Greece

Question 1

Retsina

Answer 1

An aromatized wine flavored with Aleppo pine resin. Today, 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.

Question 2

Greek wine law

Answer 2

Greece first implemented wine laws in 1969 and 1970, with most of the country’s appellations established in 1971. Refined in the 1980s and overseen by the Greek Wine Institute, these appellation laws conform to EU standards and resemble the French model.

Question 3

PDO (Protected Designation of Origin)

Answer 3

The two-tier appellation law of Greece:
Controlled Appellation of Origin(AOC/OPE)—a status reserved for traditional sweet wines
Appellation of Superior Quality (AOSQ/OPAP).

Question 4

Greek aging laws

Answer 4

Reserve–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–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.

Question 5

PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)

Answer 5

Below the PDO category, split into “Varietal” wines, and “Table” wines.

Question 6

What are the regions of the Greek mainland?

Answer 6

Macedonia
Epirus
Peloponnese
Thessalia
Thrace
Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)

Question 7

What are the PDOs of Macedonia?

Answer 7

Amynteo
Goumenissa
Naoussa
Slopes of Meliton

Question 8

What two famous Greek wineries are based in Macedonia?

Answer 8

Boutari (Naoussa)
Domaine Carras (Slopes of Meliton)

Question 9

What are the red grapes of Macedonia

Answer 9

Xinomavro (“acid-black”)
Negoska
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Limnio

Question 10

What are the white grapes of Macedonia?

Answer 10

Assyrtiko
Athiri
Rhoditis
Malagousia

Question 11

What are the PDOs of Thessalia?

Answer 11

Anchialos
Messenikola
Rapsani

Question 12

What is the PDO of Epirus

Answer 12

Zitsa

Question 13

What are the grapes used in Retsina?

Answer 13

Savvatiano, preferred for Retsina as it retains some varietal character when resinated, is the chief grape in the region, and the second most planted variety is Roditis.
Have also seen Muscat de Alexandria

Question 14

What are the PDOs of Peloponnese

Answer 14

Nemea
Mantinia
Patras
Monemvasia-Malvasia
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras

Question 15

What are the dessert wine PDOs of Peloponnese and how are they made?

Answer 15

Muscat of Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras, and Mavrodaphne of Patras. Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras may be either vin doux naturel or naturally sweet in style, and are produced from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Mavrodaphne (“black laurel”) of Patras is a sweet, fortified red produced from Mavrodaphne and Mavri Korinthiaki, a currant grape useful for enriching the sugar content of the wine.

Question 16

What Ionian islands produce wine?

Answer 16

Cephalonia (only island with PDO)
Kerkyra (Corfu)
Lefkada
Zakynthos

Question 17

Stefani

Answer 17

A koulara vine training shape on Santorini. The vines must be trained close to the ground in the shape of baskets or wreaths, in order to protect them from the fierce Aegean winds and to collect the little moisture that becomes available as morning dew.

Question 18

Name a producer from Santorini

Answer 18

Paris Sigalas
Estate Argyros
Domaine Hatzidakis
Canava Roussos

Question 19

Isthmus of Corinth

Answer 19

Peninsula that separates Central Greece from Peloponesse

Question 20

What is the only PDO to allow rosé?

Answer 20

Amynteo (Macedonia)

Question 21

Synonym for Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Answer 21

Moschato Aspro

Question 22

Cyclades Islands

Answer 22

A collection of islands in the Aegean sea. Includes Santorini and Paros

Question 23

What are the three permissible grapes of Santorini PDO

Answer 23

Athiri
Assyrtiko
Aidani

Question 24

Cava

Answer 24

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. “Palaiomenos se vareli” may be added to the label of Cava, Reserve, or Grand Reserve wines to indicate oak aging beyond the required minimums

Question 25

Name the Aegean Island PDOs

Answer 25

Santorini 
Paros 
Rhodes 
Lemnos 
Samos 
Muscat of Rhodes 
Muscat of Lemnos 
Malvasia Paros

Question 26

What is unique about the Paros PDO?

Answer 26

Paros is the only Greek appellation that mandates use of a white grape (Monemvassia) in red blends

Question 27

Vidiano, Kotsifali, and Vilana are indigenous varieties to what region?

Answer 27

Crete

Question 28

Name some pink-skinned indigenous Greek grapes

Answer 28

Moschofilero

Roditis

Question 29

Where is the Omala Valley?

Answer 29

Cephalonia

Question 30

What two Greek PDOs utilize the Liatiko grape for red wines

Answer 30

Dafnes and Sitia

Question 31

Verdea

Answer 31

An oxidative white wine produced on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. Principle variety is Skiadopoulo. May also use Pavlos and Avgoustiatis