Greece Flashcards
What ingredient defines Retsina?
What is the most commonly used grape?
Aleppo Pine Resin, used to seal amphora for travel and to prevent oxidation.
Savatiano, though Roditis and Assyrtiko also figure in
Name 3 producers of Retsina
Kechris, “Tears of the Pine,” Assyrtiko
Tetramythos, Roditis
Papagiannakos, Savatiano
When did Greece begin officially delimiting appellatins?
1971
What famous chateau tapped Emile Peynaud to help them modernize?
What is the PDO they are the sole producer for?
Domaine Carras
Slopes of Meliton PDO
At 450ha, this can be considered the largest single-vineyard in Greece
What mountain range forms the spine of Greece?
The Pindos Mountains
They are an extension of the Alps
What are the regions of Greece?
Thrace Macedonia Epirus Thessaly Sterea Ellada (Central Greece) Peloponnese Ionian Islands Aegean Islands Crete
Generally speaking, what is Greece’s climate like?
Mediterranean
Abundant sunshine; hot, dry summers; mild winters
What wind sweeps through the Aegean?
The Meltemi
It is a dry air from the north, and it especially affects Santorini
All of Greece’s PDOs are dedicated to indigenous varieties except which?
Slopes of Meliton PDO
(Cab Sauv, Limnio, Cab Franc)
Messenikola PDO
(min. 70% Mavro Mesenikola, max. 30% combined Carignan and Syrah)
What “traditional wines” exist under PGI classification for Greece?
Verdea: oxidized white wine from the Ionian island of Zakynthos, 50% Skiadopoulo
Retsina: aromatized white wine allowed in 15 locations
What may not be featured on the label of a Retsina wine?
Vintage
What are the aging requirements for a Greek wine listed as Grand Reserve?
What is the maximum size allowed for barrel aging?
White: 2 years total, 12 months in bottle, 6 months in barrel
Red: 4 years total, 18 months in bottle, 18 months in barel
Grand Reserve wines cannot be aged in barrels larger than 600hl
What is the traditional vine training method of Santorini?
What does it accomplish?
Kouloura or Stefani: vines are trained on the ground like a basket or crown.
It protects the grapes from hot, dry winds, and preserves moisture.
Name 5 sweet wine PDOs of Greece
Malvasia Candia Malvasia Sitia Daphnes Mavrodaphne of Paros Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia Muscat of Cephalonia Muscat of Patras Muscat of Rio Patras Muscat of Rhodes Samos Monemvasia-Malvasia Santorini Vinsanto
What are the varietal requirements for Goumenissa PDO wines?
Xinomavro with min. 20% Negoska
What are the varietal requirements for Rapsani PDO wines?
Xinomavro, with Stavroto and Krassato
Historically, the grapes were mandated to be co-fermented in equal measure, but this has changed.
What are the white grapes of Santorini?
Assyrtiko, Aidani, Athiri
What is the min. % of Assyrtiko for Santorini PDO?
What is the min. % of Assyrtiko for Santorini Vinsanto?
75%
51%
What are the styles and varietal requirements of Zitsa PDO?
What region is it located in?
Dry White, Sparkling White Dry/Semi-Dry
100% Debina
It is the only PDO in Epirius
What PDO is dedicated to Moschofilero?
Mantinia PDO
What are the notable indigenous grapes of Crete?
Liatiko, Vidiano, Thrapsathiri, Vilana
Who was the first producer to bottle wine in Greece?
Boutari
What is the famous monk owned vineyard in Macedona?
What is planted there?
Mount Athos Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Assyrtiko, and others
What PDO sits on the slopes of Mount Olympus?
What producer dominates the production of wine here?
Rapsani PDO
Tsantali
What separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece?
The Gulf of Corinth
Name 3 producers of Nemea
Skouras
Gaia
Aivalis
In the production of Mavrodaphne of Patras, what do the following age statements indicate?
Reserve
Vieille Reserve
Grand Reserve
Reserve: 3 years total, 2 years in cask, 1 year in bottle
Vieille Reserve: 5 years total, 3 years in cask, 2 years in bottle
Grand Reserve: 7 years total, 3 years in cask, 3 years in bottle
What is the minimum time a NV Mavrodaphne of Patras must age after blending?
3 years
What is the fundamental difference between a vin de liqueur and a vin doux naturel?
Vin de Liqueur is fortified before fermentation
Vin Doux Naturel is fortified during fermentation
What lauded Greek wine estate is located in Ilia?
What varietal do they uniquely work with?
Domaine Mercouri
Refosco
What portion of Greece never fell under Ottoman rule?
The Ionian Islands
What feature is home to the highest quality vineyards on Cephalonia?
Mount Ainos
What are the aging requirements of Santorini Vinsanto?
If vintage dated, the wine must be aged at least 2 years in barrel
If released with an aging statement, it must have been aged at least 4 years in an oxidative environment (further aging statements move in increments of 4).
What PDO allows for the inclusion of white grapes for the production of red wine?
Paros PDO
min. 35% Mandilaria with Monemvassia co-fermented
What are the varietal requirements for the production of Sitia PDO wines?
White: 70% Vilana with Thrapsathiri
Red: 80% Liatiko with Mandilaria
Sweet: 100% Liatiko
What is often considered the oldest named wine in continuous production?
What are the grapes? How is it made? How long must it age?
Name a producer
Commandaria
Mavro and Xynisteri
Sun-dried grapes
2 years in oak
Tsiakkas
