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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > Greece > Flashcards

Greece Flashcards

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

What is Retsina? What grapes is it made from?

A

aromatized wine flavored with pine resin, Pinus halepensis

Savvatiano

can NOT carry a vintage

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2
Q

What are the Traditional Appellations included in the Greek PGI category?

A

Retsina- aromatized, pine resin white wine

Verdea- oxidized white wine from Ionian island Zakynthos

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3
Q

List PDOs within Macedonia PGI

A

Naoussa
Amynteo
Goumenissa
Slopes of Meliton

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4
Q

Macedonia important red grapes

A

Xinomavro
Negoska
Limnio

CS, CF
Moschomavro- widely planted but not high quality

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5
Q

Macedonia important white grapes

A

native: Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Athiri, Rhoditis

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6
Q

Name a producer Macedonia

A

Tatsis
Magoutes
Domaine Nerantzi

Tsantali
Boutari

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7
Q

PDOs within Thessalia PGI

A

Rapsani
Messenikola
Anchialos

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8
Q

PDOs within Epirus? Wine styles?

A

Zitsa

dry, semisweet, sparkling from Debina grape

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9
Q

Thessalia important grapes?

A

red: Xinomavro, indigenous Limniona
white: Roditis, Savvatiano

lots of Muscat of Hamburg planted, for table grapes and Tsipouro production

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10
Q

Sterea Ellada

A

aka central Greece

mostly Retsina, from Savvatiano and Roditis.

no PDO zones, notable district PGI: Attica (Athens), and the island Evia

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11
Q

PDOs within Peloponnese PGI?

A

Nemea*
Mantinia
Patras

Dessert wine:
Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras
Mavrodaphne of Patras

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12
Q

Peloponnese PGI- important grapes?

A

Agiorgitiko (St George)
Moschofilero
Mavrodaphne
Roditis
Muscat Blanc
Monemvassia

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13
Q

What are the Ionian Islands?

A

Cephalonia
Kerkyra (Corfu)
Lefkada
Zakynthos - Verdea made here

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14
Q

Cephalonia- where is this? Grapes?

A

Ionian island. Mount Ainos.

dry wines on higher elevations (min 50): 400-850
sweet: Mavrodaphne and Muscat

Robola of Cephalonia PDO - dry whites from 100% Robola (Sclavos producer)

Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia PDO- sweet fortified, min 50% Mavrodaphne

Muscat of Cephalonia PDO- VDL, VDN, sun dried, Grand Cru VDN

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15
Q

List the Aegean Islands

A

Santorini
Rhode
Samos
Crete
Limnos
Paros

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16
Q

Crete- PDOs?

A

Archanes
Daphnes
Sitia
Peza
Candia
Malvasia Candia
Malvasia Sitia

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17
Q

Crete important red and white grapes?

A

white: Viliana, Vidiano

Red: Liatiko, Mandilaria

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18
Q

Santorini PDO

A

whites from: Assyrtiko, Athiri, Aidani

Vinsanto: sweet dried grape wine
fortified dried grape wine is also allowed, but not made

also Nykteri- very ripe grapes

volcanic basalt on top of limestone and schist

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19
Q

Nykteri

A

This unusual dry wine is a historical product of Santorini, made with very ripe grapes that are harvested before dawn and pressed within a day. The wine is then aged for a minimum of three months in barrel, though longer is common, and sometimes, flor develops.

The result is a full-bodied, distinctive wine high in both alcohol and acidity.

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20
Q

Crete producer?

A

Iliana Malihan
Domaine Economou

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21
Q

Santorini producer?

A

Paris Sigalas
Hatzidakis

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22
Q

Greece mountains

A

Pindos- forms the spine of Greece, southernmost extension of the central Alps.

Mount Olympus is the tallest peak at 3000 m.

