Greek Appelations Flashcards
What does Xinomavro mean and what is its qualities?
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firmly tannic red grape Xinomavro (“acid-black”)
Slopes of Meliton AKA?
(Plagies Melitona)
Where is Domaine Carras?
Slopes of Melitons is a PDO just for Domaine Carras
Winemaker of Domaine Carras? Who helped?
Evangelos Gerovassiliou, the winemaker who launched Domaine Carras to international acclaim under the guidance of Émile Peynaud
What are the grapes of Domaine Carras?
Red PDO wines from the estate are blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Limnio; white PDO wines are blends of the Greek varietals Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Rhoditis
What grape did Gerovassiliou nurture back from brink of extinction? What grape is the only red he works with that is native
Native red-Limnio
Malagousia - single handedly nursed it back from extinction
Malagousia qualities, and where does Evangelos Gerovassiliou produce it?
Evangelos Gerovassiliou nurtured the native white Malagousia grape from the brink of extinction and now produces varietal wines of high aromatic intensity from the grape at his own domaine in the PGI district of Thessaloniki in northern Macedonia.
Savvatiano qualities?
low acid - Retsina production and still wines
What is Rhoditis?
the common name for a closely linked family of pink-skinned grapes
When did phylloxera hit Greece? Benefits?
Peloponnese 1960s and Crete 1970s, has enabled producers with the ability to rethink and reshape their vineyards. W
Limnio origin?
Lemnos Island - but not significant there anymore
What keeps the Peleponnese from being an Island?
a peninsula only by virtue of the narrow Isthmus of Corinth
Agiorgitiko aka? Qualities?
Agiorgitiko (St. George)
softly tannic, intensely fruity black grape
In the Peleponnese where is vine cultivation concentrated?
northern reaches, around the three PDO zones of Nemea, Mantinia, and Patras
What does Agiorgitiko have to do with the division of subzones in Nemea?
Agiorgitiko performs differently throughout the wide range of elevation and terrain in Nemea, leading to the division of a number of recognizable subzones;
What is “The blood of Hercules”?
The sobriquet “blood of Hercules” (or “blood of the lion”) is sometimes attached to the wines of Nemea, commemorating the first of Hercules’ twelve legendary labors
What is Moschofilero?
Moschofilero, a red-skinned grape with an aromatic resemblance to Muscat, is the principal component of Mantinia PDO wines, one of Greece’s most exciting white wines.
Patras’ appelations?
Patras itself is an appellation for dry white wines produced from, but there are also three dessert wine PDO zones connected to the region: Muscat of Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras, and Mavrodaphne of Patras.
Mavrodaphne AKA?
Mavrodaphne (“black laurel”)
What does Mavri Korinthiaki add to Mavrodaphne of Patras?
Mavri Korinthiaki, a currant grape useful for enriching the sugar content of the wine.
Mavrodaphne of Patras aging? Vintage labeling?
Mavrodaphne of Patras is aged for at least one year in wood prior to release, but the wine may sometimes slumber in cask for a decade or more prior to bottling. Both vintage and non-vintage versions may be encountered.
Most well-known producer of Mavrodaphne of Patras?
Achaia-Clauss, progenitor of the style, has a Mavrodaphne solera dating to 1882.
Greeks usage of Mavrodaphne of Patras?
The Greeks often drink Mavrodaphne of Patras as an aperitif—a tradition developed to temper the briny, salty character of Greek first courses—and the wine is used for the communion sacrament in Greek Orthodox services.
Newest PDO in the Peloponnese?
In 2010, the Greeks awarded PDO status to the wines of Monemvassia-Malvasia, a small zone on the southeastern coast of the Peloponnese.
What is the meaning of Monemvassia-Malvasia?
Although “Monemvassia” is the name of the grape used here and elsewhere in Greece, it is also the name of an old port town governed variously by the Greeks, Byzantines, Venetians and Turks. Evidence of the brisk trade of Monemvassia’s sweet wines dates back to the 13th century. During their rule, Venetians rechristened the port and its wines “Malvasia”. In deference to the historic importance of the area’s malvasios oenos, the new appellation’s wines must be sweet in style.
