Greece Flashcards
What grapes are permitted for the production of Retsina?
Savatiano and Roditis
Retsina is characterized by what distinct flavor?
Pine
What is a Ktima?
Estate
What is Ouzo?
An anise-flavored Greek spirit distilled from grape pomace.
What is Tsipouro?
Greek grappa
Greece’s wine scheme was overhauled, resulting in the PDO/PGI system, in what year?
2009
*Prior to 2009, it was OPAP (controlled appellations or origin), OPE (superior quality), and TO (rough equivalent to France’s vin de pays)
PDO wines:
What percentage of the grapes must be grown and vinified within the appellation?
100%
PGI wines:
What percentage of the grapes must come from the appellation? What percentage must be vinified within the appellation?
- minimum 85%
2. 100%
What is the Meltemi?
A dry wind that regularly sweeps the Aegean
- It occurs when a high-pressure system falls over the Balkans and a low-pressure system sits over Turkey
- Typically occurs between mid-May and late September
Sparkling wines from the Amynteo PDO must be produced by what method?
Traditional or Tank Method
*Requires a minimum 3.5atm of pressure
Sparkling wines from the Zitsa PDO must be produced by what method?
Traditional or Tank Method
True/False: Retsina must be vintage-dated.
False, Retsina may NOT have a vintage labeled
What is 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
True/False: most PDOs (Greece) are dedicated to indigenous varieties.
True
*all but the Slopes of Meliton and Messenikola are dedicated entirely to indigenous grapes
When was the quality of wine scheme instituted in Greece?
1969-1970
*By 1971, many of today’s appellations were delimited
