Greece and Eastern Europe Flashcards
What are the two PDO appellations of Rhodes?
Rhodes PDO & Muscat of Rhodes PDO
What red grape originated on the island of Lemnos but is no longer important on the island?
Lemnio
T or F: Lemnos PDO wines must be dry.
False: Lemnos PDO wines can be dry or medium sweet.
Lemnos PDO wines are dominated by what grape?
Muscat
What style of wine are Muscat of Lemnos wines?
Vin doux naturel
What is the naturally sweet version of Muscat of Samos called? How is it made and what are the aging requirements?
Samnos Nectar; made similarly to vin de paille – dried grapes; aged for a min. of 3 years prior to release.
What style can Muscat of Samos be made in?
Vin de liqueur, vin doux naturel, or naturally sweet
In the Muscat of Samos PDO, Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains is known as what?
Moscato Aspro
What is the PDO of Samos?
Muscat of Samos
Samos is an island in what sea?
Aegean Sea
What is the only Greek appellation to mandate the use of a white grape in red blends?
Paros PDO
What are the major white and red grapes of the Paros PDO?
Mandilaria – red
Monemvassia – white
What style of sweet wine is produced in the Santorini PDO?
“Vinsanto” = dried grape wine from Assyrtiko & Aidani
What is the soil type of Santorini?
Poor, volcanic soils
What is unique about the vine training on Santorini and why?
Santorini is affected by strong Aegean winds so vines are trained in a stefani (crown) shape low to the ground that allows the grapes to be sheltered in the middle of the vine crown.
What is the major grape and supporting grapes of the Santorini PDO?
Assyrtiko, sometimes blended with Athiri and Aidani.
What are the two Cyclades islands?
Santorini and Paros.
What are the major white and red grapes of the Peza PDO?
white – 100% Vilana
red– blend of Mandilaria and Kotsifali
What are the major white and red grapes of the Sitia PDO?
white – Vilana
red – Liatiko
What style of wine is produced in the Dafnes PDO? What grape is used?
100% Liatiko, reds only, dry or sweet.
What is the most common red grape throughout the Aegean?
Mandilaria.
What style of wine is made in the Archanes PDO?
Red only. Mandilaria blended with Kotsifali.
What are the four PDO zones of Crete?
Archanes, Dafnes, Sitia & Peza
What Greek island accounts for 20% of all Greek wine production?
Crete
What is the largest and southernmost Greek isle?
Crete
The Aegean islands can be found where in relation to the mainland of Greece?
Southeast.
Verdea is similar to what famous wine styles?
Vin Jaune & Sherry
Where are Verdea Traditional Appellation wines produced?
Kerkyra (Corfu) – Ionian Islands
In the PDO of Cephalonia, what grapes are dry wines made from? What grapes are sweet wines made from?
dry – Robolo
sweet – Mavrodaphne & Muscat
What are the 4 wine producing islands in the Ionian Sea? What is the only PDO?
Cephalonia, Kerkyra (Corfu), Lefkada, Zakynthos. Cephanolia is the only PDO.
What is Retsina?
An aromatized white wine flavored with Aleppo pine resin.
What are the varietal and aging requirements for Monemvassia-Malvasia PDO?
Must be aged in an oxidative environment for at least 2 years and must at least be 51% Monemvassia.
Achaia Clauss is a famous estate for the production of what wine?
Mavrodaphne of Patras.
What are the aging requirements for Mavrodaphne of Patras?
At least 1 year in wood before release.
Marri Korinthiaki is a currant grape used for enriching the sugar content of what wine?
Mavrodaphne of Patras
What grape translates to ‘black laurel’?
Mavrodaphne
T or F: Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras PDOs must be made in a vin doux naturel style.
False, they can be made naturally sweet too.
What are the 4 sweet PDO regions of the Peloponnese?
Muscat of Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras, Mavrodaphne of Patras, Monemvassia-Malvasia.
Patras PDO are dry white wines produced from 100% of what grape?
Roditis
What grape is the principal component of Mantinia PDO wines?
Moschofilero
True or False: wines of Nemea can only be dry?
False, they can be dry or sweet.
What PDO is the phrase “blood of the lion”/”blood of Hercules” associated with?
Nemea
Koutsi is a sub-zone of what PDO?
Nemea
What is the grape of Nemea?
Agiorgitiko (St. George)
What are the 3 dry PDO regions of the Peloponnese?
Nemea, Mantinia, and Patras.
What region is directly south of Sterea Ellada?
Peloponnese
Where is the most Retsina produced?