Monemvassia-Malvasia requirements?
In deference to the historic importance of the area’s malvasios oenos, the new appellation’s wines must be sweet in style
oxidative environment for at least two years
51% Monemvassia
Is robola related to anything?
Robola, a variety unrelated to the Ribolla/Rebula of Friuli/Slovenia
PGI Ionian Island for a traditional wine?
Zakynthos -Verdea Traditional Appelation
Where is Zakynthos?
An Ionian Island - just not a PDO
What is Verdea?
Skiadopoulo, Pavlos, and Avgoustiatis
similarities with Jura’s vin jaune and Sherry
Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
What is the largest and southernmost greek isle?
Crete - 20% Greeces production but struggle with quality
Cretes newest PDOs?
Candia, Malvasia Candia, and Malvasia Sitia - 2012
Which grape (Vilana or Vidiano) do producers prefer to showcase in Sitia?
Vidiano - it retains more acidity
What grape in Crete ripends mid July and is known for creating a distinctive “orange” wine?
Liatiko
What grape is blended with Kotsifali on Crete vs the rest of the Aegean Islands?
Mandilaria, the most common red varietal throughout the Aegean, is blended with Kotsifali to produce the Archanes and red Peza wines. On Crete, however, many winemakers are more excited to blend Kotsifali with Syrah–a recipe which may successfully mirror international tastes, yet sacrifices some of the character of Crete in the process.
What Island used Stefani?
Santorini
What is Stefani?
The vines must be trained close to the ground, in the stefani shape of baskets or wreaths, in order to protect them from the fierce Aegean winds and to collect the little moisture that becomes available as morning dew.
Whos is known as the master of Assyrtiko in Santorini?
Paris Sigalas is a master, producing Assyrtiko in both barrel-aged and fresher versions.
Where is most of Greek Vinsanto Made?
Santorini?
Only Greek appellation known for mandating Monemvassia in red blends?
Paros is the only Greek appellation that mandates use of a white grape (Monemvassia) in red blends.
When did Muscat of Samos become a protected appellation?
Muscat of Samos, now a PDO, received a form of appellation protection as early as 1934, when the island’s growers were united under the Union of Vinicultural Cooperatives of Samos (EOSS).
Samos Terroir
\ The island rises sharply from the sea, and vineyards are planted on high altitude, terraced slopes.
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains AKA on Samos? styles produced?
On Samos, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is known as Moscato Aspro, and is produced in vin de liqueur, vin doux naturel and naturally sweet versions.
What is Samos Nectar?
The naturally sweet version is called Samos Nectar, and is similar to vin de paille—the wine is produced from dried grapes and aged for a minimum of three years prior to release.
What Greek region has no PDOs?
Thrace –No PDOs & Central Greece
Color of Macedonian wines?
Dry Reds (only Amynteo can do rose) & Carras does whites
What are the PDOs of Macedonia?
o Slopes of Meliton
o Amynteo
o Naoussa
o Goumenissa
Name the grapes of the Macedonian PDOs
o Slopes of Meliton – single app for Domaine Carras- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Limnio; white PDO wines Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Rhoditis
o Amynteo– only red Xinomavro (rose ok)
o Naoussa – only red Xinomavro
Goumenissa - Xinomavro wines w/ 20% Negoska =softer
What is Greece’s coolest region ?
Amynteo?
Styles of wine in Amynteo?
only red Xinomavro - only PDO to allow the production of rosé wines; these may be dry to semisweet, and still or sparkling
Where is Boutari located?
Naoussa
Goumenissa - What grape is blended with Xinomavro here?
at least 20% Negoska to soften it
Epirus PDO and location - Style?
