Greece

Question 1

Climate in Greece:

Answer 1

Mediterranean (continental inland)
Spring frost
Low rainfall - irrigation essential

Question 2

Vineyard management in Greece:

Answer 2

Low yields (low fertility soils)
Mostly hand harvesting (tricky terrain)
Organic/biodynamic common and traditional - certifications increasing
Cordon with VSP
Irrigation permitted - drip

Question 3

Indigenous vs international varieties in Greece?

Answer 3

90% indigenous
Around 300 total, 60 significant
Successful blends of indigenous + international

Question 4

Varieties in Greece?

Answer 4

Whites make up 70%
Savatiano
Roditis
Assyrtiko
Moschofilero
Malagousia

Reds:
Agiorgitiko
Xinomavro

Question 5

Describe Savatiano:

Answer 5

Most planted grape
Drought resistant
Most common Retsina varietal
Inexpensive whites

Question 6

Describe Roditis:

Answer 6

Pink-skinned
High yields
Used in Retsina
Inexpensive whites

Question 7

Describe Assyrtiko:

Answer 7

Best known and most prized white
High acid and alcohol
Citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit, smoky/flint
Also makes Vinsanto

Question 8

Describe Moschofilero:

Answer 8

Pink skinned - either rose with extended skin contact or pink tinged-whites
Aromatic citrus, rose petals, and spices
High acid
Light body
Low alcohol

Question 9

Describe Agiorgitiko:

Answer 9

Most planted black variety
Range of styles
Ripe red fruit and sweet spices
Often oak aged
Med acid
Med/high soft tannins
Med alc

Question 10

Describe Xinomavro:

Answer 10

Most prized black variety
Likened to Nebbiolo
Long bottle aging
Flowers, herbs, spices, leather, earthy

Question 11

General Winemaking in Greece:

Answer 11

French oak (occasionally American)
Natural yeast
Shorter extraction
Amphorae
Sweet wines: sun-dried grapes

Question 12

Describe Retsina:

Answer 12

Traditionally: pine resin used to seal amphorae
Now, legally protected category
Resin added to the must
Wine left on lees for max. 1 week
Amount of resin/acid/alcohol controlled
“Wine of appellation by tradition” (OKP in Greek) - not recognized as wine by EU

Question 13

Greek wine law:

Answer 13

POP (Prostatevmeni Onomasia Proelefsis) - 33 regions that account for 20% of production (equivalent to PDO)
PGE (Prostatevmeni Geografiki Endiksi) - 120 regions producing 62% of production (equivalent to PGI)

Question 14

Describe Macedonia:

Answer 14

Some mountainous/cool/high altitude
Some plains/warm/Mediterranean/fertile
Top PDOs: Naoussa and Amynteo
Reds dominate

Question 15

Describe Naoussa:

Answer 15

100% Xinomavro (reds only)
Kir-Yianni significant producer
SE slopes of Mount Vermio

Question 16

Describe Amynteo:

Answer 16

100% Xinomavro (red + rose)
Alpha Estate significant producer
NW slopes of Mount Vermio
Close to lakes- higher rot/humidity/fertility

Question 17

Describe Peloponnese:

Answer 17

Southern Peninsula
Largest plantings - 30%
PDOs Nemea and Mantinia
Very mountainous - poor, rocky soils
Mostly white grapes - Moschofilero and Roditis

Question 18

Describe Nemea:

Answer 18

100% Agiorgitiko
Mediterranean
Significant producer Gaia
Near Corinth Canal, separates peninsula from mainland

Question 19

Describe Mantinia:

Answer 19

One of the coolest areas due to altitude
White wines only
85% Moschofilero
Significant producer Boutari

Question 20

Describe The Islands:

Answer 20

Very low rainfall
Rocky soils
Includes Santorini
Expensive viticulture

Question 21

Describe Santorini:

Answer 21

Primarily Assyrtiko - min 75% for PDO
Strong winds - low basket-shaped training
- Four times the labor
Very little rain
Very low vine density
No phylloxera - very old vines
Volcanic soils
Max 60hL/ha - 15 is common

Question 22

Describe Vinsanto:

Answer 22

From Santorini
Late-harvested grapes, min 51% Assyrtiko
Dried in sun for up to 2 weeks
Min 2 years in oak
200-300g/L sugar
Raisin, coffee, chocolate
Significant producer Estate Argyros

Question 23

Wine business in Greece:

Answer 23

7000 grape growers
1000+ wineries, mostly small
13% export - Germany most important
Wines of Greece - promotional body