Central Greece (Sterea Ellada), specifically Attika, the region surrounding Athens.
What is the only PDO zone of Epirus, and what kind of wine does it make and from what grape?
Zitsa PDO; dry, semi-sweet, and sparkling wine made from the Debina grape.
What region lies to the west of Thessalia on the Ionian Coast?
Epirus
Anchialos PDO allows for only ____ wine blended from what two grapes?
White; Roditis & Sauvatiano
Messenikola is a PDO in ______ that produces only _______ wine.
Thessalia; red.
What PDO sits at the base of Mt. Olympus?
Rapsani
The Rapsani PDO is primarily planted to what grape? What grapes is it mandatory to blend with it?
Xinomavro; Krasato & Starroto
What are the 3 PDO districts of Thessalia?
Rapsani, Messenikola, Anchialos
Who is the winemaker at Domaine Carras, and what grape has he resurrected from the brink of extinction under his own label in the PGI district Thessaloniki in Northern Greece?
Evangelos Gerovassiliou; Malagousia
What are the white and red varietals used by Domaine Carras in the Slopes of Meliton PDO?
red – Cab, Cab Franc, Limnio
white – Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Roditis
What PDO is a single estate appellation for Domaine Carras? What region is it in?
Slopes of Meliton PDO; Macedonia.
What is Greece’s coolest appellation?
Amynteo, within Macedonia
What are the required grapes of the Goumenissa PDO? What region is it in?
Xinomavro w/ at least 20% Negoska; Macedonia
What Greek grape translates to “acid black”?
Xinomavro
Which 2 PDOs in Macedonia produce wines solely from the Xinomavro grape?
Naoussa & Amynteo
Name the 4 PDO appellations of Macedonia.
Slopes of Meliton, Amynteo, Naoussa, Goumenissa
What is another name for Central Greece?
Sterea Ellada
What two regions on the Greek mainland have no PDO appellations?
Thrace & Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)
The Greek islands are broadly split into what two groups?
Aegean islands & Ionian islands
Name the 6 regions that the Greek mainland is split into?
Macedonia Epirus Peloponnese Thessalia (Thessaly) Thrace Central Greece (Strea Ellada)
What does “Palaiomenos se vareli” mean on a bottle of Greek wine mark “Cara” “Reserve” or “Grand Reserve”?
Oak aging exceeds minimum requirements
What does “Cava” indicate on a bottle of PGI wine?
white and pink – 1 year aging with at least 6 months in oak
red – 3 year aging with at least 1 year in oak
PGI wines integrate Greece’s former “vin de pays” category, which was previously called what?
Topikos Inos
What is Verdea?
A PGI “Traditional Appellation” for oxidative white wine produced on the island of Zakyntnos in the Ionian Sea.
Is Retsina a PDO wine?
No, it’s PGI
What is the difference between the “varietal” and “table” categories of PGI wines?
“Varietal” can carry a vintage and variety on the label. “Table” cannot.
“Grand Reserve” on a PDO Greek wine means what aging requirements for red/white wine?
whites – min. 2 years (at least 1 year in barrel, 6 months in bottle)
reds – min. 4 years (at least 18 months in barrel, 18 months in bottle)
“Reserve” on a Greek PDO wine means what aging requirements for red & white wine?
whites – min. 1 year (at least 6 months in barrel, 3 months in bottle)
reds – min. 2 years (at least 1 year in barrel, 6 months in bottle)
AOC/OPE is a PDO status reserved for _______.
Traditional sweet wines
What are the 2 levels of PDO wines in Greece?
AOC/OPE – Controlled Appellation of Origin
AOSQ/OPAP – Appellation of Superior Quality
T or F: Retsina can be vintage dated.
False, it cannot.
What are the principal red and white grapes of the Rhodes PDO?
Mandilaria – red
Athiri – white
What is Controliran?
A superior controlled appellation of origin within a DGO (Declared Geographic Origin) in Bulgaria.
Name three growing regions in Slovenia?
Primorska (Goriska Brda is within), Podravje, Posavje
T or F: The Great Plain, in the south of Hungary, is known for wine of everyday quality that is consumed locally?
True
What is Hungary’s largest wine region?
Kunság –> mass produced wine
What region of Hungary borders Austria’s Burgenland and what grape is grown there?
Sopron; Blaufrankisch (Kékfrankos)
What are the most common grapes of Villany-Siklos?
Bordeaux varieties, Kékfrankos, Kékoportó (Blauer Portugieser)
What is Hungary’s hottest region? Where is it?
Villany-Siklos, along the southern Croatian border in Transdanubia.