West of Thessalia
Zitsa is only PDO - Dry, semisweet, and sparkling wines - Debina
What Grape is used in Zitsa
Zitsa PDO in Epirus- Dry, semisweet, and sparkling wines - Debina
Central Greece aka and PDOs?
(Sterea Ellada) – No PDOs
Sterea Ellada Grapes/styles?
– Savvatiano/Rhoditus – home of Retsina production
Center of Sterea Ellada production?
Attiki, the region surrounding Athens, is the center of production
Major Sterea Ellada city?
Athens
Thessalia location?
south of Macedonia
Thessalia 3 PDOs
o Rapsani
o Messenikola
o Anchialos
Rapsani - # of villages and location
four villages -slopes of Mt. Olympus
Rapsani grapes
reds-Xinomavro grape, softened by the warmer climate and mandatory blending with Krasato/Stavroto
Color od Messenikola wines?
red
Anchialos grapes and terroir
higher altitude - Rhoditus and Savvatiano
Region just south of Sterea Ellada
Peloponnese
PDOs of Peloponnese?
Nemea Mantinia Patras Monemvassia-Malvasia Muscat of Patras Muscat of Rio Patras Mavrodaphne of Patras
What PDO of Peloponnese had 3 sweet wine PDOs?
Patras
Nemea grape and subregion?
Nemea - Agiorgitiko dry/sweet –Koutsi subregion is well known
Patras Grape?
o Patras - 100% Roditis, but 3 dessert wine appelations
Muscat of Patras =Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat of Rio Patras = Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Mavrodaphne of Patras=Mavrodaphne/ Mavri Korinthiaki
Mantinia grape?
Moscofiliero
Grapes in Monemvassia-Malvasia?
51%Monemvassia
3 Dessert wines of Patras styles/grapes?
o Muscat of Patras - vin doux naturel or naturally sweet -Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
o Muscat of Rio Patras -vin doux naturel or naturally sweet- Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
o Mavrodaphne of Patras -sweet, fortified red –Mavrodaphne/ Mavri Korinthiaki
Out of 4 Islands, what is the only Ionian Island to contain PDOs?
Cephalonia
What are the 3 PDOs of Cephalonia?
o Cephalonia itself has a PDO for the Robola grape
o Muscat of Cephalonia - sweet
o Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia- sweet
What Aegean Islands have PDOs?
Crete Santorini Paros Malvasia Paros Lemnos Muscat of Lemnos Rhodes Muscat of Rhodes Muscat of Samos
What are the PDOs of Crete?
o Peza o Sitia o Malvasia Sitia o Archanes o Dafnes o Candia o Malvasia Candia
What are the grapes/styles of Santorini? locale?
N of Crete - Assyrtiko + Athiri/Aidani sometimes and Vinsanto
What are the two Islands N of Crete?
Paros and Santorini
Which PDO in Crete is known for Liatiko? color?
Dafnes-red
What is Sitia known for?
Sitia (Crete) –Vilana/Vidiano(w) & Liatiko(r)
Which two Crete PDOs are known for Mandilaria/ Kotsifali blends?
Archanes (Crete) –red Mandilaria/ Kotsifali blends
Peza (Crete)-w/r Mandilaria/ Kotsifali blends(r)
What color is Mandilaria?
red
What color is Kotsifali?
Red
What are the grapes of Paros?
o Paros-N of Crete -w Monemvassia and red Mandilaria
and then there is Malvasia Paros PDO
What three Aegean Island PDOs are known for muscat?
o Muscat of Lemnos
o Muscat of Rhodes - rare
o Muscat of Samos- VdN,VdL, naturally sweet
What Islands are N and E of the Cyclades?
Lemnos – N of Cyclades
Rhodes – E of Cyclades
What Greek Island is closer to Asia Minor than Greece itself?
Rhodes
Wines of Lemos and Rhodes?
o Lemnos –white- Muscat dry or sweet
o Rhodes – Mandilaria and Athiri
Athiri color?
white
mandalaria color?
red
Nemeas most well known subzone
the commune of Koutsi is one of the most famous.
