Central Greece and Peloponnese

Question 1

What is Central Greece known as?

Answer 1

Sterea Ellada

Question 2

How many PDOs of Central Greece?

Answer 2

NONE

Question 3

Where is Retsina production mostly concentrated? What are the most planted grapes in this region?

Answer 3

Attiki (Athens)

Savatiano, followed by Rhoditis

Question 4

Why is Savatiano preferred for Retsina? What other grapes are added?

Answer 4

Known as Greece’s most common white grape, it retains some varietal character even when resinated.
-it is the most common ingredient in Retsina, although Roditis and Assyrtiko are often added to compensate for Savatiano’s naturally low acidity.

Question 5

What is the southernmost section of the Greek mainland

Answer 5

The Peloponnese

Question 6

What connects the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece?

Answer 6

Gulf of Corinth

Question 7

What is Moschoudi?

Answer 7

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains in the Peloponnese

Question 8

What are the PDO zones of the Peleponnese?

Answer 8

Patras
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras
Nemea
Mantinia
Monemvassia-Malvasia

Question 9

What are the sweet wine PDO’s of the Peloponnese?

Answer 9

Monemvassia-Malvasia
Mavrodaphne of Patras
Muscat of Patras
Muscat of Rio Patras

Question 10

What is the sole PDO for dry reds in the Peloponnese?

Answer 10

Nemea

Question 11

What are the styles and varietals of Nemea?

Answer 11

100% Agiorgitiko
Dry red
Semisweet red (17-45g/L)
VDL
VDN
Vin Liastos

Question 12

Historically how were wines from Nemea made?

Answer 12

Dry Nemean reds were crafted in a light and fruity style, occasionally via carbonic maceration.

Question 13

Who modernized winemaking in Nemea? When? How?

Answer 13

Skouras
mid-1980s
-through his popular Megas Oenos, a blend of Agiorgitiko and Cabernet Sauvignon that aged in new French barrels

Question 14

What is the name of Skouras’ Nemea prestige cuvée?

Answer 14

Grand Cuvée

Question 15

Who pioneered a richer, more extracted style of wine from Nemea? When? What is the cépage?

Answer 15

Gaia
1990s
100% Agiorgitiko

Question 16

How are semi-sweet wines made in Nemea?

Answer 16

Produced by stopping fermentation or by adding must concentrate to dry wines.

Question 17

How are Vin Doux wines made in Nemea?

Answer 17

Vin Doux Liquer
-Sweet Vin de Liqueur, produced by adding spirit to the must prior to fermentation

Question 18

How are Vin Doux Naturel wines made in Nemea?

Answer 18

Sweet Fortified Red Wines
-produced by adding the spirit to the must during fermentation

Question 19

What district is Nemea in? Where is this district?

Answer 19

Corinth
-occupies the northeast corner of the Peloponnese (though a small portion of the PDO crosses over into the Argolida district to the south)

Question 20

How many villages is Nemea are located within Nemea? How many zones are these villages divided into? How?

Answer 20

17 villages
-divided into three distinct zones based on altitude

Question 21

What are the zones and elevations of Nemea? Soils? Climate?

Answer 21

Lowest Zone:
-extends from 200-450 meters (650 – 1,475 feet)
-historically where dessert wine comes
-High temps and Red clay

Middle Zone
-450-650 meters (1,475 – 2,135 feet)
-cooler
-poor varied soils
-historically best for dry red wines

Highest Zone
-650-850 meters (2,135 – 2,790 feet)
-coolest
-limestone
-historically best for rosé
-producers are now embracing the more light and sculptural style of dry red that can be coaxed from the highest slopes

Question 22

What is the nickname that is sometimes on the labels of wine from Nemea?

Answer 22

The nickname “blood of Hercules” (or “blood of the lion”) is sometimes attached to the wines of Nemea, commemorating the first of Hercules’ twelve legendary labors.

Question 23

What is the most famous subzone “cru” of Nemea?

Answer 23

Koutsi
-headquarters of Gaia

Question 24

What PDOs in Greece are producers trying to draw awareness to “crus”?

Answer 24

Nemea (Peloponnese)
Naoussa (Macedonia)

Question 25

What is coolest, most continental part of the Peloponnese? What PDO is located here?