T or F: Red wine is more common in central Transdanubia rather than the extreme north or south?
False: red wine is more common in the extreme north and south of Transdanubia
Semló and the appellations surrounding Lake Balaton are known for what grapes?
White wine from Furmint, Juhfark, and Welschriesling
Which two Hungarian wine regions are on the shores of Lake Balanton?
Badacsony & Balatonfüred-Csopak
What is Europe’s largest lake and where is it?
Lake Balaton, Transdanubia in Hungary
What are the major wine regions of Transdanubia in west Hungary?
Szekszárd, Badacsony, Balatonfüred-Csopak, Somló, Villany-Siklós, Sopron
What are the only two regions allowed to use “Bikavér” on their labels?
Eger (N. Hungary) and Szekszárd (Transdanubia)
What grapes compose Egri Bikavér, both historically and in modern day?
Historically - Kadarka. Modern - Kékfrankos, Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot
What style of wine is Eger known for?
Egri Bikavér – “the bull’s blood of Eger”
What are the two most important regions in Northern Hungary?
Tokaj & Eger
What are the three main, overarching wine regions of Hungary?
North Hungary, Transdanubia (west), Great Plain (south)
How many wine regions are there total in Hungary?
21
The Tokaj region of Hungary is at the confluence of what two rivers?
Tisza & Bodrog
T or F: Tokaji Szamorodni may be dry (száras) or sweet (édes)?
True
What is the product of refermenting wine with the pressed paste of Tokaji Aszú called?
Forditás
What are the aging requirements for Tokaji Aszú?
2 years in cask, 1 in bottle
What is the name of the barrel that holds the base wine or must that the puttony of aszú is added to for Tokaji? How much does it hold?
Gönc (plural: gönci). Approx. 136 L.
Define Natúressezencia.
Free run juice that settles from the Aszú must.
What is the approximate size of a puttony?
25 kg. (approx. 25 L)
What are the two principal grapes of Tokaj? What are the other authorized grapes?
Furmint, Harslevelu. Authorized: Sagra Muskotaly (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains), Zeta (Oremus), Kabar, and Koverszolo
What mountain range shelters the Tokaji region?
Carpathian mountains.
What is the name of the prince who first delimited regions in Tokaj?
Prince Rakoczy
The Tokaj region is formerly known as what?
Tokaj-Hegyalja or Tokaj “Foothills”
What are the better soils/aspects of Tokaj?
Soils - volcanic loess/clay. Aspects - southfacing
What are the corresponding RS levels for the following Aszú levels: 3 Puttonyos 4 Puttonyos 5 Puttonyos 6 Puttonyos Aszúesszencia (7-9 Puttonyos) Natúresszencia
60 g/L 90 g/L 120 g/L 150 g/L 180 g/L 450 g/L (formerly 250 g/L)
What style of Tokaji is made with a mixture of aszú and non-aszú grapes is often oxidative in style, and matured for 2 years in cask, sometimes under a layer of flor?
Tokaji Szamorodni
What modern organization protects Rakoczy’s original classification?
Tokaj Renaissance
What two vineyards are the “Great 1st Growths” of Tokaj?
Szarvas & Mezes Maly
What is Fobor?
A historic precursor to Szamorodni in Tokaj, Forbor can be botrytised and dry or sweet. It is not made in an oxidative style.
Name the five regions of Bulgaria.
Danubian Plain, Thracian Lowlands, Black Sea Region, Struma River Valley, Rose Valley
What are the most planted red and white grapes in Bulgaria?
Red: Cab & Merlot. White: Rkatsiteli & Dimiat
What is the product of refermenting wine with the spent lees of Tokaji Aszú called?
Máslás
What organization is Istran Szepsy one of the founding members of and what is their mission? What wineries is Szepsy associated with?
“Circle of Mád” - dedicated to elevating the status of dry Tokaji. Szepsy is a winemaker and key figure in Royal Tokaji Company and Királyudvar.
What two regions of Hungary can legally produce Bikavér?
Eger and Szekszárd
What changes took place in March 2014 for the production of Tokaji Aszu?
3 and 4 Puttonyos has been eliminated. Tokaji Aszu now has to be at least 130 g/L of residual sugar, changing the minimum for 5 Puttonyos from 120 g/L to 130.
What is nychteri?
Nychteri is a style of wine made in Santorini; min. 75% Assyrtiko with Athiri and Aidani, aged for a min. of 3 months.
What is the name for the former Vin de Pays category of Greek wine, and what designation has it been integrated into?
Topikos Inos; PGI
What PGI regions have no PDOs?
