Greece Flashcards
What is Chian wine?
Ancient red wine prized in Ancient Greek and Medieval produced on the island of Chios in the Aegean Islands often made in a dried grape style.
The island of Santorini is part of what group of Islands?
Aegean Islands
What are the grape requirements for wine from Nemea?
100% Aghiorgitiko
What is the grape St. George also known as?
Aghiorgitiko
Where are the most prized plantings of Aïdani and what grape is it commonly blended with there?
Santorini where it’s commonly blended with Assyrtiko.
What is the home of Assyrtiko? Why is it so prized in warmer climates?
Santroini
Prized for its ability to retain acidity even in warmer climates.
What are the 7 PDOs of Crete?
Sitia PDO Peza PDO Daphnes PDO Archanes PDO Candia PDO Malvasia Candia PDO Malvasia Sitia PDO
What style of wine is produced in Zítsa and from what grape? Where is Zítsa?
Lightly sparkling white wine exclusively produced from the Debina grape.
This is located in Eprius.
What technique was first used in Crete to concentrate grapes for the purpose of making dried grape wine?
Twisting the stems of grape clusters to deprive them of sap, and leaving them to raisin on the vine.
Where is vinsanto produced and what are the grape and aging requirements?
Santorini from a min 51% Assyrtiko plus Athiri, Aidani and other traditional grapes of Santorini.
If vintage dated must be aged for a minimum of 2 years on the islands of Thera or Thirasia.
If not vintage dated, must be aged for a minimum of 4 years in an oxidative manner. The aging statement on the bottle must be mentioned in multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12, 16, etc)
What percentage of Greece’s total output is white wine?
70%
Why were amphorae lined with resin in ancient times?
To limit the porosity of the vessel.
The Greek people consume what percentage of their total output?
Approximately 95%
What soils are generally found more on the mainland? Which are found more on the islands?
The mainland has a higher percentage of subsoils of limestone. Clay, loam, schist, and marl are all found here as well.
The islands have a higher percentage of subsoils are volcanic in origin.
What is the name of the basket vine training method used in Santorini and why is it used?
Kouloura; this vine training method protects the vines from the fierce hot winds that blow over the island while at the same time trapping moisture blowing in the air from the sea during the night time.
What is the name of the vine training method used on the island of Paros?
Aplotaria; involves an untrained vine to grow freely allowing it to sprawl about. This protects it from harsh winds while its close proximity to the ground allows the vine to gather moisture during the night as winds and mists from the sea blow over the vines.
What are the aging requirements for Reserve and Grand Reserve Greek wines? What quality level wine may these designations be applied?
Depends on if they are red or white but the wine must be PDO.
White Reserve is aged for a minimum of 12 months with at least 6 months in oak and 3 months in bottle.
Red Reserve is aged for a minimum of 24 months with at least 12 months in oak and 6 months in bottle
White Grand Reserve is aged for a minimum of min of 24 months with 12 months in oak and 6 months in bottle. Essentially the same as Red Reserve.
Red Grand Reserve is aged for a minimum of 48 months with 18 months in oak and 18 months in bottle.
From a commercial standpoint what are the 5 most important PGI areas of Greece?
Attica Drama Peloponnese Epanomi Thivai/Thebes
What does “Cava” or “Kava” indicate on a bottle of Greek wine?
This designation is only permitted for IGP/Table wines and indicates superior quality and extensive aging.
Whites: 1 years minimum including 6 months in barrel.
Reds: 3 years minimum including 1 year in barrel.
What are the three categories that exist for table wines (IGP) in Greece?
Regional
Wines with a Traditional Appellation
Branded Wines
What are the two most famous IGP wines in Greece that are considered Wines with a Traditional Appellation?
Retsina and Verdea
Which category of IGP is considered the highest quality and essentially a bridge to Appellation of Origin Wines?
Regional
What are the two broad categories of wine in Greece recognized by the EU (PDO and IGP)?
Appellation of Origin Wine (PDO) Table Wine (IGP)
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels of wines produced in the Naoussa PDO?
Dry, Semi-Dry, and Semi-Sweet Red from 100% Xinomavro