Greece Flashcards
What is Retsina flavoured with?
Aleppo pine resin
Which grape variety is used for Retsina?
Savvitiano (white)
Rhoditis (pink skinned)
Which Traditional wine of Greece cannot be labelled with an appellation?
Retsina
Name two large producers that dominate the Greek wine industry.
Boutari
Tsantali
What are the two PDO levels of Greek wine?
Which is used for traditional sweet wines?
Controlled Appellation of Origin - AOC - used for traditional sweet wines
Appellation of Superior Quality - AOSQ
What does the term ‘Reserve’ mean in the context of Greek labelling?
Whites - minimum 1 year of aging, minimum 6 months in wood, minimum 3 months in bottle
Red - minimum 2 years of aging, minimum 1 year in wood, minimum 6 months in bottle
What does the term ‘Grand Reserve’ mean in the context of Greek labelling?
Relates to PDO wines only
Whites - minimum 2 years of aging, minimum 1 year in wood, minimum 6 months in bottle
Red - minimum 4 years of aging, minimum 18 months in wood, minimum 18 months in bottle
Can Greek ‘Varietal’ and ‘Table’ wines carry a vintage and variety on the label?
Varietal - yes
Table - no
Can Greek ‘Varietal’ and ‘Table’ wines carry a geographical indication?
NO
What type of wines are included in the Greek PGI classification?
Traditional appellations:
Retsina
Verdea
What are the three PGI districts of Retsina?
Attica
Evia
Viotia
Eva and Violet work at Attica
What is Verdea?
A Traditional Appellation of Greece
A PGI
An oxidative white wine from island of Zakynthos in the Ionian sea
Zakynthos is south of Cephalonia
What does the term ‘Cava’ mean for Greek wine?
Relates to PGI and Varietal wines of Greece, an aging term.
White and Rosé - 1 year of aging, 6 month in wood
Red - 3 years aging, 1 year wood
What does ‘palaimenos se vareli’ mean?
Can be written on a Greek Cava, Reserve or Grand Reserve wine to indicate aging longer than the minimum requirement.
Means ‘aged in a barrel’
How is Aleppo resin added to Retsina?
In the first part of fermentation, as a ‘teabag’.
May contribute 0.5-1% of the total volume of the finished wine
What is Kokkineli?
A rosé style Retsina made from Rhoditis
What percentage of fruit for a Greek PDO must come from that region?
100%
What percentage of fruit for a Greek PGI must come from that region?
85%
Which region is famous for wines made from 100% Agiorgitiko?
Nemea
Where is Nemea? Which grape variety is it known for?
West of Athens, on the Peloponnese peninsula.
100% Agiorgitiko
Which regions make wines from 100% Xinomavro?
Amynteo PDO (also called Amyndeon)
What styles of wine can be made in PDO Amynteo?
100% Xinomavro
Method traditional OR tank sparkling rosé (dry and semi-sweet)
Rosé
Red
Describe the geography of PDO Amynteo.
Location - Northern Greece, close to the border of Macedonia. In the Macedonia province.
Altitude and Aspect - On a flat plateau at 500-750m asl
Climate - Continental. Surrounded by mountains, one of coldest regions in Greece, moderated by lakes.
Soil - Sandy soil with some limestone. Low phylloxera due to sand.
Which Greek PDO makes dry and semi-sweet rosé by tank or traditional method, rosé and red wines, all from a single grape variety?
PDO Amynteo
Where is Thrace?
North east Greece, south of Bulgaria.
What is the major city in Macedonia region?
Thessaloniki
Which Greek region is home to the Boutari and Tsantali winemaking families?
Macedonia
Where is PDO Naoussa located?
In Macedonia
West of Thessaloniki
East of Amynteo
Describe the geography of PDO Naoussa.
Location - Northern Greece, close to the border of Macedonia. In the Macedonia province.
Altitude and Aspect - East facing slope, 80-350m asl, slopes of Mt Vermion
Climate - Continental.
Soil - Clay and limestone
What is the most famous (historic) producer in Naoussa?
Boutari
The first to bottle wine in Greece, this Naoussa was the first Greek region to be put on a label.
Can PDO Naoussa blend Xinomavro with international grape variteties?
Not for PDO.
Often blended and sold as a PGI however
How many cru of Naoussa are there?
13
Which was the first Greek appellation?
Naoussa (1971)
Which varieti/es is PDO Naoussa made from?
Xinomavro
Where is Goumenissa?
Northern Greece, on the border with Macedonia. Macedonia region. North east of Naoussa.
What varieti/es is Goumennissa made from?
Xinomavro
Must have minimum 20% Negoska
Which of Greece’s three Xinomavro-dominant PDOs is the warmest?
Goumenissa
What does Negoska bring to the blend in PDO Goumenissa?
Fruit forward, softly structured.
Goumenissa wines are riper and more generous than Naoussa or Amynteo.
