Greece Flashcards
Give a brief description of retsina.
Retsina is generally produced as a white wine, from Savatiano or Roditis grapes, and flavored with the addition of pine resin, rather than stored in resin-sealed casks. Per Greek law, it cannot be labeled with a vintage. Retsina is a traditional appellation protected by the EU (as a PGI)
What style is covered by Controlled Appellation of Origin, or Οίνοι Ονομασίας Προελεύσεως Eλεγχόμενης (AOC/OPE)?
Traditional sweet wine.
What does réserve refer to on a Greek wine label?
Réserve indicates a minimum one year of aging for white wines, with at least six months in barrel and three months in bottle, and a minimum two years of aging for red wines, with at least one year in barrel and six months in bottle.
What does Grande Réserve refer to on a Greek wine label?
Grande Réserve requires a minimum two-year aging period for white wines, including at least one year in barrel and six months in bottle, and a minimum four-year aging period for red wines, including at least 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle.
What is Verdea?
An oxidative white wine made on the island of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea
Minimum 50% Skiadopoulo, plus Pavlos, Robola, Goustolidi, Avgoustiatis
What are the districts of Ionian Islands?
Corfu (Kerkyra)
Lefkada
Zakynthos
What does PGI Cava on labels mean?
W / Rosé - at least one year ageing of which at least 6 months in barrel.
R - at least three years ageing of which at least 1 year in barrel.
What does Palaiomenos se vareli mean on PGI wine labels?
Oak ageing beyond the required minimums.
Name the PDO regions of Macedonia.
Amynteo
Goumenissa
Naoussa
Slopes of Meliton
Name the 3 PDO regions of Thessalia.
Anchialos
Messenikola
Rapsani
Name 5 historic producers that spearheaded Greek evolution of wine industry.
Boutari, Achaia Clauss, Kambas, Kourtakis, and Tsantali.
What is Meltemi? Define its effect.
A wind known as the Meltemi 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.
What is Tsipouro?
Vin doux naturel wines are produced when spirits are added to a partly fermented wine, and fortification is generally executed using Tsipouro, Greek grappa. This is considered the superior approach to fortification, and all grand cru Greek wines must be made using this method.
True or false - a wide diurnal range due to higher altitude is key to preserve freshness in many Greek wine regions, despite sunny Mediterranean climate
True
Name native grapes of Crete.
W - Vidiano and Vilana
R - Liatiko
What’s the most planted red grape variety in Santorini?
Mandilaria
What’s the principal PDO for Moschofilero?
Mantinia - min 85% Moschofilero
Describe the quality structure of Greek wine as per the quality wine system.
- PDO or POP = quality wine equivalent to PDO
- PGE = country wine with geographic designation equivalent to IGP. Within this category there’s Regional PGI, District PGI and Area PGI
- Oinos = Table wine
- OPK = Wine of Traditional Designation = wines defined by traditional winemaking methods used rather than geography. Eg. Retsina and Verdea.
To which island is Liatiko native?
Crete
What are the white and red varietals used for Slopes of Meliton PDO?
W - Roditis, Assyrtiko, Athiri
R- Cabernet Sauvignon, Lemnio and Cabernet Franc
Which varietals are blended with Mandilaria on Crete?
Kotsifali or Liatiko
Which varietal is blended with Mandilaria on Santorini?
Mavrotragano
Name two famous Mavrodaphne appellations in Greece.
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia
For which variety is Epanomi Area PGI famous?
Malagousia
What’s the PDO that requires 85% Moschofilero in the wines?
Mantinia PDO in Peloponnese
Which PDO is famous for Robola?
Cephalonia - Robola of Cephalonia PDO
What are the three peninsula’s in Macedonia called?
Halkidiki
Name a top producer in Naoussa.
Kir Yianni
What varietal is co-fermented with Xinomavro in Goumenissa PDO?
Min. 20% Negoska in Goumenissa’s reds
What’s the mountain range in Naoussa called?
Mount Vermio
What are the wine styles in Naoussa and Amynteo?
Naoussa: dry and (semi) sweet red
Amynteo: dry and semi-sweet sparkling rose + rose + dry red
What are the two PDO’s that allow international varieties in their blends?
Slopes of Meliton PDO
Messenikola PDO in Thessaly (Syrah and Carignan are allowed. Main grape is Mavro Messenikola)
What are the three PDO’s of Thessaly?
Rapsani PDO
Anchialos PDO
Messenikola PDO
Style and grapes in Rapsani PDO?
Dry red
Xinomavro co-fermented with Stavrato and Krasato
What’s the grape of Anchialos PDO?
Roditis (+ Savatiano also allowed)
Which PDO is located on the slopes of Mt Olympus?
Rapsani PDO
What’s the PDO of Epirus?
Zitsa PDO
Main grape in Zitsa PDO?
Debina
Describe Retsina production.