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23
Q

Water surrounding Greece

A

Ionian sea to west
Aegean sea to east
Libyan sea to south

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24
Q

tsipouro

A

greek grappa

used to fortify greek VDNs

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25
Q

Asproudi

A

generic term for white grapes in Greece

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26
Q

Cava - greece

A

for PGI and varietal wines, refers to a minimum of oak aging

white/rose: 1 year, with 6 m in barrel
red: 3 years, with 1 year in barrel

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27
Q

Ktima

A

greek term for estate

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28
Q

Agiorgitiko

A

“St. George’s Grape”

Nemea PDO

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29
Q

Liatiko

A

red grape indigenous to Crete

Daphnes PDO
Sitia PDO

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30
Q

Limnio

A

also Lemnio- red grape of northern greece

Limnos PDO
Slopes of Meliton PDO

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31
Q

Mandilaria

A

red grape of Greek islands

Archanes PDO
Candia PDO
Paros PDO
Peza PDO
Rhodes PDO
Sitia PDO

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32
Q

Mavrodaphne

A

red grape indigenous to Greece

Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia PDO
Mavrodaphne of Patras

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33
Q

Xinomavro

A

black grape, northern Greece

Amynteo PDO
Goumenissa PDO
Naoussa PDO
Rapsani PDO

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34
Q

Aidani

A

white grape, greece

Santorini PDO

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35
Q

Assyrtiko

A

Malvasia Paros PDO
Santorini PDO
Slopes of Meliton PDO

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36
Q

Athiri

A

white grape likely native to Santorini

Rhodes PDO
Santorini PDO
Slopes of Meliton PDO

37
Q

Debina

A

white grape, greece

Zitsa PDO

38
Q

Malagousia

A

white grape, greece

Rhodes PDO

39
Q

Moschofilero

A

pink skinned variety, in Peloponnese and Ionian islands

Mantinia PDO

40
Q

Most planted white grapes greece

A
  1. Savatiano
  2. Roditis
41
Q

Vidiano

A

white grape, native to Crete

Candia PDO majority
Malvasia Candia PDO auth
Malvasia Sitia auth

42
Q

Viliana

A

white grape, native to Crete

Peza PDO
Sitia PDO

43
Q

Nemea PDO

A

in Peloponnese, southern Greece. 3 distinct soils based on elevation: red clay in lowest areas, varied/poor soils in the middle, limestone at highest areas. cooler than Mantinia

100% Agiorgitiko
Dry, semi sweet, sweet, and VDN

notable cru: Koutsi, a limestone-rich region that sits at around 650 meters (2,130 feet) and is the headquarters for Gaia.

Skouras, Gaia

44
Q

Megas Oenos

A

wine made by Skouras, in Nemea (but not labeled PDO)- blend of Agiorgitiko and Cabernet aged in NFO.

45
Q

Patras PDO

A

in Peloponnese, southern Greece
100% Roditis

dry - semi sweet white wine

46
Q

Mantinia PDO

A

in Peloponnese, southern Greece. soils are rich in clay and rocky. on a plateau around 700m elevation, protected by mountains. ripening is not guaranteed, and winter snow is common. this cliamte is unlike the surrounding areas

min. 85% Moschofilero, plus Asproudes (generic term for indigenous white grapes). in practice most are varietal.

dry white & sparkling

47
Q

Mavrodaphne of Patras PDO

A

in Peloponnese, southern Greece
Mavrodaphne and a max. 49% Mavri Korinthiaki

VDL from dried grapes and non-dried grapes

Aging Requirements: Min. 1 year in oak barrels of 1,000 liters or less

“Reserve”: Min. 3 years, including 2 years in cask and 1 year in bottle
“Vieille Reserve”: Min. 5 years, including min. 2 years in cask and 2 years in bottle
“Grand Reserve”: Min. 7 years, including a min. 3 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle
Non-Vintage blends require a minimum 3 years of aging after the final blend.

48
Q

Liasta

A

sun dried wines or vin liastos, from the Greek word “Helios” for “sun”, are sweet wines traditionally produced in Greece since prehistoric times. Their name indicates the practice of sun-drying the grapes after the harvest so that they may become partially desiccated. The place where the grapes are laid out in the sun to dry is now called a “liastra” and corresponds to the ancient Greeks’ “heliasterion” or “theilopedon”.