What is distinctive about PDO Slopes of Meliton?
A PDO for a single producer with a large 450ha estate
Allows international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) to be blended with the local grape Limnio. A white also made from Assyrtiko, Rhoditis and Athiri
Coastal area, south east of Thessaloniki
What is the name of the sole producer of PDO Slopes of Meliton?
Domaine Porto Carras
Largest organic vineyard in Greece
Which PDO is the only outside of Macedonia to feature Xinomavro?
PDO Rapsani
Xinomavro blended with Stavroto and Krasato
Who is the largest producer of PDO Rapsani?
Tsantali
Don’t own any vineyards, but vinify 95% of production
Which two Greek PDOs can include international grape varieties?
Slopes of Meliton (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc)
Messenikola (Carignan, Syrah)
What is the PDO of Epirus?
PDO Zitza
Tell me about PDO Zitza.
Grape variety - Debina
Westernmost region of Greece, near Corfu
Elevated limestone plateau
Still, semi-sparkling and sparkling wines
When dry and traditional method, some of the finest sparkling wines of Greece
Which region makes very good quality dry traditional method sparkling wine from Debina?
PDO Zitza
Region of Epirus
What is Sterea Ellas?
The region of ‘Central Greece’ south of Thessaly
Does Central Greece / Sterea Ellas have any PDOs?
No, but many PGIs, including Attica, Evia and Viotia, district PGIs for Retsina.
Which factors mitigate the heat of the Peloponnese?
The Mediterranean coast
The Peloponnese is made up of seven peaks - altitude
How many PDOs in Peloponnese?
Seven:
3 for dry wine
4 for sweet wine
Which varieti/es is PDO Nemea made from?
100% Agiorgitiko
What styles of wine can be made in PDO Nemea?
All 100% Agiorgitiko
Dry red Semi-sweet red Vin Doux (fortified before fermentation) Vin Doux Naturel (fortified during fermentation) Sweet dried grape wines
What is ‘Blood of Hercules’?
Wine made from Agiorgitiko - the wines gave him strength to defeat the Lion of Nemea
Which variety is ‘Blood of Hercules’ made from?
Agiorgitiko
What is Megas Oenos?
Significant wine made by Skouras in Nemea.
A wine made from a blend of Agiorgitiko and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in new French oak. Came as a contrast to the traditional light and fruity styles from Nemea. First made mid 1980s.
Skouras ‘Megas Oenos’
What is Koutsi?
A cru of Nemea
Limestone rich soil at 650m asl
Headquarters for Gaia
Where is PDO Mantinia?
In the centre of the Peloponnese, district of Arcadia.
Which varieti/es is PDO Mantinia made from?
A Moschofilero blend, but often varietal.
Can be dry still wine or tank or TM sparkling (anywhere from dry to sweet)
What does ‘Asproudes’ mean?
A mixture of indigeneous Greek white grapes.
How many PDOs are in Patras?
Four
Patras
Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Which varieti/es is PDO Patras made from?
100% Rhoditis, made as a dry white
How do Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras differ?
Both made from Muscat blanc a petits grains.
Both can be made as a VIn Doux (fortified before fermentation), Vin Doux Naturel (fortified during fermentation) or made from dried grapes.
But -
Muscat of Patras grown on heavy clay soils, wines heavier
Muscat of Rio Patras grown closer to the coast with milder climate, wines are lighter and more floral.
What is Grand Cru Muscat of Patras and Grand Cru Muscat of Rio Patras?
Made from Muscat blanc a petits grains, as a Vin Doux Naturel, from a named vineyard.
Which varieti/es is PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras made from?
Minimum 51% Mavrodaphne
Maximum 49% Mavri Korinthinaki
What is Moschato Aspro?
Greek term for muscat blanc a petits grains
How is Mavrodaphne of Patras made?
Top producers -
fortify during fermentation (vin doux naturel)
Lesser producers -
blend spirit and unfermented must (as for vin de liqueur, or mistelle)
Aged in oak minimum 1 year
‘Reserve’ - aged in oak minimum 2 years, plus 1 year in bottle
‘Vieille’ - aged minimum 5 years, in oak minimum 2 years, plus 2 years in bottle
‘Grand Reserve’ - aged minimum 7 years, in oak minimum 3 years, plus 3 years in bottle
Can be vintage or non vintage (if non vintage, must be aged for 3 years)
What are the aging requirements for PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras Reserve?
Aged minimum 3 years
Minimum 2 years in oak
Minimum 1 year in bottle
What are the aging requirements for PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras Vieille?
Aged minimum 5 years
Minimum 2 years in oak
Minimum 2 years in bottle
What are the aging requirements for PDO Mavrodaphne of Patras Grand Reserve?
Aged minimum 7 years
Minimum 3 years in oak
Minimum 3 years in bottle
What style of wines are made in PDO Malvasia-Monemvasia?
