Greece Flashcards
Greeces climate
Mediterranean
34-42N
Long hot summers, short mild winters
Inland is increasingly continental w/ hotter summers and freezing winters
What temperature moderating factor is responsible for many of Greeces best vineyards?
Altitude
Greece is very mountainous
The winds of the Greek islands can impede what viticulturally
Stop photosynthesis
Interrupt flowering and fruit set
Delay ripening
Can destroy unprotected vines
Increase water stress
Rainfall in Greece
Little to none during the growing season except in mountainous areas in N and W
Irrigation essential, where water is available
Soil in Greece is
Varied but poor, limiting yields
Fertile soils reserved for more demanding crops
Half of the vineyards in Greece produce what?
Table or drying grapes
Indigenous varieties account for what % of plantings in Greece?
90%
Top varietals in Greece
Roditis
Savatiano
Agiorgitiko
Muscat of Hamburg
White Muscat
Merlot
Moschofilero
Assyrtiko
What % of production does white wine represent?
70%
Roditis
Pink skinned
High yielding
Mainly used for inexpensive and Retsina
Med body, high acid, melon
Savatiano
Drought resistant
Large volumes, inexpensive
Common in retsina
Low yield, bush trained, dry farmed for quality
Citrus, pear, stone fruit, nutty w/age
Assyrtiko
Originally from Santorini
Retains high acidity even in hottest conditions
Good for sweet wine - Vinsanto
Citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit, smoke/flint
Moschofilero
Aromatic
Citrus, rose, spices, Muscat like
High acid
Light body, low alcohol
Pink skinned
Planted in Mantinia
Malagousia
Almost extinct
Med acid, med body, stone fruit/ flowers/herbal
Agiorgitiko
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
Xinomavro
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
PDO in Greece create rules on what
Varieties
Growing
Winemaking
Naoussa also adds maturation requirements
Usually restricted to native varieties
Macedonia
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
Naoussa
SE slopes of Mount Vermio
Btw 150-400m
Sheltered from N/W winds but still cool
100% Xinomavro
High acid, high tannin, age long
Naoussa soil/climate
Varied based upon aspect and topography than altitude
Amynteo
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
Peloponnese
Peninsula of S Greek mainland
30% national total many vineyards for raisins
Mountains, poor, rocky soils
Temp moderated by altitude
White grapes
Nemea
Red only
Agiorgitiko
Dry/sweet
Mediterranean
Varying rainfall impacts yields
Lower zone of Nemea
Valley floor 230-400m
Hottest
Inexpensive or sweet wines
Middle zone Nemea
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
Mantinia
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
Santorini
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
Largest producers in Greece
Greek Wine Cellars
Boutaris Group
% of exports in Greece
11%
