Greece Flashcards
How long has Greece been producing wine?
5,000+ years
What recent event led to a large increase in Greek wine exports?
The 2008 financial crisis, which forced producers to export wbecause domestic consumption plummeted
What is the climate of Greece? What factors affect conditions besides climate?
Greece is mostly Mediterranean, with more continental climates inland, but the best vineyards tend to be high in mountains at moderate temperatures
What is the largest viticultural threat in Greece?
Strong, onshore winds that can stop photosynthesis, interrupt flowering and fruit set, and delay ripening; can be strong enough to destroy unprotected vines (also very dry and increase water stress)
Which Greek wine region is the exception to its general annual rainfall of 400-700mm?
Santorini, which is very dry
Why have yields traditionally been low in Greece, and what is the result of this practice?
Farmers planted their more fertile soil for more lucrative crops, leaving grapes (and olives) to less fertile soils, which has resulted in many vineyards now planted on soils considered ideal for high-quality production
How many hectares under vine for wine production in Greece?
61,500 ha as of 2018
Why are many vineyards still worked by hand in Greece?
Average holdings are just a half ha, and the terrain is tricky
What led to the widespread modernization of the Greek wine industry?
Greece joining the EU in 1981, which gave them access to funding
What is the state of organic / biodynamic production in Greece?
Hot, dry conditions make Greece suited to organic growing and many producers have done so for centuries; chemical interventions is a relatively recent occurrence
How are vines trained in Greece?
Most are trellised, usually cordon-trained with VSP, but some places may have specific traditional trellis and pruning systems for local conditions (particularly Santorini)
Is irrigation permitted in Greece?
Yes, mostly used for international varieties because local grapes have higher drought tolerance
What percentage of Greek plantings are indigenous grapes? How many varieties are there?
90% of plantings are indigenous, there are around 300 different ones
What is the most widely-planted wine grape variety in Greece?
Savatiano
What are the most widely planted white wine grapes in Greece?
Savatiano, Roditis, Assyrtiko, Moschofilero
What are the most widely planted (indigenous) red grapes in Greece?
Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro
What percentage of Greek wine production is white?
Over 70%
What is Savatiano used for, and why?
Large volumes of inexpensive white wine, including most Retsina, because it is drought resistant and grows in the fertile center of Greece
What is Roditis used for, and why? Where are high-quality examples made?
High-yielding and so is used tor inexpensive wine and Retsina (as a blending partner). Reputation improving at altitude, from old vines, as in the Peloponnese
Describe Assyrtiko
Greece’s most prized indigenous white grape, originally from Santorini but planted throughout the mainland and highly-adaptable. High acid even when very ripe, typically high alcohol, ageworthy, capable of also making very good sweet wines in vin santo style
Describe Moschofilero
Quality Greek variety producing similar fruit and floral aromas to Muscat, with high acid, light body, and low alcohol. Pink-skinned and wines may have pink tinge
Describe Malagousia
Recently revitalized variety with a growing reputation in Greece for high quality whites. Plantings are small but growing rapidly. Med acid, med body, complex stone fruit and floral aromas, herbal in cool areas
Describe Agiorgitiko
Most planted black variety in Greece, producing a range of styles from light and fruity to full-bodied and ageworthy, typically aged in oak with a portion new. Best quality found in PDO Nemea
Describe Xinomavro
Greece’s most prized black variety, grown throughout but most famously in Naoussa in Macedonia. Compares to Nebbiolo; ery structured when young but can age for decades, turning a garnet hue and developing highly complex aromas
Describe traditional Greek winemaking
Crush by foot, fermentation in old oak or chestnut cask, then rested for a few months, drawn off, and consumed
What modernizing changes have been made to Greek winemaking since they joined the EU?
Modern presses, temperature control, stainless steel fermentation vessels, and use of barrique
Examples of traditional or experimental techniques used by modern Greek producers
Natural yeast, shorter extractions, amphorae maturation, and extended lees contact
What techniques led to Retsina’s development?
Use of pine resin to seal amphorae, then used as an additive for flavor
When did Retsina become popular?
In the 1960s, as tourism became a major Greek industry (post World Wars)
Why does Retsina have a reputation for poor quality?
Base wines were made cheaply and badly, and resin was used to try and mask poor uality (or even faulty) base wine0
Describe Retsina production
Savatiano and Roditis are the common varieties. Resin is added to the must (traditionally to the wine) and the wine is left on its lees for no more than a week after fermentation (traditionally much longer)
What is the legal status of Retsina?
Does not comply with standard EU definitions of wine, but it has special status as a “wine of appellation by tradition”
Describe high quality Retsina
Typically made with Assyrtiko, made with ripe grapes and good quality resin
How are sweet wines made in Greece?
Typically with sun-dried grapes, both white and black, with Muscat as one of the most used
What is the Greek equivalent of PDO?
POP (Prostatevmeni Onomasia Proelefis)
How many POP are there, what percentage of production do they represent, and what do their rules govern?
33 POP in Greece, 20% of production, individual POPs lay down rules on grape yields, varieties, and age in Naoussa)
What is the Greek equivalent to PGI?
PGE (Prostatevmeni Geografiki Endiksi)
How many PGE are there, what percentage of production do they represent, and what do their rules govern?
