Greece

Question 1

Greeces climate

Answer 1

Mediterranean
34-42N
Long hot summers, short mild winters
Inland is increasingly continental w/ hotter summers and freezing winters

Question 2

What temperature moderating factor is responsible for many of Greeces best vineyards?

Answer 2

Altitude
Greece is very mountainous

Question 3

The winds of the Greek islands can impede what viticulturally

Answer 3

Stop photosynthesis
Interrupt flowering and fruit set
Delay ripening
Can destroy unprotected vines
Increase water stress

Question 4

Rainfall in Greece

Answer 4

Little to none during the growing season except in mountainous areas in N and W
Irrigation essential, where water is available

Question 5

Soil in Greece is

Answer 5

Varied but poor, limiting yields
Fertile soils reserved for more demanding crops

Question 6

Half of the vineyards in Greece produce what?

Answer 6

Table or drying grapes

Question 7

Indigenous varieties account for what % of plantings in Greece?

Answer 7

90%

Question 8

Top varietals in Greece

Answer 8

Roditis
Savatiano
Agiorgitiko
Muscat of Hamburg
White Muscat
Merlot
Moschofilero
Assyrtiko

Question 9

What % of production does white wine represent?

Answer 9

70%

Question 10

Roditis

Answer 10

Pink skinned
High yielding
Mainly used for inexpensive and Retsina
Med body, high acid, melon

Question 11

Savatiano

Answer 11

Drought resistant
Large volumes, inexpensive
Common in retsina
Low yield, bush trained, dry farmed for quality
Citrus, pear, stone fruit, nutty w/age

Question 12

Assyrtiko

Answer 12

Originally from Santorini
Retains high acidity even in hottest conditions
Good for sweet wine - Vinsanto
Citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit, smoke/flint

Question 13

Moschofilero

Answer 13

Aromatic
Citrus, rose, spices, Muscat like
High acid
Light body, low alcohol
Pink skinned
Planted in Mantinia

Question 14

Malagousia

Answer 14

Almost extinct
Med acid, med body, stone fruit/ flowers/herbal

Question 15

Agiorgitiko

Answer 15

Black varietal
Light fruity/dark age worthy/rose/sweet
Deep color, med acid, high/soft tannin, med alc
Ripe red fruit/sweet spice

PDO Nemea

Question 16

Xinomavro

Answer 16

Northern Greece
Naoussa, Macedonia
Likened to Nebbiolo
High acid, grippy tannin, vegetal
Pale colored. Turn garnet fast
Aging gives flowers, herbs, spices, leather, earth
Blended w/Merlot to soften

Question 17

PDO in Greece create rules on what

Answer 17

Varieties
Growing
Winemaking
Naoussa also adds maturation requirements
Usually restricted to native varieties

Question 18

Macedonia

Answer 18

Mtn in N and W
Plains in E
Continental in mountains but cool due to altitude
Rain falls through year
Plain is Mediterranean, rain shadow so drier
Fertile soils
Traditionally red

Question 19

Naoussa

Answer 19

SE slopes of Mount Vermio
Btw 150-400m
Sheltered from N/W winds but still cool
100% Xinomavro
High acid, high tannin, age long

Question 20

Naoussa soil/climate

Answer 20

Varied based upon aspect and topography than altitude

Question 21

Amynteo

Answer 21

Opposite slope of Naoussa
NW slope
Btw 570-750m
Exposed to N winds
Cool summer/cold winters
Site selection crucial- lakes offer moderation increase humidity
Fertile soils- control yields for ripening
100% Xinomavro rose permitted

Question 22

Peloponnese

Answer 22

Peninsula of S Greek mainland
30% national total many vineyards for raisins
Mountains, poor, rocky soils
Temp moderated by altitude
White grapes

Question 23

Nemea

Answer 23

Red only
Agiorgitiko
Dry/sweet
Mediterranean
Varying rainfall impacts yields

Question 24

Lower zone of Nemea

Answer 24

Valley floor 230-400m
Hottest
Inexpensive or sweet wines

Question 25

Middle zone Nemea

Answer 25

450-650m Best for quality Poor, free draining soil limit yields Cooler days slow sugar while tannin/flavor ripens Sites varied by altitude and aspect

Question 26

Mantinia

Answer 26

Plateau starting at 600m Altitude cools despite south - coolest in Greece Longest growing season White only Moschofilero- 85% min High acid, low/medium alc, med body, floral/spicy

Question 27

Santorini

Answer 27

Assyrtiko Basket trained - 4x labor of trellis Low rainfall Moisture from fog from caldera in am Low density planting Poor soil Low yields 75% Assyrtiko for dry 51% Assyrtiko for sweet High acid, med to high alc Vinsanto- late harvest sun dried 2 yr in oak - raisin, coffee, chocolate

Question 28

Largest producers in Greece

Answer 28

Greek Wine Cellars Boutaris Group

Question 29

% of exports in Greece

Answer 29

11%