Greece Flashcards

1
Q

Give a brief description of retsina.

A

Retsina is generally produced as a white wine, from Savatiano or Roditis grapes, and flavored with the addition of pine resin, rather than stored in resin-sealed casks. Per Greek law, it cannot be labeled with a vintage. Retsina is a traditional appellation protected by the EU (as a PGI)

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2
Q

What style is covered by Controlled Appellation of Origin, or Οίνοι Ονομασίας Προελεύσεως Eλεγχόμενης (AOC/OPE)?

A

Traditional sweet wine.

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3
Q

What does réserve refer to on a Greek wine label?

A

Réserve indicates a minimum one year of aging for white wines, with at least six months in barrel and three months in bottle, and a minimum two years of aging for red wines, with at least one year in barrel and six months in bottle.

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4
Q

What does Grande Réserve refer to on a Greek wine label?

A

Grande Réserve requires a minimum two-year aging period for white wines, including at least one year in barrel and six months in bottle, and a minimum four-year aging period for red wines, including at least 18 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle.

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5
Q

What is Verdea?

A

An oxidative white wine made on the island of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea
Minimum 50% Skiadopoulo, plus Pavlos, Robola, Goustolidi, Avgoustiatis

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6
Q

What are the districts of Ionian Islands?

A

Corfu (Kerkyra)
Lefkada
Zakynthos

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7
Q

What does PGI Cava on labels mean?

A

W / Rosé - at least one year ageing of which at least 6 months in barrel.

R - at least three years ageing of which at least 1 year in barrel.

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8
Q

What does Palaiomenos se vareli mean on PGI wine labels?

A

Oak ageing beyond the required minimums.

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9
Q

Name the PDO regions of Macedonia.

A

Amynteo
Goumenissa
Naoussa
Slopes of Meliton

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10
Q

Name the 3 PDO regions of Thessalia.

A

Anchialos
Messenikola
Rapsani

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11
Q

Name 5 historic producers that spearheaded Greek evolution of wine industry.

A

Boutari, Achaia Clauss, Kambas, Kourtakis, and Tsantali.

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12
Q

What is Meltemi? Define its effect.

A

A wind known as the Meltemi regularly sweeps the Aegean. The name loosely translates to “a year of bad weather” and occurs when a high-pressure system falls over the Balkans and a low-pressure system sits over Turkey. It blows very dry air from the north, typically between mid-May and late September, which has an especially profound effect on Santorini.

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13
Q

What is Tsipouro?

A

Vin doux naturel wines are produced when spirits are added to a partly fermented wine, and fortification is generally executed using Tsipouro, Greek grappa. This is considered the superior approach to fortification, and all grand cru Greek wines must be made using this method.

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14
Q

True or false - a wide diurnal range due to higher altitude is key to preserve freshness in many Greek wine regions, despite sunny Mediterranean climate

A

True

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15
Q

Name native grapes of Crete.

A

W - Vidiano and Vilana
R - Liatiko

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16
Q

What’s the most planted red grape variety in Santorini?

A

Mandilaria

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17
Q

What’s the principal PDO for Moschofilero?

A

Mantinia - min 85% Moschofilero

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18
Q

Describe the quality structure of Greek wine as per the quality wine system.

A
  1. PDO or POP = quality wine equivalent to PDO
  2. PGE = country wine with geographic designation equivalent to IGP. Within this category there’s Regional PGI, District PGI and Area PGI
  3. Oinos = Table wine
  4. OPK = Wine of Traditional Designation = wines defined by traditional winemaking methods used rather than geography. Eg. Retsina and Verdea.
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19
Q

To which island is Liatiko native?

A

Crete

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20
Q

What are the white and red varietals used for Slopes of Meliton PDO?

A

W - Roditis, Assyrtiko, Athiri
R- Cabernet Sauvignon, Lemnio and Cabernet Franc

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21
Q

Which varietals are blended with Mandilaria on Crete?