Thrace and Sterea Ellada
Where are the following producers based: Kir-Yianni Achaia Clauss Gai'a -- Hatzidakis Skouras Ktima Gerovassiliou Sigalas Domaine Carras
Kir-Yianni -- Naoussa, Macedonia Achaia Clauss -- Patras, Peloponnese Gai'a -- Nemea and Santorini Hatzidakis -- Santorini Skouras -- northern Peloponnese Ktima Gerovassiliou -- Thessaloniki PGI, Macedonia Sigalas -- Santorini Domaine Carras -- Slopes of Meliton, Macedonia
Place in order from north to south: Macedonia, Crete, Peloponnese, Santorini, Sterea Ellada, Thessalia.
Macedonia, Thessalia, Sterea Ellada, Peloponnese, Santorini, Crete
Name the dominant grape of the following PDOs: Anchiolas Naoussa Dafnes Lemnos Zitsa Nemea Goumenissa Mantinia Messenikola Patras Amynteo
Anchiolas -- Roditis Naoussa -- Xinomavro Dafnes -- Liatiko Lemnos -- Muscat of Alexandria Zitsa -- Debina Nemea -- Agioritiko Goumenissa -- Xinomavro + Negoska Mantinia -- Moschofilero Messenikola -- Mavro Messenikola Patras -- Roditis Amynteo -- Xinomavro
Who makes “Megas Oenos” and “Megas Oenos Labrynthos” and what are they?
Skouras in the Peloponnese (PGI Peloponnese); 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 80% Agiorgitiko; The Labyrynthos was a project started in 1999 by George Skouras when he filled a large barrel with Megas Oenos and would draw out 1/3 of the wine (approx. 300 bottles) every year, and top up with the current vintage. Solera style!
Where is the Isthmus of Corinth?
The Isthmus of Corinth connects the Peloponnese to the mainland.
What is the most planted grape in Crete?
Vilana
What three grapes have their own PDOs in Cephalonia?
Robola, Mavrodaphne, and Muscat
What are the three PDOs of Crete that were approved in 2012? When were the other four approved?
Candia, Malvasia Candia, and Malvasia Sitia were approved in 2012; Dafnes, Archanes, Sitia, and Peza were all established when Greek appellations were first approved in 1971.
What does “liastos” mean?
Liastos describes naturally sweet (as opposed to fortified) wine, usually made from sun-dried/straw mat-dried grapes.
What is nychteri? Where does it get its name?
Nychteri is a style of wine made in Santorini; min. 75% Assyrtiko with Athiri and Aidani, aged for a min. of 3 months. Nychteri means “night” and is called this because it was traditionally pressed at night to limit oxidation.
What do the Greeks call “Thira”?
Santorini
What is “meltemia”?
A cooling northern wind on Santorini.
Is irrigation common on Santorini?
Irrigation is legal, though prohibitively expensive, and not practiced by many.
What is the white volcanic ash of Santorini called?
Aspa
What is “koulara”?
The technique of “weaving” vines into a basket shape (stefani/crown) used on the island of Santorini.
Name two producers of Santorini Vinsanto.
Argyrous, Roussos, Gai’a, Gavalas
When is harvest typically in Santorini?
Mid-August (Nychteri and Vinsanto would be later)
What is the most popular red grape on the island of Santorini?
Mavrotragano
What producer is responsible for 65% of Santorini’s production?
Santo Wines, a cooperative
Who controls all the production of Muscat of Samos?
The Union of Viticultural Cooperatives of Samos
Where in Tokaj are the “great first growths” located? What makes these sites particularly desirable?
Szarvas and Mezes Maly are in the southeastern extension of Tokaj, where the town of Tokaj is and where the Tisza and Bodrog meet. The confluence of the rivers provides ideal conditions for the growth of botrytis. The best vineyards have steep aspects and south facing slopes.
Name three “first growths” of Tokaj (not including the “great first growths”)?
Disnoko, Hetszolo, and Pajzos are easy ones to remember because there are producers named after them.
What are the soils like in Tokaj?
Loess and clay with volcanic topsoil.
What are the aging requirements for Tokaji Szamorodni, Maslas, and Forditas?
2 years minimum, with at least one in barrel.
Who are the largest owners of Mezes Maly?
Royal Tokaji Company owns 11 hectares and Degenfeld owns 13 hectares.
What changes to Tokaj wine law will take place from the 2014 vintage forward?
3 and 4 Puttonyos will be abolished and 5 Puttonyos will carry a minimum of 160 g/L residual sugar (formerly 150 g/L).