49
Q

Muscat of Patras

A

in Peloponnese, southern Greece- Muscat of Rio Patras is the same

100% Moschato Aspro (blanc a petit grains)

Fortified Wine (VDN)
Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru)
Fortified Wine (VDL- before fermentation)
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)

Patras is on clay based soils, and lower elevation - wines are heavier

Rio Patras- milder climate, more floral

50
Q

Daphnes PDO

A

on Crete
red from 100% Liatiko

Dry, VDL, VDN, sun dried

51
Q

Sitia PDO

A

on Crete

White: Min. 70% Vilana, plus Thrapsathiri
Red: 80% Liatiko, plus Mandilaria (Mandilari)

52
Q

Santorini PDO

A

in the Aegean Sea

Dry Wines: Min. 85% Assyrtiko, plus Athiri and Aidani

Vinsanto/ Liastos: Min. 51% Assyrtiko, plus Athiri, Aidani, and “small amounts” of other traditional grapes, including Katsanó, Monemvassia, Gaidouria, Moschato Aspro, Platani and Roditis

Vin santo can be naturally sweet or fortified

volcanic soils

53
Q

Santorini min abv dry wines

A

12%

54
Q

Paros

A

Aegean Island. Mount Profitis

White: 100% Monemvassia
Red: co-fermentation of minimum 35% Mandilaria grape, and Monemvassia must

55
Q

Rhodes

A

Aegean Island

white, red, rose, sparkling

White: minimum 70% Athiri
Red/Rose: minimum 70% Mandilaria

CAIR is a big producer here

56
Q

Dodecanese

A

group of islands east of Cycladese

Rhodes is the only one of viticultural note

57
Q

where did the Greeks bring wine?

A

Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and up the Danube almost as far as Austria.

58
Q

Greece climate

A

generally mediterranean- warm and dry.

Attica (Athens)- warmest, driest

Epirus and Amynteo - coolest

Continental: Epirus, western Macedonia, western Thessaly

only Macedonia and Thrace receive summer/ harvest rains

59
Q

Meltemi

A

a wind that regularly sweeps the Aegean. The name loosely translates to “a year of bad weather” and occurs when a high-pressure system falls over the Balkans and a low-pressure system sits over Turkey. It blows very dry air from the north, typically between mid-May and late September, which has an especially profound effect on Santorini

60
Q

Tsipouro

A

greek grappa

used to fortify vin doux naturel wines

61
Q

Greek Grand Cru wine

A

Applies to certain sweet wines, made via the vin doux naturel process (partially fermented, fortified with tsipouro), that are sourced from select vineyards of a given region, typically from higher elevation sites.

62
Q

greek PDOs that allow non-indigenous varieties?

A

Slopes of Meliton (allows CS, CF)
Messenikola (allows syrah, carignan)

63
Q

grande/ grande reserve greece

A

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. cannot be aged in barrels larger than 600 liters.

For reds, four years of aging with at least 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle.

64
Q

santorini vine training

A

koulura/ stefani - A traditional method of vine training specific to Santorini, wherein vines are trained along the ground in a basket shape. This protects the grapes from the harsh, hot winds. it also helps take in water from morning fog and dew- the only source of water during much of the growing season

65
Q

Mavroudi

A

An indigenous variety but also a generic term for unknown red grapes (mavro means “black”).

66
Q

Paleomenos se vareli:

A

For PDO, PGI, and Varietal wines that are labeled with cava, reserve, or grande reserve. Indicates extended oak aging beyond the required minimums.

67
Q

greek reserve wine

A

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

68
Q

Thrace

A

nothern greece. Bulgaria to north, Turkey to east, Aegean Sea to south

cool northerly winds blocked by Rodopi mountains

Mavroudi and Limnio important grapes

Tsantali - producer here

69
Q

Amynteo PDO

A

in Macedonia, Greece. one of the coldest pockets of Greece. On the NW facing side of Mount Vermio. Amynteo occupies a plateau that sits between 520 and 720 meters (1,705 – 2,630 feet) in elevation, and its vineyards are mostly flat. sandy soils

100% Xinomavro

rose, sparkling rose (dry-off dry), dry red

also called Amindeo

70
Q

Naoussa PDO

A

in Macedonia, Greece. 80 and 350 meters (260 – 1,150 feet). east facing. heavier soils with more clay.

