Greece Flashcards
Which grapes are used in Vinsanto production?
Assyrtiko and Mandilaria (red)
Major white grape of Santorini
Assyrtiko
What is the main grape used in the Peloponnesian Mantinia PDO?
Moschofilero
Most planted variety in Greece
Savatiano, mostly for Retsina prod.
Greece’s highest peak
Mt Olympus (3,000 meters)
Main mountain range
Pindos Mountains
(southernmost extension of the Alps)
What are the 4 seas surrounding Greece?
Ionian- west
Mediterannean- Southwest
Aegean- East
Libyan- South of Crete
What natural features separate Peloponnese from mainland Greece?
Corinthian Gulf and Corinthian Canal
Climate of Greece
Mediterranean
Main regions in the north of Greece
North Macedonia, Macedonia, Thrace
Main island in the Ionian Sea
Cephalonia
Central Greece is also known as ?
Sterea Ellada
The wine growing region surrounding Athens is known as?
Attica
Main island of Central Greece?
Evia
What is the name of the wind that directly affects the Aegean?
“The Meltemi”
(meaning “a year of bad weather”)
What is the most important appellation of Macedonia?
Naoussa
Which are the only 2 PDO’s that are not dedicated to indegenous Greek varietals?
Slopes of Meliton (cabernet, cabernet franc, Lemnio
Messenikola (Mavro Mesenikola, syrah, carignan)
To be bottled as a PDO what % of the fruit must be both grown and vinified within the appellation?
100%
What are the Greek PGI levels?
- Regional
- District
- Area (some are single vineyards)
PGI bottling requirements
Min 85% of grapes should come from the appellation, although all of the grapes must be vinified within the PGI’s boundary.
What is the name for Greek Grappa?
Tsipouro-
Generally used for fortification of sweet wines
What is Verdea?
Oxidized white wine from the Ionian island Zakynthos. Has it’s own PGI classification
True or false:
Retsina can be vintage labeled
for PGI wines?
False
What are requirements for the “Varietal” category of Greek wines?
- Vintage and variety are displayed on the label, but not the origin of the fruit.
- Min 85% of a wine must come from the stated vintage.
- If single variety is listed on the label, 85% of the fruit must come from that variety. If more than one variety is listed, 100% of the wine must be composed of those varieties.
What does Cava mean?
(For PGI and Varietal wines only)
Refers to a minimum of oak aging.
For white and rosé wines, this is one year of aging with at least six months in barrel. For reds, three years of aging with at least one year in barrel.
What does Grand Cru mean in Greek wines?
Applies to certain sweet wines, made via the vin doux naturel process, that are sourced from select vineyards of a given region, typically from higher elevation sites.
What does Grand/Grand Reserve mean?
For PDO wines only.
Refers to a minimum of oak aging. For white wines, this is two years of aging with at least one year in barrel and six months in bottle. For reds, four years of aging with at least 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle. White grande reserve wines cannot be aged in barrels larger than 600 liters.
Describe the Kouloura/Stefani vine training method
Traditional vine training of Santorini
Vines are trained along the ground in a basket shape. This protects the grapes from the harsh, hot winds.
What does Ktima mean?
Estate
What is Mavroudi?
Term used for unknown red grapes
What is “Paleomenos se vareli?”
For PDO, PGI, and Varietal wines that are labeled with cava, reserve, or grande reserve. Indicates extended oak aging beyond the required minimums.
What does “Reserve” mean?
For PDO wines only. Refers to a minimum of oak aging. For white wines, this is one year of aging with at least 6 months in barrel and 3 months in bottle. For red wines, two years of aging required with a minimum of 12 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle.
What is the sole permited varietal in the Nemea PDO?
Agiorgitiko
Also grown in Attica and central Peloponnese
Describe Liatiko
Liatiko is an indigenous red variety of Crete, where it is used to create both still and sweet wines.
What is Asproudi?
A generic term for unknown white grapes (aspro means “white”).
What is Moschato Aspro?
Muscat Blanc
What is Vin Liastos?
Wine from sun dried grapes
Xinomavro in Macedonia and Thrace is usually blended with?
Syrah or Merlot
Name of the gulf to the east of Peleponnese?
Argolikos
PDO’s for dessert wines
Muscat of Cephalonia, Muscat of Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras, Muscat of Rhodes, Samos
Assyrtiko’s little brother is known as
Robola. Important to the Ionian Islands, best on Cephalonia.
What is the leading grape in Naoussa and Goumenissa?
Xinomavro
Which grapes are used to make the Cretan wine Acharnes?
Mandilaria
Native grape to the island of Lemnos
Limnio
Wines from the Zitsa PDO of Epirus are made from which grape?
Debina
Most planted grape on Crete
Vilana (white)
True of False-
Irrigation is illegal in Greece
True
Which region borders southern Bulgaria?
Thrace
Which mountain range protects Thrace from northern winds?
Rodopi mountains
Which grape is most important in the Amynteo PDO of Macedonia?
Xinomavro
100% Red, rose, sparkling
Majority producer in Slopes of Meliton PDO?
Domaine Porto Carras
Name of the 3 peninsulas in the north Aegean sea
Halkidiki Peninsulas
Smallest PDO in Greece
Rapsani PDO in Thessaly Approx 40h
