Greece Flashcards
Retsina make you healthy
Retsina is one of only two traditional PGIs (the other is Verdea), and while the wine can be made anywhere, production tends to be concentrated in Central Greece. Within that region are 15 different appellations that can be listed on the label. They are Gialtra, Evia, Karystos, Viotia, Thebes, Halkida, Megara, Attica, Pallini, Pikermi, Spata, Mesogia, Markopoulos, Peania, and Koropi.
Retsina and Aleppo pine trees.
Legally, the resin, which is extracted from Aleppo pine trees (Pinus halepensis), can account for 0.15 to 1.0% of the wine’s final volume.
Retsina type and labelling
Must be produced exclusively from the Savatiano and Roditis varieties.
Retsina Rose
As Roditis is pink-skinned, it can be used to create a rosé of Retsina called Kokkineli.
Santorini Vinsanto Authorized Varieties…
Min. 51% Assyrtiko, plus Athiri, Aidani, and “small amounts” of other traditional grapes, including Katsanó, Monemvassia, Gaidouria, Moschato Aspro, Platani and Roditis
Vinsanto Minimum Potential / Actual Alcohol:
Vinsanto: 15% (21% after drying process) / 9%
Fortified Dried Grape Wine: 15% / 15-21%
Minimum Must Weight Vinsanto
(Vinsanto): 260 g/l prior to drying; 370 g/l after drying
Vinsanto Aging Requirements …
Aging Requirements:
Επιλεγμένος (“Selected”) or Réserve: These terms are only allowed for dry wines, and are interchangeable. Selected/Réserve wines must age for a minimum 1 year, including at least 6 months in oak barrels and 3 months in bottle.
Ειδικά Επιλεγμένος (“Specially Selected”) or Grande Réserve: Also interchangeable and authorized only for dry wines, these terms require at least 2 years of aging, including a minimum 1 year in oak barrels and 6 months in bottle.
Vinsanto: Vintage wines must be aged for at least 2 years in barrels, and aging must occur on the islands of Thera or Thirasia. If released with an aging statement rather than a vintage, vinsanto must have been aged in an oxidative manner for at least 4 years. The aging statement on the bottle may only be listed as a multiple of 4 (8, 12, 16, etc.).
Samos PDO wine styles …
Sweet Wine: 13%
Natural Sweet Wine: 14%
Natural Sweet Wine from Specified vineyards: 14.8%
Naturally Sweet Wine: 14.8% (17.6% after being Sun Dried)
Samos PDO Authorized Varieties…
Moschato Aspro (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
Samos PDO Additional Requirements…
Natural Sweet Wine from Specified vineyards are must be handpicked [?]
VDN wines must be fortified during fermentation with alcohol of vinous origin of a minimum 95% alc. per volume, to between 5% - 10% of the volume of the spent mash, or 40% of the total volume of the finished product.
VDL wines must be fortified prior to fermentation with alcohol of vinous origin of a minimum 95% alc. per volume. A maximum 1% alcohol from fermentation is allowed.
Chaptalization and addition of concentrate grape must is not allowed.
Vineyards must be older than 3 years before harvesting and are to be trained without trellising in the “Goblet” fashion.
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried): grapes must obtain a minimum 300 g/l sugar content before vinification.
Asproudi (plural: Asproudes)?
A generic term for unknown white grapes (aspro means “white”).
Cava …
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.
Grand cru …
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.
Grand/Grande reserve…
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.
Kouloura/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.
Ktima…
Estate
Mavroudi…
An indigenous variety but also a generic term for unknown red grapes (mavro means “black”).
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.
The Grapes of Greece
Debina
Debina is an important variety in Epirus, where it excels in sparkling and still forms in the high-elevation PDO of Zitsa. It sets big, compact bunches and is sensitive to drought; happily for Debina, Epirus receives relatively high rainfall. The wines tend to be elegant and refreshing, if a bit simple, with semi-aromatic noses of green apple and lemon. Alcohol levels are generally low and acidity is high, hence its predilection for sparkling.
Notable PDOs: Zitsa
Regions of Greece Area Planted
Greece climate …
Greece’s climate is predominately Mediterranean, with abundant sunshine; hot, dry, extended summers; mild winters; and truncated springs.
Climate Greece
Epirus, the central part of the Peloponnese, western Thessaly, and western Macedonia feature continental climates with more defined seasons and cooler, wetter winters.
Attica is the hottest and driest part of Greece, while Epirus and Amynteo are tied for coolest.
Nemea PDO wine styles:
Dry Red Wines
Semisweet Red Wines (produced by stopping fermentation or by adding must concentrate to dry wines)
Vin Doux (Sweet Vin de Liqueur, produced by adding spirit to the must prior to fermentation)
Vin Doux Naturel (Sweet Fortified Red Wines, produced by adding the spirit to the must during fermentation)
Sweet Dried Grape Wines
Nemea PDO Authorized Varieties?
100% Agiorgitiko
Nemea PDO styles:
Dry Red Wines
Semisweet Red Wines (produced by stopping fermentation or by adding must concentrate to dry wines)
Vin Doux (Sweet Vin de Liqueur, produced by adding spirit to the must prior to fermentation)
Vin Doux Naturel (Sweet Fortified Red Wines, produced by adding the spirit to the must during fermentation)
Sweet Dried Grape Wines
Naoussa PDO Authorized Varieties …
Xinomavro
