Greece Flashcards
Modern Greek wine culture (Estate-produced, high quality) dates back to when?
1970s and 1980s
What spurred on Greek exports in recent past?
Financial crisis of 2008 = drop in domestic consumption, producers had to look for exports
Latitude of Greek vineyards
Between 34-42N
Greek climate
Generally Mediterranean
Long hot summers
Short mild winters
(more continental inland)
Santorini is part of what island group?
Cyclades
Rain levels in Greece
Varies widely
Santorini is extremely dry
Average in other regions 400-700mm
Little/no rain during growing season
Water stress a problem = irrigation
Greek soils high or low fertility?
Mostly low fertility; yields low
Except on the fertile plains
Greek farmers usually keep fertile soils for more lucrative crps (less fertile aldn for olives and vines)
Land under vine in Greece
106,000
(only 61,500 for wine, the rest for table and drying grapes)
Average vineayrd holding in Greece
Very small
0.5ha
Why are many Greek vineyards worked by hand?
Very small size (average 0.5ha)
Tricky terrain - mountainous
When did Greece join EU? So what?
1981
Gained access to funding for vineyards etc
Hot dry conditions mean Greece is suitable for what kind of viticulture?
Organic and biodynamic
Vine training Greece
Most are trellised
Cordon-trained with VSP
Irrigaition in Greece
Necessary and permitted
Mostly for international varieties; local varieties adapted to drought
Drip irrigation used awlays
Indigenous varieties account for what % of Greek vineyards?
90%
How many indigenous varieties are there in Greece?
Unknown, more discovered all the time
Estimate 300
Around 60 grown in significant amounts
International varieties took hold in Greece in 1980s. Why?
Demand for them domestically
Concern on part of growers looking to export that export markets wouldn’t want unknown local varieties, hard to pronounce etc
Examples (2) of successful blended wines between one international and one indigenous Greek variety
Sauvignon Blanc with Assyrtiko
Merlot with Xinomavro
Most planted grape variety in Greece
Savatiano
White grape
The workhorse of central Greece
Why is Savatiano considered the workhorse grape of central Greece
Drough resistant!
Large volumes of inexpensive wine, key ingredient in Retsina
Savatiano style
White wine
Subtle aromas of citrus, pear, stone-fruit
Nutty character with age
Greece: most planted white grape, most planted red grape
White: Savatiano
Red: Agiorgitiko
What is notable about Roditis’ skin
White grape with pink skin
Rarely affects colour unless macerated for a few hours
Roditis style
White wine
Medium body
High acid
Ripe melon
What is Greece’s best known and most prized indigenous white grape?
Assyrtiko
Assyrtiko is originally from what part of Greece?
Santorini
Now planted widely on mainland
Assyrtiko acidity level. So what?
High acid, even when fully ripe
Balances high alcohol
Age well
Makes Assyrtiko suitable for luscious sweet wine (eg Visnanto)
Dry Assyrtiko style
Citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit
Strong smoky or flint
If oak aged: fuller body, more secondary
What is Moschofilero
White grape, Greece
Aromatic wines, floral and rose and spice (not unlike Muscat)
High acid
Light body
Low alcohol
Pink skin, pink tinge
Some rose
Moschofilero is mainly planted where
Mantinia, in the Peloponnese
Malagousia style
White wine
Medium acid
Medium body
Complex, intense stone fruit, flowers
Cold sties: herbal, herbaceous
Most planted black grape in Greece?
Agiorgitiko
Agiorgitiko makes what style of wine?
It’s versatile
Lighter, fruity, early drinking -> complex, full body
Rosé
Sweet
Agirogitiko aromas
Ripe red fruit (can become jammy if extra ripe_
Sweet spices
Agiorgitiko mostly found where in Greece?
Peloponnese
Particularly highly regarded from PDO Nemea
Greece’s most prized indigenous black grape
Xinomavro
Where is Xinomavro grown?
All over northern Greece
Most famously from Naoussa in northern Macedonia
Xinomavro often compared to what other grape? Why?
