Greece MS Flashcards
What is Chian wine?
Ancient red wine prized in Ancient Greek and Medieval produced on the island of Chios in the Aegean Islands often made in a dried grape style.
The island of Santorini is part of what group of Islands?
Aegean Islands
What are the grape requirements for wine from Nemea?
100% Aghiorgitiko
What is the grape St. George also known as?
Aghiorgitiko
Where are the most prized plantings of Aïdani and what grape is it commonly blended with there?
Santorini where it’s commonly blended with Assyrtiko.
What is the home of Assyrtiko? Why is it so prized in warmer climates?
Santroini
Prized for its ability to retain acidity even in warmer climates.
What are the 7 PDOs of Crete?
Sitia PDO Peza PDO Daphnes PDO Archanes PDO Candia PDO Malvasia Candia PDO Malvasia Sitia PDO
What style of wine is produced in Zítsa and from what grape? Where is Zítsa?
Lightly sparkling white wine exclusively produced from the Debina grape.
This is located in Eprius.
What technique was first used in Crete to concentrate grapes for the purpose of making dried grape wine?
Twisting the stems of grape clusters to deprive them of sap, and leaving them to raisin on the vine.
Where is vinsanto produced and what are the grape and aging requirements?
Santorini from a min 51% Assyrtiko plus Athiri, Aidani and other traditional grapes of Santorini.
If vintage dated must be aged for am minimum of 2 years on the islands of Thera or Thirasia.
If not vintage dated, must be aged for a minimum of 4 years in an oxidative manner. The aging statement on the bottle must be mentioned in multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12, 16, etc)
What percentage of Greece’s total output is white wine?
70%
Why were amphorae lined with resin in ancient times?
To limit the porosity of the vessel.
The Greek people consume what percentage of their total output?
Approximately 95%
What soils are generally found more on the mainland? Which are found more on the islands?
The mainland has a higher percentage of subsoils of limestone. Clay, loam, schist, and marl are all found here as well.
The islands have a higher percentage of subsoils are volcanic in origin.
What is the name of the basket vine training method used in Santorini and why is it used?
Kouloura; this vine training method protects the vines from the fierce hot winds that blow over the island while at the same time trapping moisture blowing in the air from the sea during the night time.
What is the name of the vine training method used on the island of Paros?
Aplotaria; involves an untrained vine to grow freely allowing it to sprawl about. This protects it from harsh winds while its close proximity to the ground allows the vine to gather moisture during the night as winds and mists from the sea blow over the vines.
What are the aging requirements for Reserve and Grand Reserve Greek wines? What quality level wine may these designations be applied?
Depends on if they are red or white but the wine must be PDO.
White Reserve is aged for a minimum of 12 months with at least 6 months in oak and 3 months in bottle.
Red Reserve is aged for a minimum of 24 months with at least 12 months in oak and 6 months in bottle
White Grand Reserve is aged for a minimum of min of 24 months with 12 months in oak and 6 months in bottle. Essentially the same as Red Reserve.
Red Grand Reserve is aged for a minimum of 48 months with 18 months in oak and 18 months in bottle.
From a commercial standpoint what are the 5 most important PGI areas of Greece?
Attica Drama Peloponnese Epanomi Thivai/Thebes
What does “Cava” or “Kava” indicate on a bottle of Greek wine?
This designation is only permitted for IGP/Table wines and indicates superior quality and extensive aging.
Whites: 1 years minimum including 6 months in barrel.
Reds: 3 years minimum including 1 year in barrel.
What are the three categories that exist for table wines (IGP) in Greece?
Regional
Wines with a Traditional Appellation
Branded Wines
What are the two most famous IGP wines in Greece that are considered Wines with a Traditional Appellation?
Retsina and Verdea
Which category of IGP is considered the highest quality and essentially a bridge to Appellation of Origin Wines?
Regional
What are the two broad categories of wine in Greece recognized by the EU (PDO and IGP)?
Appellation of Origin Wine (PDO) Table Wine (IGP)
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels of wines produced in the Naoussa PDO?
Dry, Semi-Dry, and Semi-Sweet Red from 100% Xinomavro
What is the star red grape of Naoussa PDO?
Xinomavro
Reserve and Grand Reserve may also be labeled as what respectively for PDO wines?
Reserve: Selected
Grand Reserve: Specially Selected
The vineyards of Naoussa are planted on the southern and southeastern slopes of what mountain?
Mount Vermio
What appellation do the best PDO wines from the eastern slopes of Mount Vermio carry?
Naoussa PDO
Reserve and Grand Reserve Naoussa is for what styles of wine?
Dry wines only
What are the minimum aging requirements for wines from Naoussa PDO?
Min 1 year aging in oak prior to release.
Naoussa is a mosaic of different soil types, but generally speaking which soils produce wines that are earlier maturing and open when young and which soils produce the appellation’s most age-worthy expressions?
