cadiz (Andalucia)
Turkey producers
Kayra
Vinkara Wines
Yeni- Arak
Jordan - where is viticulture? producer?
in the plains on the eastern banks of the Jordan River
St George, from Bulos Zumot is a producer
Jordan River is a producer as well
Morocco regions
The East - Berkane AOG, Angad AOG and Beni Sadden AOG
Meknès/Fès - Guerrouane AOG, Beni M’tir AOG, Saiss AOG and Zerhoune AOG,
The Northern Plain - Gharb AOG
Rabat/Casablanca - Chellah AOG, Zemmour AOG, Zaër AOG, Sahel AOG and Zenatta AOG
El-Jadida - Doukkala AOG
What are Moroccan appellations?
AOG - Appellation d’Origine Garantie
Morocco geography
Atlas mountains bisect the country, separating the Sahara dessert from the Atlantic coast
Morocco wine region?
best is Meknès region, midway between the peaks of the Middle Atlas and the Atlantic coast. This location enjoys a relatively balanced climate, sheltered from both the Sahara and the ocean.
What is Mahia?
national alcoholic beverage of Morocco. The traditional Jewish brandy is distilled from figs, dates, grapes and is flavored with aniseed.
Morocco grapes
mostly red, lots of french influence- Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Cabernet