Nebbiolo
In youth: v high acid adn tannin, vegetal rather than frutiy aromas
Pale coloured, turn garnet quickly
Ageing potential for Xinomavro?
The best can age for decades: develop complex flowers, herbs, spices, leather and earthiness
Why is Merlot sometimes blended with Xinomavro?
Merlot softens out Xinomavro’s rough edges
Greek wine production since 1990s: how has volume changed?
Production levels have fallen
2.6m hL in 2017 (vs 3.5m hL in 1990)
Traditionally Greek wines crushed how; fermented in what?
Crushed by foot
Fermented in old casks, oak or chestnut
Two grape varieties that producers are trialling lees contact with? (Greece)
Assyrtiko
Malagousia
Modern day popularity of Retsina started when and why?
Late 19th century
Increased tourism after world wars, sales boomed in 1960s
What is the key additive to Retsina?
pine resin
Where in Greece is Retsina produced?
All over, but mostly from the hot central plains
Key grapes for Retsina?
Savatiano
Roditis
Resin added to retsina at what point?
Added to must, then left on lees for no more than a week after fermentation
Retsina has a special legal status. what is it?
Wine of appellation by tradition
OKP in Greek
Premium Retsina made from what grape?
Assyrtiko
Greek equivalent of PDO?
POP
Prostatevmeni Onomasia Proelefsis
33 of them throughout Greece, 20% of production
How many PDOs in Greece?
33
they’re called POPs
Account for 20% of Greek production
What % of Greek production is PDO level?
20%
Why is PDO Naoussa unusual compared to other Greek PDOs?
It has ageing requirements
Greek PDO wines usually restricted to native varieties. One major exception?
Muscat, for sweet wines
Greek PGI equivalent
PGE
There are 120 of them
62% of overall production
Account for popularity of PGI production in Greece. (62% of production was 20% for PDO)
Less strict rules on growing and winemaking
International varieties!
What is OKP?
A special category for traditional Greek products that don’t quite fit “wine” description
e.g. Retsina
Two leading PDOs in Macedonia
Naoussa
Amynteo
Rainfall in Macedonia
Falls throughout the year
650-700mm, adequate
Water stress not a big issue
Important PGIs in Macedonia?
Drama
Kavala
Fertile soils on plains, warm Mediterranean climate, dry conditions = good and v good quality
Macedonia traditionally white or red wine?
Red
PDOs Naoussa and Amynteo: red only, 100% Xinomavro
Drama Valley: Bordeaux blends
Some noteworthy whites too
PDO Naoussa: grape variety/s?
100% Xinomavro
High acid, high tannins
Complex
Ageworthy
Important producers in Naoussa
Kir-Yianni
Thymiopoulos Vineyards
PDO Naoussa vineyards are where?
South-eastern slopes of MOUNT VERMIO
150-400m
Sheltered from strong winds
PDO Naoussa: traditional ageing/style
Large old wood
Spicy and meaty (rather than fruit)
How has ageing and style for Naoussa developed?
Traditional: large old wood, spicy, meaty flavours
1990s: new French oak, firm tannins, body, oak
Now: more restrained style. riper fruit. cold soak/whole bunch to get more colour but less tannin
PDO Naoussa and PDO Amynteo both around what mountain?
Mount Vermio
Naoussa on southeast side
Amynteo on northwest side
Amynteo temperature is regulated by what?
Lakes
PDO Amynteo what grape/s?
100% Xinomavro
(like PDO Naoussa)
Key difference in wine that can be produced between PDO Naoussa and Amynteo?
Naoussa: red wine only
Amynteo: red and rosé
Wine style: reds from Naoussa vs Amynteo
Both 100% Xinomavro
Amynteo has cooler temperatures (NW side of Mount Vermio, not protected from winds etc)
=> usually lighter body, lower tannin, distinct floral character
Which region has largest vineyard planting in Greece?
Peloponnese
(southern part of mainland)
30% of national planting
Topography of Peloponnese
Mountainous
Poor, rocky soils
Small amounts of faltter land (eg Patra plains)
Peloponnese is dominated by white grapes except for which PDO?
