Greek Wine Law

Question 1

When did Greece make its modern attempt at defining appellations? When were these laws tweeked?

Answer 1

1960s and 1970s
Tweaked in the 1980s following Greece’s induction into the EU.

Question 2

What were Greece’s top designations of origin? (expert guide)

Answer 2

-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)

Question 3

What are the two levels of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) quality wine in Greece? (study guide)

Answer 3

AOC (Controlled Appellation of Origin): traditional sweet wines
AOSQ (Appellation of Superior Quality): dry wines

Question 4

What was TO originally in Greek wine law?

Answer 4

Topikos Oinos- the rough equivalent of France’s Vin de Pays

Question 5

When did Greece first implement wine laws? When were most of the country’s appellations established?

Answer 5

Implemented - 1969 and 1970
Established - 1971

Question 6

When was the Greek wine law system overhauled? What was the result?

Answer 6

2009
-resulting in the PDO/PGI system seen today, with both OPAP and OPE being absorbed into the PDO stratum

Question 7

How many PDOs in Greece? What are the requirements?

Answer 7

33
-100% of the fruit must be both grown and vinified within the appellation.

Question 8

What two PDOs are not dedicated to indigenous grape varieties?

Answer 8

The Slopes of Meliton (Macedonia)
Messenikola (Thessaly)

Question 9

What are the aging designations that PDOs can be labeled with?

Answer 9

Reserve
Grande Reserve

Question 10

What are the aging requirements for Reserve? What is the alternative term?

Answer 10

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”

Question 11

What are the aging requirements for Grande Reserve? What is the alternative term?

Answer 11

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”

Question 12

As of 2015/2016 what % of wines in Greece are PDO? What % of these are white?

Answer 12

19.62%
48.69% of PDO wines are white

Question 13

Where do Traditional Appellations fall in Greek Wine Law?

Answer 13

PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)

Question 14

How many PGIs (Protected Geographic Indication) in Greece?

Answer 14

120

Question 15

What are the three levels of PGI wines?

Answer 15

Regional
District
Area - can be as small as a single vineyard

Question 16

What are the requirements for a wine to be labeled as PGI?

Answer 16

-a minimum of 85% of grapes should come from the appellation
-all grapes must be vinfi ed within the PGI’s boundary

Question 17

What % of PGI wines are white? What % of total production of Greek wines are PGI?

Answer 17

61.22% white
62.47% of Greece’s production

Question 18

What are the two traditional wines that are included in PGI?

Answer 18

Verdea
Retsina

Question 19

What is Verdea? What are the grapes?

Answer 19

A Traditional Appellation on the island of Zakynthos for oxidative white wines: min. 50% Skiadopoulo, plus Pavlos, Robola, Goustolidi, Avgoustiatis

Question 20

What is Retsina?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Where do Traditional Appellations fall in Greek Wine Law?

Answer 21

PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)

Question 22

Can Retsina be labeled with a vintage?

Answer 22

NO

Question 23

How many locations can Retsina be produced in?

Answer 23

15

Question 24

What do traditional PGIs aim to do?

Answer 24

Marry process and place, and, as the name implies, serve to preserve ancient methods of wine production.

Question 25

What is Cava?

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

What are the requirements of Varietal wine?

Answer 26

Allows the vintage and variety to be displayed on the label, but not the origin of the fruit.

Question 27

What are the requirements of Table Wine?

Answer 27

Cannot display vintage, varietal composition, or region of origin on the label.

Question 28

What is permitted for Greek “Varietal” wines that is not permitted for “Table” wines?

Answer 28

Vintage and variety on the label

Question 29

Where do Traditional Appellations fall in Greek Wine Law?

Answer 29

PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)

Question 30

What is the vintage % rule for Varietal wines?

Answer 30

Minimum of 85% of a wine must come from the stated vintage

Question 31

What is the % rule for varietals in Varietal wines?

Answer 31

-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.

Question 32

Greece legislates sulphur levels. What are the standard maximums for red, white, and sparkling

Answer 32

Sparkling: 185mg/L
White: 200mg/L
Red: 150mg/L
VDN: 200mg/L
Vin Liastos: 400mg/L

Question 33

What is the standard minimum pressure for Greek sparkling?

Answer 33

3.5 atmospheres