Over 120 PGE, with more added every year, producing 62% of Greek production. Less strict than POP, and allows for international varieties
What are Greek wines without geographical indication called in Greece? What percentage of production do they represent?
Wines from Greece, 18% of production (mostly high volume brands)
Where are Greece’s best-known (internationally) POPs located?
Macedonia, the Peloponnese, and on islands in the Aegean Sea
Where is Macedonia located and what is the climate there?
Northern border of Greece. Large region with a range of conditions, but cool (due to altitude) continental in the northern and western mountains, Mediterranean and warm on the eastern plains
What are Macedonia’s leading POPs? What do they produce?
Naoussa and Amynteo, 100% Xinomavro
Where are high volume wines produced in Macedonia?
The eastern plains due to fertile soils and dry rain shadow
Where are Bordeaux blends grown in Macedonia?
The warm, dry Drama Valley in the east
Where is Naoussa located? What affects grapegrowing there?
Macedonia, on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Vermio. The best sites are protected from cold winds from the north and west
Two significant producers in Naoussa
Thymiopoulos vineyards and Kir-Yianni
What is the typical style of wine made in Naoussa?
100% Xinomavro with long macerations designed to age. Spicy, meaty, sometimes with new oak barrique. Modern style is also emerging using riper fruit and cold soaking or whole bunch fermntation to produce less tannic wines
How does the local terroir affect the flavor profile of Naoussa?
There is a mixture of soils and microclimates based more on aspect and topography than altitude, so there is a a range of expressions (with village and single-vineyard wines becoming more popular as a result)
What types of wine are made in Naoussa outside the PDO system?
Quality roses and Xinomavro / Merlot blends
Where is POP Amynteo located? What affects grapegrowing there?
On the northwestern side of Mount Vermio in Macedonia. Vineyards are at higher altitude than Naoussa, meaning exposure to cold northern winds. There is also moderating lake effect (with some humidity as a result) and areas of fertile soil
How do the PDO regulations differ between Amynteo and Naoussa?
Amynteo permits rose production
How do wines from Amynteo differ from those of Naoussa?
Due to the cooler temperatures, Xinomavro is usually lighter in body, lower in tannin, and with more floral notes. However, generalizations are hard and there is significant stock of old vines producing concentrated wines
Significant producer in Amynteo
Alpha Estate
Where are the most PDOs located in Greece? What are the most significant of these?
Peloponnese, the peninsula that forms the southern part f the Greek mainland. Nemea and Mantinia are the most important
What factors affect the terroir of the Pelopponese?
Poor rocky soils, mountainous topography, and temperatures moderated by altitude
Outside of the PDOs, what is wine production like in the Peloponnese?
High volume, inexpensive wines, mostly made from Roditis and Agiorgitiko, with some good quality production at the PGI tier
What are the PDO regulations for Nemea?
100% Agiorgitiko, permitted in both dry and sweet styles
What is the “new” style of Nemea production?
Semi-carbonic maceration to enhance fruity flavors and keep tannin low, sometimes with restranged oak
Where is Nemea located?
Near the Corinth Canal, which separates the Peloponnese from the rest of the mainland
Two significant Nemea producers
Gaia Wines and Tselepos
What are the “zones” of Nemea and how do they differ?
Three zones based on altitude. Lowest is the valley floor, with the warm temps and fertile soil (usually inexpensive wines), middle zone is coler and with poor, free-draining soils that naturally limit yields (considered best zone for quality), highest zone can cause ripening problems due to cool temps and clay soil (often used for rose)
Where is Mantinia located, and what affects grapegrowing there?
South and west of Nemea, in the Pelepponese. High elevation (600M) makes it one of the coolest regions of Greece, with a very long growing season
What are the PDO regulations and general style of Mantinia?
Min 85% Moschfilero (best producers use 100%). High acid, low to med alc, med body, floral and spicy. Typically stainless and best young
Two significant producers in Mantinia
Boutari and Semeli Estate
What factors influence grapegrowing in the Aegean Sea?
Strong winds, low rainfall, and rocky soils with poor water retention
What are the important Aegean islands for wine production?
Santorini, Paros, Tinos, Samos, Lemnos, and Crete
What factors affect grapegrowing on Santorini?
Particularly strong winds, requiring vines to be trained low in a basket shape to protect.
Describe the system of vine training used on Santorini
Vines are trained low in a basket shape. Each year, the vines are woven around the previous year’s growth for stability. When a basket gets too builky (every 20 years or so) it is cut off and restarted. Highly specialized work, requires 4x more labor than conventional systems
What is the typical style of wine from Santorini?
Assyrtiki with distinctive smoky notes in addition to the fruit aromas. high acid, ageworthy, honey and toast with age. Some experimenting with ak and lees contact
What is Vinsanto?
Sweet, late-harvest Assyrtiko dried in the sun and aged for at least two years in oak before release. Different from Vin Santo
Two producers from Santorini
Estate Argyros and Domaine Sigalas
What is the basic structure of the Greek wine industry?
Growers working very small plots selling their grapes to large producers (the largest are Greek Wine Cellars and the Boutaris Group)
What organizations were responsible for the poor quality wine that gave Greece a poor reputation?
Co-ops established in the 1920s by the government, which dominated the industry until the 1980s
What percentage of Greek wine is exported?
13%
What is the biggest challenge to growing the Greek export market?
Introducing Greek varieties and language to an international audience unfamiliar with them
