Greece Flashcards
Retsina
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.
Greek wine law
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.
PDO (Protected Designation of Origin)
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).
Greek aging laws
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.
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)
Below the PDO category, split into “Varietal” wines, and “Table” wines.
What are the regions of the Greek mainland?
Macedonia Epirus Peloponnese Thessalia Thrace Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)
What are the PDOs of Macedonia?
Amynteo
Goumenissa
Naoussa
Slopes of Meliton
What two famous Greek wineries are based in Macedonia?
Boutari (Naoussa) Domaine Carras (Slopes of Meliton)
What are the red grapes of Macedonia
Xinomavro (“acid-black”) Negoska Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Limnio
What are the white grapes of Macedonia?
Assyrtiko
Athiri
Rhoditis
Malagousia
What are the PDOs of Thessalia?
Anchialos
Messenikola
Rapsani
What is the PDO of Epirus
Zitsa
What are the grapes used in Retsina?
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
What are the PDOs of Peloponnese
Nemea Mantinia Patras Monemvasia-Malvasia Mavrodaphne of Patras Muscat of Patras Muscat of Rio Patras
What are the dessert wine PDOs of Peloponnese and how are they made?
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.
What Ionian islands produce wine?
Cephalonia (only island with PDO)
Kerkyra (Corfu)
Lefkada
Zakynthos
Stefani
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.
Name a producer from Santorini
Paris Sigalas
Estate Argyros
Domaine Hatzidakis
Canava Roussos
Isthmus of Corinth
Peninsula that separates Central Greece from Peloponesse
What is the only PDO to allow rosé?
Amynteo (Macedonia)
Synonym for Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Moschato Aspro
Cyclades Islands
A collection of islands in the Aegean sea. Includes Santorini and Paros
What are the three permissible grapes of Santorini PDO
Athiri
Assyrtiko
Aidani
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. “Palaiomenos se vareli” may be added to the label of Cava, Reserve, or Grand Reserve wines to indicate oak aging beyond the required minimums
