Greece-Basic, History, Wine Trade Flashcards
What is an Oenohoos?
proto-sommelier: responsible for blending wine/water (civil discourse vs drunkenness)
Where were the first French Vines planted?
Massalia → Greek settlement near Marseilles
Where did viticulture first begin in Greece? When? Who showed them?
Crete w/ Minoan Civilization
Likely from Near East → Egypt (2500 BCE)
Briefly outline timeline of Greek propagation of the vine in Europe
- 4000 BCE-Domestication of grapes in Northern Greece
- Viticulture begins on Crete by Minoans
- Then to Thera (aka, Santorini) → other Aegean Islands → Peloponnese and rest of mainland
- Greeks then continued propagation around Mediterranean, Black Sea, Danube River, almost to Austria
What are some Hallmark trends of Early Greek Wine Trade?
Transported in Clay amphorae sealed w/ pine resin (prevent oxidation)
Rarely drunk straight, Often cut w/ (sea) water, Flavored w/ herbs, spices, honey
**Regions began to be associated w/ regional flavor combos (early “taste of place”)
What era peaked the Ancient Greek wine Trade?
6th-4th BCE
What are some trends in Greek wine trade that developed during the Byzantine Era?
330-1330 CE
- Wood casks replaced Amphorae (7th CE)
- Passito style wines rose in popularity (most famous wines in Greece)
- No more cutting with water, less flavorings (pine resin continued)
Which Greek agricultural product was biggest export during French Phylloxera epidemic?
Raisins
Used to steep in water to make “wine-like” broth
Which region saw the introduction of Phylloxera to Greece?
Macedonia
Which Co-op is still considered the most important in Greece? when and where was it founded?
Fd 1934
United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos (UWC Samos)
What are important developments to Greek wine trade in 1980’s
- Joined EU 1981
- 1st Enology School in Athens
- arrival of international grapes
What are common trends of Greek wine in 1990’s?
same trends as other regions
Over-extraction, high oak usage
Where does Greece line up on World Stage in terms of production?
16th or 17th largest producer of wine by country, but only 1% of world’s wine
61,500 ha under vine
28 mil cases produced
How much of Greek plantings involve indigenous varietals?
90% divided amongst 300 ind. grapes
What are the most planted grapes of Greece in descending order?
Savatiano (16.5%) Roditis Agiorgitiko Liatiko Xinomavro Muscat of Hamburg Assyrtiko
What is the ave size of a Greek vineyard?
.5ha
How many wineries are in Greece?
approx 1,100
When was modern Greece wine law est.? What was its structure?
Introduced in 1969-70, codified in 1971
OPAP (top) → OPE → TO (“vin de pays”)
when was Greek wine law restructured? To What?
2009
PDO (Protected Designation of Origin → PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) –> Varietal Wines –> Table Wines
OPAP and OPE combined into PDO
How many PDOs of Greece? What % is white?
33 in total (49% white)
Which 2 PDOs allow for international varieties? What grapes?
Slopes of Meliton (Limnio w/ CS, CF allowed)
Messenikola (Mavro Messenikola w/ 30% combined Syrah/Carignan allowed)
What are requirements of PDO wines in Greece?
to qualify 100% fruit must be grown and vinified in appellation
may be labeled reserve, grande reserve
How many PGIs of Greece?
% white?
How are they divided?
120 61% white -Regional -District -Area (can be a single vineyard)
What are req’s of PGI wines in Greece?
85% grapes from region, 100% vinified in region
Which 2 historical wines are allowed in Greek PGI?
Verdea
Retsina
What are Req’s for Greek Varietal Wines?
- Debuted 2011
- Allowed grape, but no designation of origin
- 85% min from stated vintage and variety
- if multiple grapes listed, 100% from those grapes
What qualities are not allowed on Greek Table Wine Labels?
No vintage, grapes, or region on label
What is Greek term for unknown white grape?
Asproudi (Aspro=white)
What is Greek term for ind. or unknown red grape
Mavroudi (mavro=black)
What is Cava in Greek terms?
Cava= PGI and Varietal wines. Min oak aging
whites/rosés=1yr (incl 6 mo barrel)
Reds=3 yrs (incl 1 yr barrel)
What is Paleomenos se Vareli?
PDO/PGI/Varietal wines labeled w/ cava. Means aged beyond stated requirements
What does Grand Cru indicate for Greek wines?
Grand Cru=sweet wines, VdN, select vineyards and regions, usually high elevation
What does Reserve/Grand(e) Reserve indicate for Greek wine?
Reserve=PDO wines. Min oak aging
- Whites=1 yr (6 mo barrel, 3 mo btl)
- Reds=2 yrs (min 12 mo barrel, 6 mo btl)
Grand(e) Reserve=PDO only. Min oak aging
- Whites/Rosés=2 yrs (1 barrel+6 mo btl). Cannot be in larger than 600L
- Reds=4 yrs (18 mo barrel+18 mo btl)
What Peninsula does Greece occupy?
Balkan (34th-42nd parallel)
What is the most major geo feature of Greece?
Mtns cover 70% of the country
3rd most Mountainous country of Europe behind Switzerland and Austria
Which Mtn range is “spine of Greece?
Pindos
Southernmost extension of Alps
some of the mtns protrude as islands off the Peloponnese
What is the tallest mtn of Greece? How tall? What region?
Mt. Olympus
3000M (9850 ft)
E Thessaly near Aegean
What are the general soil types of Greece? What is unique about the country in this regard?
Some oceanic crusts extend from sea
Lots of Limestone, low in fertility
- Santorini=volcanic island
- Plains (Sterea Ellada)=Clay
- Alluvial (fertile, silt, riverbeds, etc) along the coasts
- Igneous (liquid hot MAG-ma) in Northern regions
Which 3 seas border Greece?
Ionian
Aegean
Libyan (south of Crete)
