Greece - Regions Flashcards
Where are the most famous of Greek regions located?
Macedonia, Peloponnese and various islands in the Aegean sea
Where is Macedonia located, and what is the general climate?
The northern border of the country.
It’s a large region, and so it offers a wide range of conditions from the mountains in the North and west, and plains to the east.
Where are the two main PDOs of Macedonia located? What is the climate of this area?
Naoussa and Amynteo, In the mountains.
Continental climate, however due to the altitude the climate is fairly cool.
Rain falls throughout the year (avg 650-700 mm) making water supply less of an issue than elsewhere.
What are the two main PGIs of Macedonia, where are they located and what is the climate?
Drama and Kavala, which produce some good and very good wines. On the plains, where climate is warm and Mediterranean. This area is in the rain shadow of the mountains, and therefore drier.
The fertile soils are ideal for the production of higher volume wines.
What styles of wine are produced in Macedonia?
Traditionally a red region.
The PDOs Naoussa and Amynteo can produce only 100% Xinomavro.
The warmer Drama valley to the east has established a reputation for high quality, full bodied, modern Bordeaux blends.
There are some wines of note: Chardonnay and Sauvignon ar altitude and full-bodied, ripe wines from the popular Greek varieties such as Assyrtiko and Malagousia in Drama and Kavala.
Where is Naoussa located, and what natural factors affect climate?
The PDO covers the south-Eastern slopes of Mount Vermio and the vineyards are planted at 150-400m
The best sites are sheltered from the strong, cold winds which can blow from the north and west, but temperatures are still relatively cool.
What wines can be produced from Naoussa?
100% Xinomavro.
They tend to have high acidity and tannins, great complexity of aromas, and the potential to age for decades.
Most are mid priced with a few premium examples. They range from good to outstanding with significant producers including Thymiopoulos Vineyards and Kir-Yianni.
How were wines traditionally made in Naoussa? How are they typically made today?
Aged in large old wood vessels, giving wines with pronounced spicy and meaty, rather than fruity aromas.
In the 1990s, some producers started using new French barriques, giving even firmer tannins, more body and oak aromas.
Many have now moved to a more restrained style.
In recent years a more modern style has emerged, using riper fruit and either cold soaking or whole-bunch fermentation to produce a deeper coloured but less tannic wine.
What topographical factors affect style of wine produced in Naoussa?
The complex mix of soils and microclimates are based more on aspect and topography than altitude.
What style of wine are producers beginning to produce from Naoussa?
Single village or vineyard wines, to highlight the variations between each region.
What non PDO wines are produced from Naoussa?
Good quality rosés and red blends of Xinomavro and Merlot.
Where is Amynteo located, what altitude are vines planted, and what natural factors affect climate?
On the opposite side of Mount Vermio to Naoussa.
570-750m.
The northerly aspects mean they’re exposed to the cool, northerly winds, leading to cool summers and cold winters, making site selection crucial.
Unusually for Greece, the region is close to a number of lakes, without which the temperatures would be a lot more extreme, however, closer to the lakes humidity is higher increasing the risk of rot.
Around the lakes, the soil is more fertile and care has to be taken to control yields otherwise the grapes can struggle to fully ripen.
What is a key climatic hazard in Amynteo?
Spring frosts, in some years.
What styles of wine can be produced from Amynteo?
PDO wines must be 100% Xinomavro.
Rosés are permitted.
Due to cooler temperatures, the wines are usually lighter in body and lower in tannin than from Naoussa, with the best having a distinctive floral character.
Wines from the phylloxera free sites are giving very concentrated styles.
Producers are now making a riper, more accessible style.
Good to very good, though some outstanding examples exist. Mid priced. Alpha Estate is a key producer.
What is a noteworthy soil type in Amynteo?
Sandy soils, as it means some Xinomavro vines are on their own roots from pre phylloxera, offering great concentration.
What styles of wine can be produced from Amynteo outside of the PDO?
Blends of Xinomavro with Merlot and other varieties.
Where is the Peloponnese located? What is significant about plantings here?
The peninsula which forms the southern part of the Greek mainland.
It has the largest vineyard plantings in Greece, making up 30% of the national total, despite the fact that many suitable vineyard sites are planted with grapes for drying.
How many PDOs are on the Peloponnese? What are the most significant?
The most in Greece (no exact number).
Nemea and Mantinia.
What natural factors influence climate in the Peloponnese? What is the general topography?
It’s a very mountainous region with poor, rocky soils.
Despite the southerly latitude, temperatures are moderated by altitude.
There is a small area or flatter land, including the plains around Patra, where conditions are hotter and soil more fertile.
The prevailing easterly wind brings rain from the ocean but, due to the mountains, rainfall levels drop further east across the peninsula.
What styles of wine are produced on the Peloponnese?
Dominated by white grapes, especially Moschofilero and Roditis.
Outside the PDOs, large volumes of inexpensive wines are produced, especially from Roditis and Agiorgitiko.
Some good and very good wines are produced (eg those from high altitude sites within PGI slopes of Aigialia).
PGI wines are also made from international varieties, sometimes blended with local.
Where is Nemea located? What styles of wine are produced here?
Close to the Corinth Canal, which separates the peninsula from the rest of mainland Greece.
This PDO is for reds only from 100% Agiorgitiko. Both dry and sweet versions are allowed, although sweet is rare.
How has winemaking developed in Nemea?
In the 1990s, there was an increased use in new French barriques, although in line with other regions, a more subtle use of oak is returning.
A new style of wine has emerged, produced with semi-carbonic maceration to enhance fruity flavours and keep tannin levels relatively low.
What is the typical quality and price of wines from Nemea? Who are key producers?
Range from acceptable and good inexpensive wines, to outstanding, age worthy examples commanding premium to super premium examples.
Gaia Wines and Tselepos.
What is the typical climate in Nemea?
Mediterranean. The majority of rain falls in autumn and winter, but there can be huge variances between each year (400-900 mm), impacting yields and the quality of wines from certain areas from one year to the next (eg, in dry years vineyards planted on clay with its better water retaining capacity is able to cope better).
Autumn rains can sometimes dictate harvest times.
