Macedonia/Epirus/Thrace/Thessalila

Question 1

What are the PDO regions of Macedonia? (4)

Answer 1

—Naoussa PDO
—Amynteo “ah-MEN-dio” PDO
**both produce red wines solely from firmly tannic Xinomavro
—Goumenissa “goo-MEN-knee-SA”PDO produces lighter Xinomavro with the addition of at least 20% Negoska
—Slopes of Meliton (Plagies Melitona)- single appellation/monopole for Domaine Carras producing wine based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and the native Limnio.

Question 2

What region was the first appellation of Greece?
When?
Style found in the appellation?
Whatlarge winery is based in this region?

Answer 2

—Naoussa in 1971
—Dry Red(> 4.5 g/l), Semi-Dry Red (4.5 - 17.5 g/l), Semi-Sweet Red (17.5 < g/l)based on 100% Xinomavro
—Boutari

Question 3

What is the climate in Naoussa?

What mountain range is found in Naoussa?

Answer 3

Located on the southeastern slopes ofMount Vermio where there is snowin winter, thought summers are so dry that irrigation is essential. The land is sufficiently varied and extensie for individual crus to deserve identification.

Question 4

What are the two categories of Naoussa wine?

Answer 4

Young wine from the lighter, sandy soil and more age-worthy wine from clay and limestone soils.

Question 5

What does Xinomavro “ksee-NOH-mah-vroh” mean?

Answer 5

“Acid-black”

Question 6

What is Greece’s coolest region?

What style is found in this region?

Answer 6

—Amynteo (Amindeo) on the northwest-facing side of Mount Vermio opposite Naoussa, but at a higher elevation.
—100% Xinomavro
—Sparkling Rosé (Dry and Semi-Sweet)
—Rosé
—Dry Red based
**one of the few PDOs allowed to make rose in Greece (only could find Rhodes PDO) in the Aegean Islands

Question 7

What producer owns the monopole of the PDO Slopes of Meliton?
What style is found?
Who wasthe winemaker?
Who was the consultant?

Answer 7

—Slopes of Meliton (Plagies Melitona) is a single appellation for Domaine Carras.
—Redwines based on blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and the native Limnio;
—White wines based onthe Greek varietals Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Rhoditis.
—Evangelos Gerovassiliou “jero-VAH-ZA-lou”, the winemaker who launched Domaine Carras to international acclaim (‘76-‘99) under the guidance of Émile Peynaud, 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.

Question 8

What are the three PDO’s of Thessalia and their styles?

Answer 8

Rapsani PDO- Red wine only appellation located on the lower slopes of Mount Olympus; the southernmost outpost of the Xinomavro grape. Tannins and acid are softened by warmer climate and mandatory blending with lighter Krakatoa and Stavroto grapes.

Messenikola PDO-70% Mavro Mesenikola “ma-SEN-knee-co-la”maximum 30% combined Syrah and Carignan

Anchialos “AN-key-AL-los” PDO- only white wines blended from Roditis (80%)and Savvatiano (20%) grapes from high-altitude vineyards

Question 9

What is the PDO of Epirus? What style?

Answer 9

Zitsa-produces dry, semisweet, and sparkling wines from the Debina grape.
-Sparkling wine may be produced in the Traditional Method or in tank.