A

Kotsifali or Liatiko

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22
Q

Which varietal is blended with Mandilaria on Santorini?

A

Mavrotragano

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23
Q

Name two famous Mavrodaphne appellations in Greece.

A

Mavrodaphne of Patras
Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia

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24
Q

For which variety is Epanomi Area PGI famous?

A

Malagousia

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25
Q

What’s the PDO that requires 85% Moschofilero in the wines?

A

Mantinia PDO in Peloponnese

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26
Q

Which PDO is famous for Robola?

A

Cephalonia - Robola of Cephalonia PDO

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27
Q

What are the three peninsula’s in Macedonia called?

A

Halkidiki

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28
Q

Name a top producer in Naoussa.

A

Kir Yianni

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29
Q

What varietal is co-fermented with Xinomavro in Goumenissa PDO?

A

Min. 20% Negoska in Goumenissa’s reds

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30
Q

What’s the mountain range in Naoussa called?

A

Mount Vermio

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31
Q

What are the wine styles in Naoussa and Amynteo?

A

Naoussa: dry and (semi) sweet red

Amynteo: dry and semi-sweet sparkling rose + rose + dry red

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32
Q

What are the two PDO’s that allow international varieties in their blends?

A

Slopes of Meliton PDO
Messenikola PDO in Thessaly (Syrah and Carignan are allowed. Main grape is Mavro Messenikola)

33
Q

What are the three PDO’s of Thessaly?

A

Rapsani PDO
Anchialos PDO
Messenikola PDO

34
Q

Style and grapes in Rapsani PDO?

A

Dry red
Xinomavro co-fermented with Stavrato and Krasato

35
Q

What’s the grape of Anchialos PDO?

A

Roditis (+ Savatiano also allowed)

36
Q

Which PDO is located on the slopes of Mt Olympus?

A

Rapsani PDO

37
Q

What’s the PDO of Epirus?

A

Zitsa PDO

38
Q

Main grape in Zitsa PDO?

A

Debina

39
Q

Describe Retsina production.

A

Retsina is produced by the addition of the natural resin extracted from pinus halepensis (commonly known as Aleppo Pine) before the start or during alcoholic fermentation. The maximum amount of addition is 1kg/hl. Having left only its aroma in the wine, the resin is then removed.

40
Q

Who produces Megas Oenos and where is it produced?

A

Domaine Skouras - it is a blend of 80% Agiorgitiko and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Nemea

41
Q

Name a ‘Cru’ of Nemea.

A

Koutsi

42
Q

What’s the grape of Patras PDO?

A

Roditis

43
Q

Who was the first producer of Mavrodaphne of Patras?

A

First created in 1861 by Achaia Clauss

44
Q

What’s the other grape variety in Mavrodaphne of Patras PDO?

A

Corinthiaki

45
Q

What are the two Muscat appellations in Patras called?

A

Muscat of Patras PDO
Muscat of Rio Patras PDO

46
Q

What’s the style of Mavrodaphe of Patras?

A

VDN or VDL style. Always fortified.

47
Q

What’s the main grape variety of Verdea?

A

Skiadopoulo

48
Q

What are the styles in Monemvassia Malvasia?

A

Naturally sweet white (sun dried)
Fortified sweet white (VDN)

49
Q

Which islands form the Cyclades Island group?

A

Santorini
Paros

50
Q

Which islands form the Dodecanese Island group?

A

Rhodes (east)
Crete (south)

51
Q

What’s the late Summer wind in Cyclades called? This wind extends the growing season.

A

Meltemi

52
Q

Name principal producers in Santorini.

A

Sigalas
Gaia
Boutari

53
Q

What are the white grapes of Santorini?

A

Assyrtiko
Aidani
Athiri

54
Q

What are the red grapes of Santorini?

A

Mandilaria
Mavrotragano

55
Q

Describe Santorini’s Vinsanto production.