PDO Nemea
Red wines, 100% Agiorgitiko
Key white grapes in Peloponnese?
Moschofilero
Roditis
PGI Slopes of Aigialia is located where
Peloponnese
Name of canal that separates Peloponnese from the rest of mainland Greece
Corinth Canal
PDO Nemea makes what kind of wines?
Red
100% Agiorgitiko
Dry and sweet (sweet are rare)
New style emerging in PDO Nemea
Semi carbonic maceration = fruity flavours, low tannins
(still 100% Agiorgitiko)
Important producers in Nemea PDO
Gaia Wines
Tselepos
Climate in Nemea PDO
Mediterranean
Nemea PDO usually divided into three distinct zones. What are they?
Low zone: valley floor, 230-400m. hottest. most fertile. inexpensive, high-quality sweet.
Mid zone: 450-650m. best for quality. poor soils, low yields, cool days. not homogenous.
High zone: 650-1,000m. agiorgitiko struggle to ripen. rose production.
Mantinia PDO climate
One of coolest grape growing areas in Greece
southerly latitude but high altitude (start 600m)
long growing season, ahrvest in Oct/Nov
Mantinia PDO wine style/grapes
White wines only
Moschofilero min 85% (many are 100%)
Mantinia PDO style
White wine, Moschofilero dominant
High acid
low to med alc
medium (-) to medium body
floral and spicy
Key producers in Mantinia PDO
Boutari and Sémeli Estate
Why is grape growing on Greek Islands relatively expensive?
Difficult conditions (strong winds, low rain, rocky soils with poor water retention)
Most famous Greek island for wine
Santorini (part of Cyclades)
Key grape on Santorini? Key style/s
Assyrtiko
Dry and sweet white
Last major volcanic eruption on Santorini? (and last minor one)
Major: 1500BC
Minor: 1950
Why are vines trained in baskets on Santorini?
Winds are really strong
How are basket vines done on Santorini?
Each year, vines woven around the previous year’s growth
When a basket gets too bulky (20 yrs or so), it’s cut off and new one started from a shoot
Specialsied work => 4x the labour required for conventional trellis
How much more labour intensive is basket training (Santorini) than conventional trellis systems?
4x more labour
Is Santorini rainy?
Very limited rainfall throughout the year
Growing season can be completely dry
Vine density on Santorini
Basket vines
2,500 vines per hectare
Is Phylloxera an issue on Santorini?
No
Some vines have roots and trunks that are 400 years old
Account for low vigour and low yields on Santorini
Volcanic soil is infertile
Low rainfall
Yields in Santorini? Maximum vs average
Maximum 60hl/ha (lowest permitted in Greece)
In practicse, more like 15hl/ha
PDO Santorini for what kind of wines? What requirements?
Drya nd sweet white
Dry: 75% Assyrtiko min
Sweet: 51% Assyrtiko min
many of the best are single varietals
PDO Santorini: dry white style
High acid
Medium to high alcohol
Smoky
Best can age for 10 years in bottle
Honey, toasty
Assyrtiko on Santorini: fermentation temp, vessel
Low temperatures
Stainless steel, other neutral vessel
How is Vinsanto made on Santorini?
Late-harvested grapes (51% Assyrtiko)
Dried in the sun for up to 2 weeks
Aged min 2 years in oak (many age for longer)
encourage oxidation
Santorini Vinsanto style
Raisings, coffee, chocolate
Sweet (200-300g/l)
High acid
Significant producers on Santorini (Vinsanto)
Estate Argyros
Domaine Siglas
How many grape growers in Greece?
7,000
Small plots, sell to large producers
Largest producers in Greece?
Greek Wine Cellars
Boutaris Group
How many wineries in Greece?
1,000
Most very small
Sell wine locally or in bulk to co-ops/big companies
Example of a quality Greek co-op?
Samos
Samos co-op (Greece) has a reputation for what kind of wine?
Sweet
What % of Greek wine is exported?
13%
Biggest export market for Greek wine?
Germany
40% of Greek exports
Key challenge for Greek producers internationally?
Customers unfamiliar with grape vareities
Yet indigenous grapes play an important point of difference
