Greece Flashcards
Around what time did the grapevine spread from Egypt to Greece?
2500 BCE to the Minoan Bronze Age civilization of Crete
Who succeeded the Minoans?
The Mycenaeans who spread the vines to other islands in the Aegean, and finally on the mainland of Greece.
Which Greek colony planted the first vineyards in France?
The greek colony of Massalia, at modern-day Marseilles
How was wine regarded in ancient Egypt? How did the Greeks regard it?
In ancient Egypt wine was regarded as the sweat of the sun god Ra;
The Greeks certainly drank wine in religious and ceremonious capacities, but they also drank socially.
As wine consumption in Greece expanded to new social classes, so did the need for additional vineyards.
What is Retsina?
Retsina, an aromatized wine flavored with Aleppo pine resin.
Wine was transported through ancient Greece in amphorae, often sealed with pine resin to prevent spoilage, and over time the resultant flavor became an acquired taste.
What grapes are used in making modern day Retsina?
Retsina is generally produced as a white wine, from Savvatiano grapes, and flavored with the addition of pine resin, rather than stored in resin-sealed casks.
Can Retsina be labeled with a vintage?
No
Approximately, how many indegenous grape varieties are there in Greece?
Over 300
Name two large, prominent greek producers.
Boutari
Tsantali
When did the Greek’s first implement wine laws?
1969 & 1970
The country’s appellations were established in 1971. The laws resemble the French model
Who oversees the Greek appellation laws?
The Greek Wine Institute
What are the two levels of Greek PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) quality wine?
Controlled Appellation of Origin/ Οίνοι Ονομασίας Προελεύσεως Eλεγχόμενης (AOC/OPE)—a status reserved for traditional sweet wines
Appellation of Superior Quality/ Οίνοι Ονομασίας Προελεύσεως Ανωτέρας Ποιότητος (AOSQ/OPAP)
What will appear on current and future bottles of wines featuring a designation of origin, especially those destined for export?
“PDO Wines of Greece”
PDO wines may carry an aging designation.
“Reserve” indicates a minimum 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.
“Grand Reserve” 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.
A step below the PDO category is Below are PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) wines. What are the two categories of PGI wines?
“Varietal” wines, and “Table” wines.
The “Varietal” category comprises table wines that carry a vintage and variety on the label.
“Table” wines cannot include vintage or varietal on the label.
Neither Varietal or Table wines may list a geographical indication.
The PGI category includes the Traditional Appellations/ Ονομασία κατά Παράδοση of Retsina and Verdea, an oxidative white wine produced on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea, and integrates the wines of Greece’s former vin de pays category, Topikos Inos/ Τοπικοί Οίνοι.
How are the PGI zones divided geographically?
Regional, District, Area levels
PGI regions are equivalent to the major regions of Greece, such as Peloponnese and Crete.
PGI areas are so small they may only include a single estate
PGI districts correspond to the peripheral units of Greece, a form of political state that replaced prefectures during administrative reform in 2010.
What former category is now included in Greece’s PGI category?
vin de pays, Topikos Inos/ Τοπικοί Οίνοι.
Can PGI varietal or table wines include a geographic indication?
No
What is the smallest PGI zone?
A PGI area - can include only a single vineyard
What is the largest type of PGI zone?
Regional - Equivalent to the major regions of Greece such as Crete or Peloponnese
Which PGI zone corresponds to political states (changed from prefectures in the 2010 administrative reform)?
PGI Districts
What does Cava indicate on a Greek wine label?
“Cava” indicates at least one year of aging for white and rosé PGI wines, and a minimum three years of aging for reds.
White and rosé “Cava” wines spend at least six months in oak prior to bottling, and reds are in barrel for at least one year.
What does “Palaiomenos se vareli” indicate?
“Palaiomenos se vareli” may be added to the label of Cava, Reserve, or Grand Reserve wines to indicate oak aging beyond the required minimums
The Greek mainland includes which regions?
Macedonia Epirus Peloponnese Thessalia Thrace Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)
How are the Greek islands broadly categorized?
The are are broadly categorized into the Aegean and Ionian Islands.
What type of wine is Macedonia home to?
Dry Red wine - some of Greece’s best
Macedonia’s PDO regions of Naoussa and Amynteo produce red wines solely from which grape?
From the firmly tannic red grape Xinomavro (“acid-black”)
Goumenissa PDO is located where and produces wines from what varietal(s)?
Goumenissa PDO is located in Macedonia.
Goumenissa PDO produces lighter versions of Xinomavro with the addition of at least 20% Negoska
When was Naoussa established? Which large producer is it home to?
1971
Naoussa is one of Greece’s most successful appellations.
It is home to Boutari - one of Greece’s two largest producers and a major force in the modern rejuvenation of Greek winemaking
Which is Greece’s coolest region?
Amynteo
What types of wine does Amynteo produce?
Rose Wines
Amynteo is one of the few PDOs allowing production of rosé wines; these may be dry to semisweet, and still or sparkling.
Slopes of Meliton (Plagies Melitona) is a single appellation for which estate?
Domaine Carras - A trailblazing, ambitious Greek estate
Red PDO wines from the estate are blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and the native Limnio
White PDO wines are blends of the Greek varietals Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Rhoditis.
Who is Evangelos Gerovassiliou?
Evangelos Gerovassiliou is the winemaker who launched Domaine Carras to international acclaim under the guidance of Émile Peynaud.
He nurtured the native white Malagousia grape from the brink of extinction and now produces varietal wines of high aromatic intensity from the grape at his own domaine in the PGI district of Thessaloniki in northern Macedonia.
What PDO includes 4 villages on the lower slopes of Mt Olympus?
Rapsani PDO
What varietal(s) does Rapsani PDO produce from?
Xinomavro, Krassato & Stavroto
The appellation is the southernmost outpost of the Xinomavro grape, wherein the grape’s tannins and acid structure are softened by the warmer climate and mandatory blending with the lighter Krassato and Stavroto grapes.
What type of wine does Anchialos PDO produce?
Anchialos PDO is only allowed to produce white wines, blended from Roditis and Savvatiano grapes from higher-altitude vineyards. These wines may be dry, off-dry or semi-sweet.
What is the sole PDO of Epirus, located on the Ionian Coast to the west of Thessalia?
Zitsa
Dry, semisweet, and sparkling wines are produced from the Debina grape.