What is the required alcohol range for Tokaj Eszencia, Aszueszencia, and Tokaj Aszu 3-6 Puttonyos?
Tokaj Eszencia – 1.2-8%
Aszueszencia – min. 6%
Aszu 3-6 Puttonyos – min. 9%
What is the maximum residual sugar for Szamorodni, Forditas, and Maslas “szaraz”? What is the minimum residual sugar for Szamordoni, Forditas, and Maslas “edes”?
9 g/L; 45 g/L
What are the cepage requirements for Egri Bikaver?
Must be a blend of at least three grapes, including Kekfrankos. Other authorized grapes include Zweigelt, Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and a whole slew of native grapes.
Describe the 1995-2006 vintages for Tokaj.
1995 – Long growing season, heavy botrytis character in wines, with great acidity.
1996 – Cooler year, pronounced botrytis character, but less acidity.
1997 – Very dry year, with low yields on aszu grapes, but very high quality.
1998 – Wet year, with substantial botyrtis, but not accompanied by the shrivelling provided by some dry weather; less acid.
1999 – One of the greatest vintages of the century!
2000 – Very little botrytis, dry year.
2001 – Difficult vintage, botrytis turning into rot. Harlesvelu, with its looser clusters, fared better than Furmit. Drink Sauternes in 2001!
2002 – A soft, lighter vintage lacking the concentration of the best.
2003 – A hot, dry year, but with some welcomed rains in October encouraging botrytis. Turned out some excellent, concentrated, complex wines.
2004 – Cooler year, long growing season. When growers chose to pick was crucial. Pronounced botrytis character.
2005 – Great vintage, rivaling 1999, but with much lower yields.
2006 – A great follow-up to 2005, with a cool summer and long, warm fall. Very pure botrytis character.
What is the difference between tokaj and tokaji?
tokaj = the region; tokaji = the wine BUT the wines from the village of tokaj itself may be called tokaj
What is the full name of Tokaj?
Tokaj-Hegyalja (Tokaj Foothills)
What are the main soils of Hungary?
- Who created the first Hungarian classification? How did it work? how many vineyards are classified?
Prince Rákóczy / 3 levels = 1st, 2nd, 3rd / 1772
74, 27 villages
Great Plain = loess and sand
Lake Balaton = complex mix of basalt volcanic rock with clay and sandstone
Balatonfured = limestone and slate
Tokaj = volcanic with top soil of decayed lava
What is zoldveltelini?
GV in Hungary
Why is it possible to produce Tokaj in Slovakia?
2 of the original villages of production where given to slovakia after WWI = name is Tokajasky Vyber
What are the best villages of Tokaj?
Tarcal, Mad, Mezozombor, Bodrogkerestur, Tolcsva, Tokaj
What are the preeminent wine-growing regions in Hungary?
Badacsony, Balatonboglar, Eger, Etyek-Buda, Somlo, Sopron, Szekszard, Tokaj, Villany-Siklos
In which region of Hungary would you most likely find the white grape variety of Keknyelu?
The majority of the 41 hectares of this grape are found in the region of Badascony on the northern side of lake Balaton.
What does Jegbor refer to in Hungarian Wine?
Ice Wine
What does Habzo refer to in Hungarian wine?
Sparkling
Name three wineries in Lebanon.
Chateau Musar, Kefraya, Massaya
Name three appellations in Israel.
Galille, Samaria, Samson, Judean Hills, Negev
Name three wineries in Israel.
Golan Heights, Galil Mountain, Dalton
In what country are the wines of Massandra made? What style of wine are they known for?
Ukraine, fortified wines
What country is home to the Milestii Mici (“Golden Collection”) – the largest wine collection in the world?
Moldova
What country’s Tokajská appellation makes similar wines to Tokaj?
Slovakia
What are the two main wine regions of the Czech Republic? Which is responsible for 96% of the republic’s acreage?
Bohemia and Moravia; Moravia
What country’s appellations are VOCs?
Czech Republic
In what country would you find the native grapes Feteascā Negra and Feteascaā Regalā?
Romania
Where is the Cotnari DOC and what grape is it known for?
Romania; sweet wine made from the Grasa grape
Where is the Tarnave DOC?
Romania
Name two sub-zones of Primorska?
Goriska Brda, Kras, Koper, Vipava
What country is broadly divided into the Istria and Dalmatia zones?
Croatia
In what country does California winemaker Mike Grgich have a winery?
Croatia
Place from west to east: Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia
Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary
- What two grapes would you find in a wine released under the Goumenissa PDO? Where is it?
Xinomavro w/ min. 20% Negoska; Macedonia
