Greece: Prinicipal Wine Regions

Question 1

Greece: Macedonia

Answer 1

• Large region with many conditions from Mountains in the North to the plains in the West
• Mountains: continental , temps are cool
• Rain is 650-700mm avg
• PDO Naoussa and Amynteo = 100% Xinamavro
• PLains: warm and Mediterranean
• In the rain shadow of the mountains =drier with fertile soils ideal for high volume production - also Drama Vallety is know for Bordeaux blends of high quality and full body - traditionally a red wine regions
• White wines of Chardonnay and SB at altiutude and full bodied Assyrtiko and Malagousia from Drama Valley and Kavala

Question 2

Greece: PDO Naoussa

Answer 2

• PDO covers the SE slopes of Mount Vermio - plantings of 150-400m
• Best sites are shelted from strong cold windas of the N and W
• 100% Xinamavro - wines tend to have high acidity and tannins , great complexity and potential to age for decades
• Good to outstanding -
• Thymiopoulos and Kir Yianni
• In the 1990’s producers started using new French oak barriques, to give firmer tannins and body and spice
• Modern style is using riper fruit and and cold soaking and whole bunch fermenting to produce a deeper colour with less tannins
• Soils : complex mixture
• Village and single vineyards are highlighting the variations of the region

Question 3

Greece: PDO Amynteo

Answer 3

• NW side of Mount Vermio
• Higher vineyards at 570-750 m exposed to cooler winds
• Site selction is critical
• Close to lakes helping to moderate temperature but also increasing chanced of grey rot - also soils are more fertile and canopy management is essential
• Spring frost can be a problen
• PDO =100% Xinamavro
• lighter and lower in tannins than Naoussa
• Most are sandy soils - that have remianed phylloxera free - old vines and concentrated wines
• Good to very good - Alpha estate

Question 4

Greece: Peloponnese

Answer 4

• South part of Greek mainland
• Largest plantings -30% of the national total
• Mostly white : Moschofilero and Roditis
• PDO Nemea is only for red wines made of 100% Agiorgitiko
• Very mountainous region with poor, stony soils and is moderated by altitude
• Only flat lands are plains around Patra - hot and fertile

Question 5

Greece: PDO Nemea

Answer 5

• 100% red wines from Agriorgitiko
• Climate is mediterranean
• Rain falls in autum and winter -400mm to 900mm - varies
• Vineyards on clay tend to cope better here
• 3 distinct zones by altitude :
• 1. valley floor -230-400m is the hottest and most fertile . Inexpensive wines and high qulaity sweet wines are made here
• 2. Cooler middle 450-650m, best for quality wines
• Poor , free draining soil limit yields and slow sugar accumulation while flavours ans tannins ripen
• Range of microclimates and Cru’s
• 3. Highest 650-1,000m, can be a struggle for Agiorgitiko to ripen
• Cool, clay soils
• Fresh fruit flavours, high acid and harsh tannins means the grapes are usually used for Rose
• Close to the Corinth Canal sperating the pennisula from the mainland
• Both dry and sweet styles are permitted
• French oak was used alot here but now styles are more subtle
• new carb-mac styles are made to drink early
• Acceptable to good wines ad very good to outstanding wines age worthy prem and super prem prices
• Gaia and Tselepos wines

Question 6

Greece: PDO Mantinia

Answer 6

• PDO Mantinia ccupies a plateau with elevations at 600m
• Coolest grape growing area
• Longest growing seasons
• Some years, grapes struggle to ripen
• WHITE grapes only
• 85% must be Moschofilero
• or 100% for high quality
• Wines are high in acid, low to medium abv % , med- body , floral and spicy
• SS to retain freshness
• Good to very good
• *

Question 7

Greece: PDO Santorini Island

Answer 7

• Most celebrated region on the export market -dry and sweet wines made from Assyrtiko
• WHITE WINES ONLY -must be 75% Assyrtiko
• Sweet wines min 51% Assyrtiko
• Lies on a volcano -Much of island is a collapsed volano with a central crater
• Eastern rim of the original volcano with small eruptions ( 1950)
• Strong winds - vines are trained on the ground in a basket shaped treliis
• Each years vines are woven aroudnt he previous years - and every 20 years the vines are cut off and started from scratch shoots
• Four times the hand labour
• VSP is controversial with traditionalists
• Very little rainfall - very dry
• Fog rising from the crater creates moisture that is trapped in the baskets
• Vine densitied are less than 2,500 vines per ha
• Most roots and trunks are 400 years old - no phylloxera
• SOIL - volcanic, infertile =low vigour, low yields ,
• Max Yields are 60hl/ha but rarely see more than 15hl/hz from the old vines
• Dry wines are high in acid, med-high alcohol , smoky and fruity
• Highest quality can age for decades in bottle , =honey toasty
• SS steel is used to retain fruit but there are prodcuers using oak on lees to give more body and complexity
• Good to Oustanding
• *

Question 8

Greece: Vinsanto

Answer 8

• made from late harvest grapes dried in the sun for up to 2 weeks
• Must be aged in oak for at least 2 years before release - many age for longer
• Larger casks with ullage to add a little oxi notes
• Wines can have raisin, coffe and chocolate notes
• High sugar 200-300g/l
• balanced by high acid are oftern outstaning - Super prem prices
• Increase in demand for dry wines ahs increased prices in the past years -
• Estate Argyros and Domaine Sigalas