The lighter and sandy soils produce the more forward and earlier-maturing.
The clay and limestone soils tend to produce them most age-worthy expressions and reach the most Barolo-like personality.
What style of wine is made in Goumenissa and from what grapes?
Dry, still red wine only from min 20% Negoska plus Xinomavro
Vines planted on the northwestern slopes of Mount Vermio carry what PDO?
Amynteo PDO
What are the colors, styles and sweetness levels of wines produced in the Amynteo PDO?
Dry, still red and rosé and semi-sweet sparkling rosé from 100% Xinomavro
Which PDO of Macedonia requires a min 20% Negoska ?
Goumenissa PDO
What is Greece’s coolest PDO appellation?
Amynteo PDO
What is the name of the PDO located on the Sithoniá Peninsula? What producer was instrumental in creating it?
Slopes of Meliton PDO; Domaine Carras
What was Greece’s first PDO to incorporate foreign grape varieties? What was the second?
Slopes of Meliton was the first; Messenikola PDO was the second
Which estate pioneered the rediscovery and resurrection of the Malagousia grape?
Domaine Carras
What famous Bordeaux consultant was tapped for the establishment of great wines at Domaine Carras?
Emilye Peynaud
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels produced in the Slopes of Meliton PDO? What are the grapes used?
Dry, still red from Lemnio, Cab and Cab Franc
Dry, still white from Roditis, Assyrtiko, and Athiri
What is Lemnia known as on Lemnos?
Kalambaki
The districts of Drama and Kavala are located within which main wine region? What styles of wine are produced there?
Macedonia;
Red Bordeaux Blends and Assyrtiko/Sauvignon Blanc blends.
Evros is a district within which larger wine region? What style of wine is made here?
Thrace; blends of Greek and International varietals
Mount Ismaros and Avdira are IGP areas within which larger wine region?
Thrace
What is the PDO appellation of Epirus? What is appellation and what is the grape used?
Zitsa PDO produced from the Debina Grape.
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels produced in the Zitsa PDO?
Dry, still white as well as dry and semi-sweet sparkling white from Debina in either the traditional method or the tank method.
What PGI area of Epirus is home to Greece’s highest vineyards?
Metsovo
What is the top producer in the Metsovo IGP area of Epirus? What style of wines is this producer famous for?
Katogi Averoff
Red wines produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and indigenous grapes such as Vlachiko
Where were Greece’s first Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted?
Metsovo in Epirus
Where is the wine district of Ioannina?
Epirus
The best vines in Metsovo (Epirus) are located on the foothills and slopes of what mountain?
Mount Pindus
Tsantali is a producer most closely responsible for the preservation of what PDO?
Rapsani
What are the three permitted grapes for the production of Rapsani PDO wine?
Xinomavro, Krasato, and Stavroto
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels for wines produced in the Rapsani PDO?
Dry, still red wine only.
What old practice used to be manatory up until late regarding encapgement and assemblage of Rapsani PDO wines?
Vineyards used to be planted with 1/3 of each variety and these would all be cofermented for the production of Rapsani wine. This is no longer mandatory, but some still produce this way.
What is the name of the river that flows through Rapsani PDO?
Pinios
The best vines of the Rapsani PDO are on the southern slopes of what mountain?
Mount Olympus
What are the 4 top PDO for Xinomavro in Greece? Which is the only outside of Macedonia and in what region is it located?
Amynteo PDO
Naoussa PDO
Goumenissa PDO
Rapsani PDO (Thessalia)
Greece’s best wines produced from the Moschofilero grape are from which PDO?
Mantinia PDO in Peloponnese
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels produced in the Mantínia PDO?
Dry still white (and vin gris) and sparkling white from Brut Nature to Doux in sweetness.
What are the grape requirements for Mantinia PDO?
Min 85% Moschofilero plus Asproudes
Wines produced in Arcadia carry what PDO designation?
Mantinia PDO
Wine from which PDO have been given the nickname Hercules’ blood?
Nemea PDO
What are the colors styles and sweetness levels of wines from Nemea PDO?
Dry and semi-sweet still red
Vin de Liqueur Red
Vin Doux Naturel
Dried Grape/Amarone style red
All from 100% Agiorgitiko
Which body of water separates the Peloponnese peninsula from the mainland Greece?
Gulf of Corinth and the Corinth Canal
Depending on elevation, which elevations produce the dry styles of wine in Nemea PDO? Which are better known for the sweeter expressions?
The higher elevations are best for dry expressions as the lower elevations tend to produce grapes that are lower in acidity and are best for sweet wines.
What are the 4 different appellations of Patras?
Patras PDO
Muscat of Patras PDO
Muscat of Rio Patras PDO
Mavrodaphne of Patras PDO
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels produced in the Patras PDO?
