Greece - Aegean Islands

Question 1

Name the 3 Island groups of the Aegan Islands that have significant viticulture

Answer 1

Cyclades
Dodecanese
North Aegean

Question 2

Name the 2 most important islands in the Cyclades

Answer 2

Santorini

Paros

Question 3

What is the name of the wind that can have a strong influence on viticulture and often grounds planes in the Cyclades

Answer 3

Meltemi

Question 4

Name the dominant white and red grapes of the Cyclades

Answer 4

White: Assyrtiko and Monemvasia
Red: Mandilaria

Question 5

What is the main soil type in Santorini?

Answer 5

Poor volcanic soils that offer almost no organic matter

Question 6

What is the minimum amount of Assyrtiko required in the Vin Santo wines of Santorini?

Answer 6

51%

Question 7

What is the minimum amount of Assyrtiko required in the dry white wines of the Santorini PDO?

Answer 7

75% with Aidini and Athiri

Question 8

What is Nychteri?

Answer 8

An unusual dry wine that is a historical product of Santorini, made with very ripe grapes that are harvested before dawn and pressed within a day. The wine is then aged for a minimum of three months in barrel, though longer is common, and sometimes, flor develops. The result is a full-bodied, distinctive wine high in both alcohol and acidity.

Question 9

How many PDOs are there on the Island of Paros?

Answer 9

2
Paros
Malvasia of Paros

Question 10

How many PDOs are there on the Island of Santorini

Answer 10

1

Santorini

Question 11

What wine styles are allowed in the Paros PDO

Answer 11

Dry White from 100% Monevasia

Dry Red from co fermentation of 35% Mandelaria grape, and Monemvassia must.

Question 12

Name the only PDO in Greece that allows the inclusion of a white grape in dry red wine

Answer 12

Paros PDO

Question 13

What wine style is made in Malvasia Paros PDO?

Answer 13

sweet wine made from sun-dried grapes, Monemvasia with a maximum of 15% Assyrtiko. Fortification is optional

Question 14

Name the 3 PDOs in the Aegan Islands district of Cyclades

Answer 14

Malvasia Paros
Paros
Santorini

Question 15

Name the 2 PDOs in the Aegan Islands district of Dodecanese

Answer 15

Muscat of Rhodes

Rhodes

Question 16

What are the main grape varieties of Rhodes?

Answer 16

Athiri
Mandilaria
Muscat Blanc

Question 17

What are the principal white and red grape varieties of Rhodes?

Answer 17

White: Athiri
Red: Mandilaria

Question 18

What is the only grape variety allowed in the Muscat of Rhodes PDO?

Answer 18

Muscat Blanc

Question 19

What is Retsina flavoured with?

Answer 19

Aleppo Pine Resin

Question 20

Name the 2 Islands in the North Aegan that possess PDOs for sweet Muscat

Answer 20

Samos

Lemnos

Question 21

What is Muscat Blanc known as on the island of Samos

Answer 21

Moschato Aspro

Question 22

What % of vineyards om Samos are dedicated to Muscat Blanc?

Answer 22

95%

Question 23

What ar the 2 main red grapes grown on Samos

Answer 23

Ritino and Fokiano

Question 24

What is the only Muscat based PDO that doesn’t include the name of the grape in the appellation?

Answer 24

Samos

Question 25

Wines from Samos can be made naturally sweet or fortified before or during fermentation to retain sugar, and can be made from fresh or sun-dried grapes. Which style is eligible for Grand Cru status?

Answer 25

Wines made using the vin doux naturel approach and hailing from select vineyards are eligible for grand cru designation

Question 26

What are the names of the 3 premium dessert wines produced on Samos

Answer 26

Nectar
Anthemia
Grand Cru

Question 27

Describe the style of Nectar wines from Samos

Answer 27

Nectar is made from dried grapes fermented without fortification (vin naturellement doux) and is aged in oak for six years (formerly three) before release.

Question 28

Describe the style of Anthemia wines from Samos

Answer 28

produced via the VIn Doux wherein the unfermented must is fortified method and generally spends about 5 years in oak

Question 29

Describe the sty;e of the grand cru wines from samos

Answer 29

The grand cru is sourced from a select group of vineyards above 400 meters (1,310 feet) in elevation, and yields are kept quite low. Though sweet, this is generally the “driest” of the dessert wines, as it completes much of its fermentation prior to a light fortification (vin doux naturel). This wine sees no oak so tends to be lighter and brighter in hue than the amber Nectar and Anthemia.

Question 30

How many PDOs are there on the Island of Lemos?

Answer 30

2. Lemnos
   Muscat of Lemnos

Question 31

Name the red and white grape varieties allowed in the Lemnos PDO

Answer 31

Muscat of Alexandria

Limnio

Question 32

Minimum aging requirement for Vin Santo

Answer 32

For vintage vin santo it’s 2 years in barrel on the islands Thera or Thirasia.
For wines released with an aging statement it must have been aged in an oxidative environment for at least 4 years. The aging segment on the bottle must be in multiples of 4 ex (4, 8, 12, 16 etc.)

Question 33

Order the following regions by rainfall.
1-4 (1 is driest and 4 is wettest)

Peloponnese
Cyclades
Epirus
Thessalia

Answer 33

1. Cyclades (the meltima)
2. Thessalia (Pindos rainshadow)
3. Peloponnese (Southern portion is affected by the meltima)
4. Epirus (no protection, full exposure the Ionian sea)