Sweet wines made from dried grapes, can be fortified or unfortified.
Aged 2 years in oak
Minimum 51% Monemvasia
Where is PDO Malvasia-Monemvasia?
Southern Peleponnese
Which PDO for dry wines is located in the Ionian Sea?
PDO Robola of Cephalonia
85% of the wines are made by the Cooperative of Cephalonia Robola Producers.
What are the PDO of Cephalonia?
PDO Robola of Cephalonia
PDO Muscat of Cephalonia
PDO Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia
What style of wine is Robola of Cephalonia?
Dry white wine made from 100% Robola.
Generally high quality
What style of wine is Muscat of Cephalonia?
100% Muscat blanc a petits grains (Moschato Aspro)
Sweet wine
Can be produced as a vin doux, vin doux naturel or ‘naturally sweet’ made from dried grapes
Which is generally higher quality - Mavrodaphne of Patras or Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia? Why?
Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia
They have a better clone of Mavrodaphne on the island of Cephalonia
Must be fortified during fermentation (no restrictions on when or how it is done) thus no Vin Doux styles.
Which grape variety is the traditional wine Verdea made from?
Skiadopoulo
Which wine must be made of minimum 50% Skiadopoulo?
Verdea
What are the four island groups of the Aegean? Which three are viticulturally significant?
Cyclades - southern islands north of Crete
Dodecanese - eastern islands near southern Turkey
North Aegean - northern islands
Sporades
The Sporades do not really have a wine industry
Describe the weather and climate in the Cyclades
Hot and very dry
Relentless winds all year (summer’s Meltemi is especially strong) cause problems with vine stress, fruit set and even photosynthesis.
Name the cooperative of Santorini, and some significant producers.
Santo is the cooperative
Hatzidakis Gaia Boutari Agyros Sigalas
Describe the soil and growing conditions of Santorini
Volcanic - black basalt over limestone and schist
Almost no organic matter
No phylloxera (roots hundreds of years old)
No lakes or rivers, so all moisture is morning dew or fog, rain is scarce during the growing season
Very windy
What are the two names of the Santorini basket training method
Kouloura
Stefani
Which grape varieties can be blended with Assyrtiko in Santorini?
Aidani
Athiri
(minimum 70% Assyrtiko)
What are Santorini’s most important red grapes?
Mavrotragano
Mandilaria
Which varieti/es are allowed for Santorini Vinsanto? How are the wines made?
Minimum 51% Assyrtiko Athiri and Aidani make up the balance Made from dried grapes Usually unfortified, but fortification is allowed. Minimum 2 years in oak
What is Nykteri?
Dry white wine from Santorini
Very ripe grapes, harvested before dawn, aged in barrel for 3 months, sometimes longer. Sometimes flor develops.`
Which varieti/es are allowed for PDO Paros? Where is Paros?
Island in Cyclades, north of Santorini
100% Monemvasia for whites - MUST be innoculated with yeast!
Reds are minimum 35% Mandalaria with Monemvasia must (the only Greek dry red PDO that allows white grapes)
What is unique about red PDO Paros?
The only dry red PDO that allows white grapes to be included.
Minimum 35% Mandilaria, cofermented with Monemvasia must
What is PDO Malvasia of Paros?
A sweet wine made from dried grapes
Monemvasia, with up to 15% Assyrtiko
Fortification is optional
Must be aged 2 years to be labelled with a vintage
If a blend, must be aged in 4 year increments (ie. 4yo, 8yo, 12yo, 16yo)
Which island of the Dodecanese has a significant wine industry?
Rhodes
Which island group is Rhodes a part of?
Dodecanese
What styles of wine can be made in PDO Rhodes?
Sparkling white - TM or tank Sparkling rosé - TM or tank White - various sweetness levels Rosé - various sweetness levels Red - various sweetness levels
Which grape varieti/es are used for PDO Rhodes?
White - minimum 70% Athiri
Red - minimum 70% Mandilaria
What are the two appellations of the island of Rhodes?
PDO Rhodes for sparkling and still wines of all colours
PDO Muscat of Rhodes for sweet wines (rarely seen in the market)
Which grape varieti/es are used for PDO Muscat of Rhodes?
Muscat blanc a petits grains
Called Moschato Aspro
Which producer dominates the production of PDO Samos?
UWC Samos
United Wine Cooperative of Samos
How do the wines of PDO Samos compare to PDO Muscat of Limnos?
Samos - Muscat blanc a petits grains - better quality
Limnos - Muscat of Alexandria - simpler, fruitier
Which grape varieti/es are used for PDO Malvasia Candia and PDO Malvasia Sitia? Where are these PDOs located?
On Crete
Max 15% combines Malvasia Candia and Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains.
res of the blend made up of local grapes such as Assyrtiko, Athiri and others
Either Vin Doux Naturel or Naturally Sweet Wine (ie. dried)
