Aegean Islands

Question 1

PDOs of Aegean islands (cyclades)

Answer 1

Santorini, Paros, Rhodes, Lemnos, Samos, Muscat of Rhodes, Muscat of Lemnos, Malvasia Paros

Question 2

Paros (Aegean Island)

Answer 2

100% Monemvasia (white)

Red: co-fermentation of minimum 35% Mandilaria grape, and Monemvassia must

Mandilaria is the main red grape

Question 3

Main grapes and Styles of Rhodes PDO (Aegean Islands)

Answer 3

much closer to southern Asia Minor than Greece itself

produces PDO red, white, and rosé varietal wines from Mandilaria (Amorghiano) and Athiri

Whites: 70% Athiri min (balance Assyrtiko and Malagousia)
Reds: 70% Mandilaria (balance Mavrothiriko)

Muscat of Rhodes PDO wines are rarely encountered.

Question 4

The most common red variety throughout the Aegean

Answer 4

Mandilaria, blended with Kotsifali to produce the Archanes PDO and red Peza PDO wines of Crete

Question 5

Styles of Samos PDO

Answer 5

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (Moscato Aspro)
vin de liqueur
vin doux naturel
naturally sweet versions

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, with 300g/l sugar before vinification

Question 6

PDOs of Lemnos﹡ (Agean, north of Paros)

Answer 6

Lemnos PDO:

Sweet and Dry from White: Moschato Alexandrias (only place the grape is featured in Greece)

Dry Red: Limnio (Kalampaki) only place for limnio

Muscat of Lemnos PDO:

Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)
Fortified Wines (VDN)
Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru)
Fortified Wine (VDL)
Variety: Moschato Alexandrias

Question 7

PDO of Muscat of Rhodes (Agean, East of Samos)

Answer 7

Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)
Fortified Wines (VDN)
Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru)
Fortified Wine (VDL)

Moschato Aspro (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)

Question 8

What year was Greece’s first cooperative established

Answer 8

1934 Samos

Question 9

What is EOSS?

Answer 9

Union of Vinicultural Cooperatives of Samos (1934)

First cooperative for island growers

Question 10

What is Vin Liastos?

Answer 10

Naturally Sweet White, sun dried

Question 11

These island PDOs in Greece feature Mandilaria as a prominent grape

Answer 11

The reds and rosés of Rhodes PDO 70%
Mandilaria min.

Paros reds mandate min 35% mandilaria and monemvassia must

Question 12

White wines and sparkling wines of Rhodes feature this white grape blended with Malagousia and Athiri

Answer 12

Assyrtiko

Question 13

The Aegean is grouped into four island groups:

Answer 13

Cyclades*
Dodecanese*
North Aegean*
Sporades (don’t really contribute to wine industry)

Question 14

Cyclades is named for this

Answer 14

Circlular formation of island chain, just North of Crete

Question 15

How many islands in the Cyclades

Answer 15

33
Most Important: Paros and Santorini

Question 16

When does the Meltemi really kick up

Answer 16

Late summer

Question 17

How does the Meltemi affect vines

Answer 17

Stalls photosynthesis
high winds cause leaf stomata to close*
*This benefits as extends growing season and prevents Cyclades wines from becoming overripe

Question 18

Dominant White grapes in Cyclades

Answer 18

Assyrtiko and Monemvasia

Question 19

Most widely planted red in Cyclades

Answer 19

Mandilaria

Question 20

Two PDOs of Paros

Answer 20

Paros and Malvasia of Paros

Question 21

Paros is a flat island with one central peak:

Answer 21

Mount Profitis (750 meters)

Question 22

Soils of Paros

Answer 22

Fertile: Sand, loam and limestone

Question 23

Best sites of Paros are at this elevation

Answer 23

250-400 meters (820-1310 ft)

Question 24

Malvasia of Paros is a sweet wine from Sun dried grapes. What is the encepagement and aging

Answer 24

Monemvasia with max 15% Assyrtiko. Fortification optional
Aged min 2 years to be labeled with a vintage