Dry, semi-dry, and semi-sweet white wine from 100% Roditis
What are the styles produced in the Muscat of Patras PDO?
Naturally Sweet Wine from Sun-Dried Grapes
VDN
VDL
All 100% Moscato Aspro (Muscat Blanc)
What does Grand Cru mean on a bottle of Greek Wine?
Typically found on Vin Doux Naturel wines from a specific single vineyard often held in high regard and often from higher altitudes.
What are the styles produced in Mavrodaphne of Patras?
Two different Vin de Liqueur styles. Fortified Red for both.
Natural Sweet Red
Sweet Red
What is the difference between natural sweet red wine vs sweet red wine?
Natural sweet red wine is VDL produced from the must of sun-dried grapes.
Sweet Red is VDL produced from non dried grapes with the addition of fresh grape must.
What are the different designations of Mavrodaphne of Patras PDO and the aging requirements for each?
Reserve: Min 3 years including 2 years in cask and 1 year in bottle
Vieille Reserve: Min 5 years including 2 years in cask and 2 years in bottle
Grand Reserve: Min 7 years including 3 years in cask and 3 years in bottle
Non Vintage: 3 years total following the final blend.
What is the southern-most PDO on Peloponnese?
Monemvasia-Malvasia PDO
In addition to Mavrodaphne what grape may be added up to a max of 49% for Mavrodaphne of Patras PDO?
Mavri Korinthiaki
What styles of wine are produced in the Monemvasia-Malvasia PDO?
Sweet white from sun-dried grapes. (Vin Liastos)
Sweet Fortified white from sun-dried grapes.
What is Vin Liastos?
Literally “straw wine” or wine produced from sun-dried grapes that have been desiccated traditionally on straw mats.
What is the Greek equivalent of Vin de Paille?
Vin Liastos
What grapes may be used for the production of Monemvassia-Malvasia PDO?
Min 51% Monemvassia plus Assyrtiko, Asproudes, and Kydonitsa
What area of Greece has over a century of history producing the Refosco grape and some of Greece’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon is from?
The Illia district of Peloponnese
What are the three PDOs of Cephalonia? Which is for dry wine?
Robola of Cephalonia PDO (dry wine)
Muscat of Cephalonia PDO
Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia PDO
What styles of wine are produced in the Muscat of Cephalonia PDO?
White Vin de Liqueur
White Vin doux Naturel (Grand Cru if from specific vineyard)
White Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun-Dried Grapes)
What style of wine is produced from Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia PDO?
Fortified Red Vin Doux Naturel
The Venetians called wines from this PDO “vino di sasso” or wine of stone? Why did they gain this nickname?
Robola of Cephalonia PDO; the vines were traditionally trained high on stony land.
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels of wines produced in the Paros PDO?
Dry, still red and white.
What are the grapes used in the production of red and white wines in Paros PDO respectively?
Reds are produced from cofermented Mandilaria and Monemvassia
Whites from Monemvassia
What styles of wines are produced in the Malvasia Paros PDO?
Sweet White from Sun-Dried Grapes
White Vin Doux Naturel
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels produced in the Rhodes PDO?
Dry, Medium-Dry, and Semi-Sweet red, white, and rosé
Sparkling White and Rosé from Brut Nature through Doux in sweetness.
What is the principal red grape of Rhodes?
Mandilaria (Amorgiano)
What is the principal grape for dry white wine in Rhodes? Sweet white?
Dry wines are produced principally from Athiri. Muscat is the principle white grape of sweet Rhodes white wines and carries its own PDO.
Where does the cooperative CAIR produce wine?
Rhodes PDO in the Cyclades Islands
What are the principal white and red grapes of Lemnos PDO?
White: Muscat of Alexandria
Red: Limnio
What styles of wine are produced on the island of Lemnos?
Dry, semidry, and semi sweet still white
Dry still red
Vin Liastos
Vin de Liqueur from dried grapes
What is the principal grape of Samos wines?
Moscato Aspro
What styles of wine are produced in the Samos PDO?
White Vin Doux Naturel
White Vin de Liqueur
Liastos
What is Samos Nectar? What are the aging requirements?
Possibly the greatest wine in Greece. A naturally sweet wine produced from sun-dried grapes.
Aged for a minimum of 3 years in cask.
What are the most important red and white grapes of Crete respectively?
Liatiko and Mandilaria for red.
Vilana is the most important white grape.
Where might you find plantings of Thrapsithari?
Crete
What appellation of Crete accounts for the most volume?
Peza PDO
What is Asproudi?
Generic term for unknown white grape; Asproudes is plural.
Aspro means “white”
What is the name of the traditional basket shaped vine training method employed on Santorini? What are two names for this system?
Kouloura/Stefani
What is the purpose of the Kouloura/Stefani training method?
This design protects the vines from harsh, hot winds on Santorini.
