Greek Wine Law Flashcards
When did Greece make its modern attempt at defining appellations? When were these laws tweeked?
1960s and 1970s
Tweaked in the 1980s following Greece’s induction into the EU.
What were Greece’s top designations of origin? (expert guide)
-OPAP (Onomasia Proelefsos Anoteras Piotitos, or Controlled Appellations of Origin (AOC)
-OPE (Onomasia Proelefsos Elenghomeni, or Appellations of Superior Quality, specific to Greece’s traditional sweet wines)
What are the two levels of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) quality wine in Greece? (study guide)
AOC (Controlled Appellation of Origin): traditional sweet wines
AOSQ (Appellation of Superior Quality): dry wines
What was TO originally in Greek wine law?
Topikos Oinos- the rough equivalent of France’s Vin de Pays
When did Greece first implement wine laws? When were most of the country’s appellations established?
Implemented - 1969 and 1970
Established - 1971
When was the Greek wine law system overhauled? What was the result?
2009
-resulting in the PDO/PGI system seen today, with both OPAP and OPE being absorbed into the PDO stratum
How many PDOs in Greece? What are the requirements?
33
-100% of the fruit must be both grown and vinified within the appellation.
What two PDOs are not dedicated to indigenous grape varieties?
The Slopes of Meliton (Macedonia)
Messenikola (Thessaly)
What are the aging designations that PDOs can be labeled with?
Reserve
Grande Reserve
What are the aging requirements for Reserve? What is the alternative term?
White Wines:
-1 year of aging with at least 6 months in barrel and 3 months in bottle
Red Wines:
-2 years of aging required with a minimum of 12 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle.
“Selected”
What are the aging requirements for Grande Reserve? What is the alternative term?
White Wines:
-2 years of aging with at least 1 year in barrel and 6 months in bottle
-cannot be aged in barrels larger than 600 liters
Red Wines:
-4 years of aging with at least 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle
“Specially Selected”
As of 2015/2016 what % of wines in Greece are PDO? What % of these are white?
19.62%
48.69% of PDO wines are white
Where do Traditional Appellations fall in Greek Wine Law?
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)
How many PGIs (Protected Geographic Indication) in Greece?
120
What are the three levels of PGI wines?
Regional
District
Area - can be as small as a single vineyard
What are the requirements for a wine to be labeled as PGI?
-a minimum of 85% of grapes should come from the appellation
-all grapes must be vinfi ed within the PGI’s boundary
What % of PGI wines are white? What % of total production of Greek wines are PGI?
61.22% white
62.47% of Greece’s production
What are the two traditional wines that are included in PGI?
Verdea
Retsina
What is Verdea? What are the grapes?
A Traditional Appellation on the island of Zakynthos for oxidative white wines: min. 50% Skiadopoulo, plus Pavlos, Robola, Goustolidi, Avgoustiatis
What is Retsina?
A traditional greek wine flavored with pine resin (either from the interior of the cask, or through active additions), typically produced in Sterea Ellada of Savatiano grapes.
Where do Traditional Appellations fall in Greek Wine Law?
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)
Can Retsina be labeled with a vintage?
NO
How many locations can Retsina be produced in?
15
What do traditional PGIs aim to do?
Marry process and place, and, as the name implies, serve to preserve ancient methods of wine production.
What is Cava?
For PGI and Varietal wines only. Refers to a minimum of oak aging.
Whites and Rosé:
-One year of aging with at least six months in barrel
Reds:
Three years of aging with at least one year in barrel.
What are the requirements of Varietal wine?
Allows the vintage and variety to be displayed on the label, but not the origin of the fruit.
What are the requirements of Table Wine?
Cannot display vintage, varietal composition, or region of origin on the label.
What is permitted for Greek “Varietal” wines that is not permitted for “Table” wines?
Vintage and variety on the label
Where do Traditional Appellations fall in Greek Wine Law?
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)
What is the vintage % rule for Varietal wines?
Minimum of 85% of a wine must come from the stated vintage
What is the % rule for varietals in Varietal wines?
-If a single variety is listed on the label, 85% of the fruit must come from that variety.
-If more than one variety is listed, 100% of the wine must be composed of those varieties.
Greece legislates sulphur levels. What are the standard maximums for red, white, and sparkling
Sparkling: 185mg/L
White: 200mg/L
Red: 150mg/L
VDN: 200mg/L
Vin Liastos: 400mg/L
What is the standard minimum pressure for Greek sparkling?
3.5 atmospheres
What is resin extracted from?
The Aleppo pine tree
What is the term POP equivalent to?
-or alternatively OPAP, OPE = Quality wine equivalent to PDO
What is the term PGE equivalent to?
(includes OPKs with a geographical mention)
= Country Wine with Geographic designation equivalent to IGP
What is the term Oinos equivalent to? What was it formerly called?
Table Wine
-formerly Epitrapezios Oinos
What is the term OPK?
Wines of Traditional Designation
-Wines defined by traditional winemaking methods used rather than geography
