Greece

Question 1

What are the white varieties found in Greece?

Answer 1

Savatiano, Roditus, Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, and Malagousia

Question 2

What are the black grape varietals found in Greece?

Answer 2

Agiogitiko and Xinomavro

Question 3

Describe Savatiano grape varietal?

Answer 3

most planted varietal in Greece. considered the “workhorse” grape of Central Greece largely due to its drought resistance.

Question 4

What is Savatiano used for mainly

Answer 4

to produce large vol of inexpensive wine and is the most common ingredient for Retsina.

Question 5

How is Savatiano’s reputation beginning to rise?

Answer 5

with some very good quality examples from low-yielding dry farmed bush vines.

Question 6

What are some characteristics of Savatiano wines?

Answer 6

subtle aromas of citrus, pear, and stone fruit. Can get a nutty character with age.

Question 7

how much of total production in greece does white wine make up?

Answer 7

70%

Question 8

What is the 2nd most planted grape varietal in Greece?

Answer 8

Roditis - widely planted throughout Greece

Question 9

What color skin in Roditis?

Answer 9

pink - no affect on the wine’s color unless macerated for a few hours)

Question 10

What has made Roditis popular

Answer 10

high yields

Question 11

What is Roditis mostly used for?

Answer 11

inexpensive wines and blending ingredient for Retsina

Question 12

How is Roditis reputation improving?

Answer 12

due to higher quality wines being made at altitude and from old vines

Question 13

What are some qualities of the best Roditis

Answer 13

med bodied
high acidity
flavors of ripe fruit such as melon

Question 14

What is Greece’s best known and most prized indigenous white grape?

Answer 14

Assyrtiko

Question 15

Where was Assyrtiko originally from and where is it planted now

Answer 15

originally from Santorini now planted widely on the mainland and adaptable to different conditions.

Question 16

What kind of acidity does Assyrtiko maintain when grapes are ripe

Answer 16

high acidity even in the hottest conditions

Question 17

What is a characteristic of Assyrtiko that helps it to age well?

Answer 17

high acidity balances the typically high alcohol levels

Question 18

What style of wine is Assyrtiko ideal for producing?

Answer 18

lusciously sweet wines such as Visanto from Santorini

Question 19

Describe characteristics of dry Assyrtiko wines

Answer 19

citrus, stone and tropical fruit, often with strong smoky or flint characteristics

Question 20

How do some producers make Assyrtiko wines?

Answer 20

where at least a part of it is aged in oak often leading to fuller body, and different profile flavors (less primary and more secondary characteristics)

Question 21

What is Moschofilero prized for?

Answer 21

quality potential

Question 22

Name characteristics of Moschofilero wines?

Answer 22

aromatic notes of citrus, flowers (particularly rose petals), and spices - somewhat similar to Muscat.

Question 23

General SAT for Moschofilero wines?

Answer 23

aromatic notes of citrus, flowers (particularly rose petals), and spices
high acidy
light bodied
relatively low in alcohol
pink tinge (from pink skins) sometimes rose is made from it.

Question 24

When is Moschofilero mostly planted

Answer 24

Mantinia in Peloponnese

Question 25

Which grape was almost extinct about 20 years ago?

Answer 25

Malagousia

Question 26

What has Malagousia established a reputation for

Answer 26

producing high quality wines and while plantings are still very small it is spreading rapidly throughout Greece.

Question 27

General SAT for Malagousia

Answer 27

complex and intense aromas of stone fruit and flowers - sometimes herbaceous notes when grown in cooler areas or picked early
med acidity
med body

Question 28

How are grapes fermented for Malagousia wines?

Answer 28

stainless steel, old oak or proportions of new oak.

Question 29

Where in Greece is Malagousia grown?

Answer 29

in most areas

Question 30

what is the most planted black varietal in greece?

Answer 30

Agiorgitiko

Question 31

What types of wines can Agiogitiko make?

Answer 31

a wide range from lighter fruitier styles for early drinking to a more complex, full bodied, age worthy style. even roses and sweet wines.

Question 32

Describe Agiogitiko red wines

Answer 32

deeply colored
ripe red fruits (can be jammy if allowed to get extra ripe) and sweet spices
med acidity
med to high levels of soft tannins
med alcohol

Question 33

How is Agiohitiko wines aged?

Answer 33

aged in oak with some proportion of new oak

Question 34

Where is Agiohitiko typically found in Greece?

Answer 34

typically found in Peloponnese and comes highly regarded from the PDO Nemea.

Question 35

What is Greece’s most prized indigenous black Varietal?

Answer 35

Xinomavro

Question 36

Where can Xinomavro be found in Greece?

Answer 36

It can be found all over northern Greece but its most famous wines are from Naoussa in northern Macedonia.

Question 37

What grape is Xinomavro likened to?

Answer 37

Nebbiolo

Question 38

Describe Xinomavro

Answer 38

can have unpleasantly high levels of acidity and grippy tannins with aromas that are more vegetal than fruity.

pale in color then turn garnet rapidly
can benefit from long bottle aging

Question 39

How are the best wines produced using Xinomavro?

Answer 39

from lower yielding vines and aging in oak, it can age for decades
aromas of flowers, herbs spices, leather, and earthiness

Question 40

What are some ways that producers can make wines that are more accessible in their youth using Xinomavro?

Answer 40

using riper grapes and less extraction they are able to make wines that are fruiter with lower levels of acidity and often aged in new oak. Merlot can often be used to help soften out the edges of Xinomavro as well.