Greece-Mainland Flashcards
Name the regions of the mainland of Greece
Macedonia Thrace Thessaly Epirus Central Greece (Sterea Ellada) Peloponnese
Geographical features of Thrace?
Between Aegean Sea (South) and Bulgaria (North)
Extremely mountainous, defined by Rodopi Mtns
Climate of Thrace?
a. Predominately Mediterranean, inland more continental
soils of Thrace?
Coastal=deep and sandy
Mtns=rocky and poor
What are important regions and associated varieties of Thrace?
PDOs=none
Area PGIs=Avdira, Ismaros (both mountainous)
- Mavroudi and Limnio
- Blends of Greek and Int’l varieties most successful (ie Assyrtiko and SB)
Main producers of Thrace?
Tsantali (large, home base in Macedonia)
Geographical features of Macedonia?
occupies most of Greece’s northern border
Thessaloniki on S coast, 2nd largest city in Greece, important port
Western edge of Macedonia meets Pindos Range
Hail/snow common, highest rainfall
Cepage and styles allowed in Amynteo?
100% Xinomavro
red, rosé, sparkling rosé
**sparkling must be rosé for PDO. Tank or Traditional allowed
Which region is the most well known PDO rosé of Greece
Amynteo
Which region has the highest elevation vineyards of Greece?
How high?
Amynteo
520-720M
soil type of Amynteo
sand, sometimes limestone and loam
Major geographical features of Amynteo?
Climate?
Western Macedonia
sits high on plateau, vineyards mostly flat
2 lakes (rare in Greece) biggest is Vegoritida
moderate continental
producers of Amynteo?
Dom. Karanika
Alpha Estate
Major geographical features of Naoussa?
East of Amynteo
vineyards east facing on Mt. Vermion
soil of Naoussa?
clay w/ some limestone, little sand
how many crus in Naoussa? Name a few
13 crus (villages)
-Trifolos, Fytia, Ramnista
How are producers divided in Naoussa? Name a few
Traditional
Boutari (huge)
Tsantali (huge)
Dom. Karydas
Modern
Kir-Yianni
What are authorized varieties and styles of Naoussa?
100% xinomavro
dry, semi-sweet, sweet reds
Major geographical features of Goumenissa?
south facing vineyards
Which of the 3 xinomavro based PDOs of Greece is the warmest?
Goumenissa
What is the soil of Goumenissa?
deep clay, loam
cepage of Goumenissa?
Xinomavro must be co-fermented w/ min 20% Negoska
What is the name of the distinctive 3 fingered peninsulas of Macedonia?
Halkidiki Area PGI
Which PDO exists in the central Peninsula of the Halkidiki Area?
What is unique about this PDO?
Slopes of Meliton
PDO for single estate/vineyard Dom. Porto Carras
How large is the vineyard of Porto Carras?
450 ha (one of largest in Greece)
What are the styles produced in the Slopes of Meliton PDO?
R=CS, CF, Limnio
W=Assyritiko, Athiri, Rhoditis
When was the PDO Slopes of Meliton est.?
1982
Which famous vineyard exists on the Easternmost peninsula of the Halkidiki Area?
Why is this special?
Mt. Athos Vineyard (Area PGI)
70 ha vineyard owned by Eastern Orthodox monks, women not allowed in them.
Which producer is most associated w/ the Epanomi Area PGI? Why?
Evangelos Gerovassiliou
revived white Malagouisa grape in 1981
Major geographical features of Thessaly?
Climate?
large fertile plain surrounded by Pindos Mtns
mediterranean, cool winters
Soils of Thessaly?
Schist, Grey clay
What is Tispouro? what is it made from?
Greek grappa
Muscat of Hamburg
Dominant grapes of Thessaly?
Muscat of Hamburg (for Tsipouro, Liminona for reds
What are the major geographical features of Rapsani?
NE Thessaly (near Macedonia) SE facing slope of Mt. Olympus
Soils of Rapsani?
rocky loess, loam, schist
What is the smallest Greek PDO?
Rapsani
Which Greek PDO is the only to feature Xinomavro outside Macedonia? Cepage?
Rapsani
Xino w/ savroto and Krasato
Where is Anchialos? Cepage?
Southern Thessaly
80% Roditis, 20% Savatiano
Where is Messenikola? Cepage?
SW edge of Thessaly (banks of lake Plastira)
Mavro Messenikola + 30% combined Carignan/Syrah
What are the 2 coolest regions of Greece?
Amynteo
Epirus
Where is Zitsa PDO? Cepage?
Limestone rich plateau in center of Ioannina District of Epirus
Still, petillant, or sparkling whites from Debina
What is Resina?
Where is center of Production?
Sterea Ellada (Attica)
Savatiano w/ Roditis, Flavored w/ Aleppo pine tree resin
What is Kokkineli?
rosé retsina from Roditis
Major geographical features of Peloponnese?
beginning of Hellenic Trench (African and Eurasian plates meet)
active volcanic zone
Which region of Greece is most planted?
Peloponnese
How many PDOs on Peloponnese?
7
3 dry, 4 sweet
What is soil of Nemea?
red clay (lower) limestone (higher)
What is cepage and styles of Nemea?
Agiorgitiko
sweet wines allowed
rosés produced but not as PDO
Myth of Nemea?
called “Blood of Hercules”
gave him the courage to defeat the Nemean lion
name a cru of Nemea?
Koutsi (home to Gaia producer)
name producers of Nemea?
Skouras
Gaia
Name an important bottling by Skouras. Why?
Megas Oenos
Agiorgitiko w/ CS aged in French Oak. Represents “Super-Nemea” movement
What does Agiorgitiko mean?
St. George’s Grape
Where is Mantinia?
Peloponnese, North of Tripoli
Soil of Mantinia?
clay w/ iron rocks
Styles produced in Mantinia?
85% min Moschofilero, in practice most are varietal
What are 4 PDOs of Achaia District of Peloponnese? Styles?
-Patras=Dry whites from Roditis
-Mavrodaphne of Patras=sweet/fortified wines in style of Port
-Muscat of Patras=sweet
Muscat of Rio Patras=sweet
**Muscat of Patras/Rio Patras both allow for VdL, VdN, or passito
aging requirements of Mavrodaphne of Patras?
-Reserve Mavropdaphne de Patras= 3 yrs aging, 2 in cask, 1 btl
-Vieille reserve=5 yrs aging, 2 in cask, 3 in btl
-Grand Reserve=7 yrs aging, 3 yrs cask, 3 in btl
-May be bottled vintage or NV
NV=aged 3 yrs after blend completed
what is most planted grape of Greece? 2nd most?
Savatiano
Roditis
What is the difference between Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras
Rio Patras more coastal, lighter wines