What is a ktima is it applies to Greek viticulture?
Estate
What is Mavroudi?
Greek generic term for unknown red grape.
On what bottles of Greek wine would you find the term “Paleomenos se vareli” and what does this indicate?
This term can be found on Greek PDO wines labeled “Reserve and Grande Reserve”
or
Varietal and PGI wines labeled “Cava”
This indicates extended oak aging of wines beyond the required minimum.
What does Grande Reserve indicate on a bottle of Greek wine and for what quality levels of wine does this apply?
This is for PDO wines exclusively and refers to a minimum of oak aging.
White: 2 years total aging with 1 year in barrel and 6 months in bottle.
Red: 4 years total aging with 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle
What is the maximum barrel size for aging Greek White Grande Reserve?
Max 600L
What are the two most-planted grapes in Greece?
Savvatiano and Roditis
What are the islands of production for Santorini wine?
Santorini (Thera) and Thirasia
What is another name for the island of Santorini?
Thera
What is the most planted grape of the Mount Athos vineyard and where is this vineyard located?
Cabernet Sauvignon; located in the district of Halkidiki in Macedonia
The crus of Fytia, Ramnista, and Trilofos are located in what PDO?
Naoussa PDO
What is Greece’s first PDO and in what decade was it established?
Naoussa in the 1970s (‘71)
During what part of fermentation is resin added in the production of modern Retsina?
During the first part
What are the PGI districts of Amynteo and Naoussa?
Florina PGI (Amynteo) Imathia PGI (Naoussa)
What body of water separates Crete from Africa?
Libyan Sea
What is the main grape of Rapsani PDO and what are the two other grapes that must be cofermented at various proportions?
Xinomavro; Krassato and Stavroto are most commonly blended and must be cofermented.
What are pezoules as it relates to viticulture in Santorini?
Stone terraces of the Aegean Islands (Samos, Paros, Rhodes, and Santorini)
What is the name fo the wind current that affects viticulture in Santorini? How does it affect viticulture there?
Meltemi; the wind can stall photosynthesis and extend the growing season. It can also ensure that grapes do not become overripe.
What is the required period of maceration for the production of Ramnista PDO wines?
12-15 days.
What is the minimum percentage of Assyrtiko that must be present in wines from Santorini PDO?
Min 75%
What are the two traditional PDOs of Greece?
Retsina and Verdea
What is the only Greek PDO that requires the cofermentation of red and white grapes?
Paros (Monemvassia plus Mandilaria)
What is the name of the mountain range that cuts through the center of Greece?
Pindos (most southern extension of the Alps)
Put the following in order from coolest to warmest: Amynteo, Goumenissa, Naoussa
Amynteo, Goumenissa, Naoussa
What are the two highest elevation PDOs in Greece?
Paros and Samos
What is the local name for volcanic soils in Santorini?
Aspa
What is the grape of Mantinia PDO?
Moschofilero
What is the name of the rosé style of Retsina and what grape gives the wine its color?
Kokkineli; Roditis is pink-skinned and thus the contributor of color to this rosé style wine.
During what part of the fermentation for Retsina is pine resin from Aleppo Pine trees added? What percentage of the final volume of the wine produced can be comprised of this resin?
First half of the fermentation.
Resin can make up to 1% of the final volume of finished Retsina.
What are the only two PDOs in Greece that do not feature exclusively indigenous Greek varietals?
Slopes of Meliton PDO
Messenikola PDO
What two aging designations may be present on a bottle of Greek PDO wine and what do they indicate?
Both indicate a minimum of oak aging.
White Reserve: 1 year of total aging with 6 months in barrel and 3 months in bottle
Red Reserve: 2 years of total aging with 1 year in barrel and 6 months in bottle.
White Grand Reserve: 2 years of total aging with 1 year in barrel and 6 months in bottle. Max barrel size is 600L
Red Grand Reserve: 4 years total aging with 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle.
What is the difference between Vin Naturellement Doux, Vin Doux, and Vin Doux naturel wines in Greece?
Vin Nauturellement Doux:
Wine created solely from dried grapes.
Vin Doux:
mistelle; unfremnted must is fortified.
Vin Doux Naturel:
Made from fortification of partially fermented grape must. Fortification usually in the form of Tsipouro, Greek grappa.
In what PDO would you find Greek Grand Cru wines? What grapes are used in their production?
Muscat and Liatiko for white and red respectively in the Daphnes PDO of Crete.
What percentage of grapes must be present at minimum from the named PDO and PGI on a bottle of Greek wine respectively?
PDO: min 100%
PGI: min 85%
May Retsina be labeled with a vintage?
No
What does Cava indicate on a bottle of Greek Wine?
Indicates a minimum aging including time in barrel and applies only to PGI wine.
White: 1 year with at least 6 months in barrel.
Red: 3 years with at least 1 year in barrel.