Retsina is produced by the addition of the natural resin extracted from pinus halepensis (commonly known as Aleppo Pine) before the start or during alcoholic fermentation. The maximum amount of addition is 1kg/hl. Having left only its aroma in the wine, the resin is then removed.
Who produces Megas Oenos and where is it produced?
Domaine Skouras - it is a blend of 80% Agiorgitiko and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Nemea
Name a ‘Cru’ of Nemea.
Koutsi
What’s the grape of Patras PDO?
Roditis
Who was the first producer of Mavrodaphne of Patras?
First created in 1861 by Achaia Clauss
What’s the other grape variety in Mavrodaphne of Patras PDO?
Corinthiaki
What are the two Muscat appellations in Patras called?
Muscat of Patras PDO
Muscat of Rio Patras PDO
What’s the style of Mavrodaphe of Patras?
VDN or VDL style. Always fortified.
What’s the main grape variety of Verdea?
Skiadopoulo
What are the styles in Monemvassia Malvasia?
Naturally sweet white (sun dried)
Fortified sweet white (VDN)
Which islands form the Cyclades Island group?
Santorini
Paros
Which islands form the Dodecanese Island group?
Rhodes (east)
Crete (south)
What’s the late Summer wind in Cyclades called? This wind extends the growing season.
Meltemi
Name principal producers in Santorini.
Sigalas
Gaia
Boutari
What are the white grapes of Santorini?
Assyrtiko
Aidani
Athiri
What are the red grapes of Santorini?
Mandilaria
Mavrotragano
Describe Santorini’s Vinsanto production.
Grapes of at least 51% Assyrtiko (and the rest Aidani and Athiri) are picked and then sun-dried. Fermentation takes sometimes several years and the minimum ageing period is 2 years in wood.
What is Nykteri?
Dry wine made from very ripe grapes harvested before dawn and pressed within a day. Aged for a minimum of 3 months in barrel. Made in Santorini.
What’s the style and grape in Paros PDO?
Dry white made with Monemvassia.
Dry red made with Mandilaria co-fermented with Monemvassia.
Style and grape of Malvasia of Paros PDO?
Sweet wine made with sun-dried grapes of Monemvassia and max. 15% Assyrtiko.
What is Slopes of Ambelos PGI famous for within Samos?
Famous for producing dry white wines from Muscat Blanc.
Styles and grape(s) of Samos?
Natural Sweet Wine (VDN)
Natural Sweet Wine from Specified vineyards (VDN - Grand Cru)
Sweet Wine (VDL)
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)
Moscato Aspro (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)
Describe Samos’ ‘Nectar’.
Made with Muscat Blanc grapes that are unfortified. Aged in oak for at least 6 years before release.
Describe Samos’ ‘Anthemia’.
Unfermented must is fortified and aged for at least 5 years in oak.
Describe ‘Grand Cru’ Samos Muscat.
From select vineyards above 400 metres. Only slightly fortified. No use of oak.
Grape variety of PDO Muscat of Lemnos?
Muscat de Alexandria.
What are the PDO’s of Crete?
Sitia PDO
Peza PDO
Daphnes PDO
Archanes PDO
Candia PDO
Malvasia Candia PDO
Malvasia Sitia PDO
Style and grapes in Malvasia Candia PDO and Malvasia Sitia PDO?
VDN or Vin Naturellement Doux
Assyrtiko, Athiri, Vidiano, Thrapsathiri and Liatiko + max. 15% Malvasia di Candia Aromatica + Muscat Blanc
Styles in Candia PDO?
Dry white
Dry red (Kotsifali + Mandilaria)
What are the main grapes for white and red in PDO Sitia?
W- Vilana
R- Liatiko
Styles and grapes in Peza PDO?
Dry whites - Vilana
Dry reds - Kotsifali and Mandilaria
Style(s) and grape(s) in Archanes PDO?
Dry red only.
Kotsifali and Mandilaria.
Style(s) and grape(s) in Daphnes PDO?
Dry and sweet wines made with 100% Liatiko.
What are the principal native Cretan grapes?
W - Dafni, Plyto, Vilana, Vidiano (mostly made into PGI Crete)
R- Liatiko
What is the predominant soil type in Crete?
Limestone and clay.
Especially in eastern Crete there’s extensive limestone, so wines stay fresh in hot and dry conditions.
What’s the PGI called in northeastern Macedonia?
Drama PGI.
What does Selected/ Reserve mean on Santorini label?
Applies to dry wines only.
Minimum ageing period of 1 year, including at least 6 months in oak barrels and 3 months in bottle.
What does Specially Selected/ Grande Reserve mean on Santorini label?
Only applies to dry wines.
At least 2 years of ageing is required, including at least 1 year in barrel and 6 months in bottle.
Minimum ageing requirements for Santorini’s Vinsanto?
Vintage - 2 years in wood.
Ageing statement - 4 years in wood.
Describe Santorini’s soils.
Soils are volcanic and consist of a combination of basalt, volcanic ash, sand and volcanic rocks.
Self-rooted, no phylloxera.