Answer 25

District of Arcadia -Mantinia

Question 26

What are the styles and varietals of Mantinia?

Answer 26

Min. 85% Moschofilero, plus Asproudes Dry white wines (or vin gris style, accomplished through skin contact) Sparkling white wines (brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra sec, sec, demi-sec, doux)

Question 27

What are the three PDO's that have the most vine cultivation concentrated in northern part of Peloponnese?

Answer 27

—Patras —Nemea —Mantinia

Question 28

What is Asproudes? What is this usually referred to in Mantinia?

Answer 28

The generic term for indigenous white grapes -typically refers to Glikerithra, a high-sugar, low-acid variety of middling reputation

Question 29

What are the styles and varietals of Patras?

Answer 29

100% Roditis Dry White Wine: maximum 4 g/l Semi-Dry White Wine: 4.5 - 17.5 g/l Semi-Sweet White Wine: 12 - 45 g/l

Question 30

What is the elevation of Patras PDO?

Answer 30

250-900 meters (820 – 2,955 feet)

Question 31

Where is Achaia?

Answer 31

District PGI -located to the north of Arcadia and west of Corinth, forming the northernmost coast of the Peloponnese

Question 32

What is Achaia’s main city?

Answer 32

Patras

Question 33

What is the most famous of the Patras sweet wine appellations?

Answer 33

Mavrodaphne of Patras

Question 34

When was Mavrodaphne of Patras created? By whom?

Answer 34

1861 by Achaia Clauss -Founder Gustav Clauss had spent time in the Douro before establishing his estate, and had originally crafted his wine in Port’s image

Question 35

What are the styles and varietals of Mavrodaphne of Patras?

Answer 35

Guild Somm: Natural Sweet Red Wine (VDL from dried Grapes) Sweet Red Wine (VDL from non-dried grapes with the addition of additional must) Red VDN min 51% Mavrodaphne plus max 49% Mavri Korinthiki note: top producers use VDN (adding spirit during fermentation) production oriented producers use VDL (adding spirit before fermentation)

Question 36

What are the aging requirements for Mavrodaphne of Patras?

Answer 36

1 year in oak barrels of 1,000 liters or less "Reserve": Min. 3 years, including 2 years in cask and 1 year in bottle "Vieille Reserve": Min. 5 years, including min. 2 years in cask and 2 years in bottle "Grand Reserve": Min. 7 years, including a min. 3 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle Non-Vintage blends require a minimum 3 years of aging after the final blend.

Question 37

What are the styles and varietals of Muscat of Patras?

Answer 37

100% Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (Moscato Aspro) Fortified Wine (VDN) Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru) Fortified Wine (VDL) Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)

Question 38

What are the styles and varietals of Muscat of Rio Patras?

Answer 38

100% Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (Moscato Aspro) Fortified Wine (VDN) Fortified Wine from Specific vineyards (VDN Grand Cru) Fortified Wine (VDL) Naturally Sweet Wine (Sun Dried)

Question 39

What is difference in flavor profile of Muscat of Patras and Muscat of Rio Patras?

Answer 39

Muscat or Patras - richer in texture, even heavy. Muscat or Rio Patras - more high-toned, floral wines

Question 40

What wine is used for Greek Orthodox communion sacrament?

Answer 40

Mavrodaphne of Patras

Question 41

What is Vin Liastos?

Answer 41

Straw wines - grapes dried in the sun

Question 42

What are the styles and varietals of Monemvassia-Malvasia?

Answer 42

Sweet Whites: VDN or Vin Liastos min. 51% Monemvassia, plus Assyrtiko, Asproudes, Kydonitsa

Question 43

Are chaptalization and addition of concentrate grape must is allowed in the sweet wine PDOs of the Peloponnese?

Answer 43

NO

Question 44

What are the aging requirements for Monemvassia-Malvasia?

Answer 44

Min. 2 years in an oxidative environment (if the wine is aged for a longer period, it may be aged for 4 years, or in multiples of 4 years thereafter)

Question 45

What is the minimum must weight of Monemvassia-Malvasia?

Answer 45

Before drying: 220 g/l After drying: 320 g/l