100% Xinomavro
Dry Red, Semi-Dry Red, Semi-Sweet Red

13 crus, some notable: Trifolow (lower elevation), Fytia (higher elevation), Ramnista

producers: Kir-Yianni

71
Q

Goumenissa PDO

A

in Macedonia, Greece. 150-300 m elevation, at the foot of Mount Paiko. clay-loam soils. south facing.

Xinomavro, Negoska (20% minimum)
dry red wine

72
Q

Slopes of Meliton PDO

A

in Halkidiki, Macedonia, Greece. solely for the vineyard of Domaine Porto Carras

450 hectares under vine, one of the largest single vineyards in Greece.

The soil is sandy loam with limestone, and the vineyards extend from 100 to 350 meters (330 – 1,150 feet) in elevation. Many of the slopes are steep, which necessitates terracing, and the climate is Mediterranean.

dry red made from Limnio with Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc

dry white made from Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Roditis.

Granted in 1982, this was the first of two PDOs to allow international varieties.

73
Q

Thessaly- geography

A

surrounded by the Pindos Mountains. relatively flat compared to most of greece. soils are schist and grey clay

74
Q

Rapsani PDO

A

in Thessalia, Greece. on southeast-facing slopes of Mount Olympus. vineyards stretch from 150 to 800 meters (490 – 2,625 feet)

soils: loess at the bottom stratum, sandy loam in the middle, and red-tinged ferric schist at the top

dry reds from Xinomavro cofermented with Stavroto and Krasato

75
Q

Messenikola PDO

A

in Thessalia, Greece.

dry reds from min 70% Mavro Mesenikola, maximum 30% combined Syrah and Carignan

near the banks of Lake Plastira, on gravel-rich clay soils at elevations up to 750 meters (2,460 feet)

Tsantali is the major producer here

76
Q

Anchialos PDO

A

in Thessalia, Greece

dry-semi sweet whites from:
80% Roditis with 20% Savatiano

77
Q

Epirus

A

north-western greece, borders Albania. Ionian sea to west. mountainous and high elevation- average is 700 meters.

78
Q

Zitsa PDO

A

in Epirus, Greece. Pindos mountains to east. 500-700m elevation

*cool continental climate!

Dry white
Sparkling white: dry, semidry

100% Debina

79
Q

Monemvasia-Malvasia PDO

A

in Peloponnese, Greece

Naturally Sweet White (Vin Liastos/Sun Dried)
Fortified Sweet White (VDN)

Min. 51% Monemvassia, plus Assyrtiko, Asproudes, Kydonitsa

80
Q

Cyclades

A

cluster of islands in the south Aegean sea, includes Santorini and Paros (and Mykonos)

hot and dry

81
Q

kanaves

A

smaller winery, greece, OR underground cellars?

82
Q

Samos PDO

A

in the northern Aegean Islands, greece.

Natural Sweet Wine (VDN)
Natural Sweet Wine from Specified vineyards (VDN - Grand Cru)
Sweet Wine (VDL)
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)

100% Moschato Aspro (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)

steep slopes, granitic soils

83
Q

Ouzo

A

distilled from grape pomace, flavored with anise. the addition of water or ice causes oils to come out of solution, and the liquid takes on a cloudy appearance.

min 37.5% abv

PDO status in 2006

84
Q

Lemnos PDO

A

Greek island in the north Aegean

dry-semi sweet white
sundried and fortified white
dry red

White: Moschato Alexandrias
Dry Red: Limnio (Kalampaki)

85
Q

PDOs that can make Greek Grand Cru wine

A

all VDN:

Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras
Muscat of Cephalonia
Muscat of Rhodes
Muscat of Lemnos (Alexandria)
Samos

86
Q

Moschato Aspro

A

Greek term for Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains

87
Q

Greek term for Muscat of Alexandria

A

Moschato Alexandrias

88
Q

greek dry wines RS?

A

max 4/l generally

Master Sommelier Theory 2025 (57 decks)

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