A

Grapes of at least 51% Assyrtiko (and the rest Aidani and Athiri) are picked and then sun-dried. Fermentation takes sometimes several years and the minimum ageing period is 2 years in wood.

56
Q

What is Nykteri?

A

Dry wine made from very ripe grapes harvested before dawn and pressed within a day. Aged for a minimum of 3 months in barrel. Made in Santorini.

57
Q

What’s the style and grape in Paros PDO?

A

Dry white made with Monemvassia.

Dry red made with Mandilaria co-fermented with Monemvassia.

58
Q

Style and grape of Malvasia of Paros PDO?

A

Sweet wine made with sun-dried grapes of Monemvassia and max. 15% Assyrtiko.

59
Q

What is Slopes of Ambelos PGI famous for within Samos?

A

Famous for producing dry white wines from Muscat Blanc.

60
Q

Styles and grape(s) of Samos?

A

Natural Sweet Wine (VDN)
Natural Sweet Wine from Specified vineyards (VDN - Grand Cru)
Sweet Wine (VDL)
Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)

Moscato Aspro (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)

61
Q

Describe Samos’ ‘Nectar’.

A

Made with Muscat Blanc grapes that are unfortified. Aged in oak for at least 6 years before release.

62
Q

Describe Samos’ ‘Anthemia’.

A

Unfermented must is fortified and aged for at least 5 years in oak.

63
Q

Describe ‘Grand Cru’ Samos Muscat.

A

From select vineyards above 400 metres. Only slightly fortified. No use of oak.

64
Q

Grape variety of PDO Muscat of Lemnos?

A

Muscat de Alexandria.

65
Q

What are the PDO’s of Crete?

A

Sitia PDO
Peza PDO
Daphnes PDO
Archanes PDO
Candia PDO
Malvasia Candia PDO
Malvasia Sitia PDO

66
Q

Style and grapes in Malvasia Candia PDO and Malvasia Sitia PDO?

A

VDN or Vin Naturellement Doux
Assyrtiko, Athiri, Vidiano, Thrapsathiri and Liatiko + max. 15% Malvasia di Candia Aromatica + Muscat Blanc

67
Q

Styles in Candia PDO?

A

Dry white
Dry red (Kotsifali + Mandilaria)

68
Q

What are the main grapes for white and red in PDO Sitia?

A

W- Vilana
R- Liatiko

69
Q

Styles and grapes in Peza PDO?

A

Dry whites - Vilana
Dry reds - Kotsifali and Mandilaria

70
Q

Style(s) and grape(s) in Archanes PDO?

A

Dry red only.
Kotsifali and Mandilaria.

71
Q

Style(s) and grape(s) in Daphnes PDO?

A

Dry and sweet wines made with 100% Liatiko.

72
Q

What are the principal native Cretan grapes?

A

W - Dafni, Plyto, Vilana, Vidiano (mostly made into PGI Crete)
R- Liatiko

73
Q

What is the predominant soil type in Crete?

A

Limestone and clay.
Especially in eastern Crete there’s extensive limestone, so wines stay fresh in hot and dry conditions.

74
Q

What’s the PGI called in northeastern Macedonia?

A

Drama PGI.

75
Q

What does Selected/ Reserve mean on Santorini label?

A

Applies to dry wines only.
Minimum ageing period of 1 year, including at least 6 months in oak barrels and 3 months in bottle.

76
Q

What does Specially Selected/ Grande Reserve mean on Santorini label?

A

Only applies to dry wines.
At least 2 years of ageing is required, including at least 1 year in barrel and 6 months in bottle.

77
Q

Minimum ageing requirements for Santorini’s Vinsanto?

A

Vintage - 2 years in wood.
Ageing statement - 4 years in wood.

78
Q

Describe Santorini’s soils.

A

Soils are volcanic and consist of a combination of basalt, volcanic ash, sand and volcanic rocks.
Self-rooted, no phylloxera.