GREECE

Question 1

GREECE-IN GENERAL

Answer 1

• OVERALL HOT MEDITERRANEAN/ IN SUMMER TEMP CAN REACH WELL OVER 30C, ALTHOUGH COASTEL AREAS ARE MOD. BY SEA
• ALTITUDE & WIND IN THE ISLANDS TO THE SOUTH-EAST OF THE MAINLAND ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO DESTROY UNPROTECTED VINS, CAN ALSO HAVE A COOLING EFFECT
• BEST VINS: FOUND IN THESE COOLER SITES AWAY FROM THE BLISTERING HEAT COMMONLY ASSOCIATED W/ GREECE
• RAINFALL LEVELS CAN VARY: EVEN IN THE WETTER AREAS IN THE WEST OF THE COUNTRY THE ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF RAIN IN THE GROWING SEASON=CAUSE WATER STRESS
• DROUGHT: PART. CONCERN ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF GREECE, LIES IN THE RAIN SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THERE IS LITTLE AVAILABLE WATER FOR IRRIGATION

Question 2

NAOUSSA PDO

Answer 2

• IN THE NORTHERN GREECE IN THE REG. OF MACEDONIA
• VINS: ARE AT ALTITUDES UP TO 400 METERS & COOLER THAN SURROUNDING AREA

RED WINES: MADE EXCLUSIVELY FROM XINOMAVRO GRAPE=A VAR. OFTEN COMP. W/ NEBBIOLO=H TANNIN & ACIDITY/ ITS W HAVE TRAD. HAD A MED COLOUR THAT QUICKLY FADES TO TAWNY & TEND TO LACK FRESH F AROMAS EVEN IN THEIR YOUTH

• THESE WINES: LONG-LIVED (AS NEBBIOLO) & DEVELOP COMPLEX SPICE, EARTHY AROMAS W/ AGE
• SOME W.M ARE NOW CHOOSE TO MAKE THEIR W IN DIFFERENT STYLES. SOME ARE MORE DEEPLY COLOURED & LESS TANNIC; SOME ARE AGED IN NEW OAK

Question 3

NEMEA PDO

Answer 3

• IN NORTH OF THE PELOPONNESE CLOSE TO THE NARROW STRIP OF LAND THAT JOINS THE PENINSULA TO THE REST ON MAINLAND GREECE
• PDO FOR RED W MADE EXCLUSIVELY FROM: AGIORGITIKO GR
• VINS: SPREAD OVER A WIDE RANGE OF ALTITUDES FROM 230 TO 900 METERS/ BEST FRUIT COMES FROM THE VINS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS RANGE
• FRUIT FROM HOTTER LOWER SLOPES: OVERLY JAMMY & TENDS TO BE MADE INTO FRUITY W FOR EARLY CONSUMPTION
• FRUIT FROM HIGHER SLOPES: HIGHER ACIDITY & LESS FINE TANNINS/ IT CAN ADD FRESHNESS TO A RED BLEND BUT ITS BEST SUITED TO ROSE PROD.
• BEST WINES: DEEP RUBY COLOUR/ H SMOOTH TANNINS/ L TO MOD. ACIDITY/ SWEET SPICE & RED F. FLAV.=GREAT AFFINITY FOR NEW OAK & AGE WELL

Question 4

SANTORINI PDO

Answer 4

• ITS A WINDSWEPT VOLCANIC ISLAND IN THE AEGEAN SEA
• WINDS ARE SO STRONG=UNIQUE TRAINING METHOD HAS TO BE USED TO PROTECT THE VINES:
• THE PERMANENT WOOD IS TRAINED VERY LOW INTO A BASKET SHAPE & THE FRUIT GROWS ON THE INSIDE
• PDO COVERS RED/ WHITE WINES MADE IN DRY & SWEET STYLE:
• ITS THE WHITE WINES MADE FROM: ASSYRTIKO GRAPE/ HAVE HIGHEST REP.
• DRY WINES: (ASSYRTIKO) PERFUMED AROMAS/ CONCENT. FLAV OF RIPE-CITRUS & STONE FRUIT/ BALANCED BY THE NATURAL H ACIDITY OF THE VAR.
• SWEET WINES:KNOWN AS VINSANTO:LATE-HARVESTED R ARE SUN-DRIED FOR UP TO 14 DAYS/ W AGED IN OLD OAK BARRELS FOR A MIN. OF 2 YRS, ALTHOUGH MANY PROD AGE THEIR WINE FOR FAR LONGER/ LUSCIOUS SWEETNESS IS BALANCED BY H ACIDITY & OLDER WINES SHOW A MARKED OXIDATIVE CHARACTER OF CARAMEL, NUTS