Question 25

Malvasia of Paros may be labeled with an average age in four year increments if aged for at least __ years

Answer 25

4 years: (eg. 4, 8, 12, 16 years old)

Question 26

Regional PGIs of Cyclades

Answer 26

Aegean Sea

Question 27

Area PGIs of Cyclades

Answer 27

Syros, Thapsana

Question 28

How many Dodecanese Islands (East, closer to turkish coast)

Answer 28

12

Question 29

Most serious PDO of the Dodecanese

Answer 29

Rhodes

Question 30

Mountain of Rhodes PDO

Answer 30

Mount Atavyros

Question 31

This PDO in the Dodecanese was for decades a source of "Greek Champagne"

Answer 31

Rhodes

Question 32

Main producer of Rhodes

Answer 32

CAIR cooperative founded in 1928, reputation for sparkling. Dominates today

Question 33

Main grapes of Rhodes PDO

Answer 33

Athiri (Excels on upper slopes) Mandilaria (Amorghiano) on lower elevations

Question 34

Rhodes PDO allows for these styles:

Answer 34

White, red, rosé, quality sparkling Dry, semi dry or semi sweet still and sparkling from 70% Athiri (white) 70% Mandilaria (red and rosé) White med dry and semi sweet called “Lefkos”

Question 35

this grape is native to Rhodes

Answer 35

Mavrothiriko

Question 36

District PGI of Rhodes

Answer 36

Dodecanese

Question 37

These two islands in the Dodecanese closer to Turkey have PDOs for sweet wine

Answer 37

Rhodes (Muscat of Rhodes) Samos (Muscat of Samos PDO)

Question 38

What is Pramnian red?

Answer 38

traditional high alcohol red from Ikaria area PGI in Dodecanese, made from Fokiano grape

Question 39

Main grape today of the Ikaria area PGi in Dodecanese (Northern Aegean)

Answer 39

Mandilaria Belgeri (white grape is the focus of the modern wine movement)

Question 40

this PGI in the Northern Aegean was created in 2010 and known as a source for Ouzo

Answer 40

Lesvos Eresos-Antissa, Kalloni and Plomari are all expected to earn area PGI soon

Question 41

What year was a law passed stating that only wines made from Muscat could claim a Samos origin

Answer 41

1934 Same year UWC (United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos) was founded: first Co op

Question 42

Local name for Muscat Blanc (Samos)

Answer 42

Moschato Aspro

Question 43

Red Grapes of Samos

Answer 43

Ritino and Fokiano

Question 44

soil type of Samos

Answer 44

Granitic, steep

Question 45

Mountain of Samos

Answer 45

Mount Ampelos

Question 46

Best vineyards planted at this aspect in Samos

Answer 46

high elevation up tp 900 meters, North facing

Question 47

This PGI in Samos is a zone that pertains to the production of dry whites made from Muscat

Answer 47

PGI Ambelos

Question 48

the only Muscat based PDO of Greece that doesn't include the name of the grape in the origin

Answer 48

Samos PDO

Question 49

Does Samos PDO need to be aged in oak?

Answer 49

No, both oak aged and unoaked Muscat are produced

Question 50

What was the first commercial distillery for Ouzo?

Answer 50

Tyrnavos (in Thessaly) 1856 2006 became a PDO Min Abv% 37.5

Question 51

Origin of the grape Limnio

Answer 51

Lemnos, though no longer plays important role there

Question 52

What is Kalambaki

Answer 52

The local name for dry reds made from Limnio in Lemnos

Question 53

Muscat of Lemnos PDO uses this Muscat

Answer 53

Muscat of Alexandria (Not Moschato Aspro) Generally considered inferior to Samos

Question 54

Soils of Lemnos

Answer 54

flatter, volcanic, and limestone Most vineyards on West side of island 0-300m elevation

Question 55

District PGI of Lemnos

Answer 55

Chios

Question 56

Area PGIs of Lemnos

Answer 56

Ikaria Lesvos Slopes of Ambelos

Question 57

soil type of Samos

Answer 57

Granitic, steep