Greece and Eastern Europe

Question 1

What grape is Retsina made from?

Answer 1

Savvatiano

Question 2

In Greece, how do “Varietal” wines differ from “Table” wines?

Answer 2

“Varietal” wines are table wines that carry a vintage and a variety on the label. “Table” wines cannot.

Question 3

What is Verdea?

Answer 3

An oxidative white wine produced on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea.

Question 4

What does it mean if you see “palaiomenos se vareli” on a label of a PGI wine?

Answer 4

It indicates oak aging beyond the required minimums.

Question 5

How long must a Cava white/rose wine be aged for?

Answer 5

1 year; 6 months in oak.

Question 6

Where is Boutari based in Greece?

Answer 6

Naoussa

Question 7

What style of wine does Goumenissa PDO produce?

Answer 7

Lighter red wines made from Xinomavro with the addition of at least 20% Negoska.

Question 8

Name a Greek PDO which is allowed to produce semisweet, still, or sparkling rose wines.

Answer 8

Amynteo PDO in Macedonia

Question 9

In the Rapsani PDO of Thessalia, what two grapes must Xinomavro be blended with?

Answer 9

Krasato and Stavroto

Question 10

Which Thessalia PDO allows only reds to be produced? Which Thessalia PDO allows only whites?

Answer 10

Reds only- Messenikola PDO

Whites only- Anchialos PDO

Question 11

What is the only PDO of Epirus?

Answer 11

Zitsa. Dry, Semisweet, and Sparkling wines made from the Debina grape.

Question 12

What is the main style of wine in Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)?

Answer 12

Retsina, with Attiki being the center of production.

Question 13

What are the 3 PDO zones of Peloponnese?

Answer 13

Nemea, Mantinia, and Patras

Question 14

Of the four wine-producing islands Ionian islands, which is the only one to warrant a PDO?

Answer 14

Cephalonia, for dry white wines produced from Robola.

Question 15

What does the “blood of Hercules” refer to?

Answer 15

The red wines made in Nemea from Agiorgitiko (St. George) grape, commemorating the first of Hercules’ twelve labors.

Question 16

What is the main grape of Nemea PDO?

Answer 16

Agiorgitiko (St. Geroge)

Question 17

What is the main grape of Mantinia PDO?

Answer 17

Moschofilero, a red-skinned grape which is highly aromatic like Muscat

Question 18

What is the main grape of Patras PDO?

Answer 18

Roditis, usually as a dry white wine.

Question 19

What is Mavrodaphne of Patras?

Answer 19

A sweet, fortified red produced from Mavrodaphne and Mavri Korinthiaki from the Patras PDO of Peloponnese. Often enjoyed as an aperitif or as a communion sacrament in Greek Orthodox services.

Question 20

When did the first Monemvassia-Malvasia PDO wine hit the market?

Answer 20

2012. The PDO was awarded in 2010, and the sweet wine is required to age in an oxidative environment for at least 2 years prior to release.

Question 21

What are the 4 wine-producing Ionian Islands?

Answer 21

Cephalonia, Kerkyra, Lefkada, and Zakynthos

Question 22

What were the 3 new PDO zones added to Crete in 2012?

Answer 22

Canida, Malvasia Candia, and Malvasia Sitia.

Question 23

What are the two most cultivated grapes in Romania?

Answer 23

Feteasca Alba & Feteasca Regala

Question 24

Where can you find sweet wine in Romania? What grapes are used to make it?

Answer 24

In the Cotnari DOC of Moldavia, primarily using the Grasa de Cotnari grape. Other approved blending grapes include Francusa, Tamaioasa Romaneasca, and Feteasca Alba.

Question 25

True or False: All Cotnari DOC wines must be sweet in style.

Answer 25

False, dry Cotnari my be produced as well.

Question 26

Your friends from LA are going to Romania for their honeymoon, and they are starting to really miss the Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon that they usually drink at home. What region should they visit in order to find the wine that they like?

Answer 26

The Dealu Mare DOC within Mutenia-Oltenia, which is gaining a reputation for its Pinot and Cabernet. They could also go to the Murfatlar DOC in Dobrogea.

Question 27

What is Romania’s coolest wine region? What style of wine is made here?

Answer 27

Tarnave DOC in Transylvania. They produce high acid whites made from Feteasca grapes and the Traminer rose.

Question 28

Where are Romania’s highest vineyards located?

Answer 28

In Transylvania, located in the center of the country and buffered by the Carpathian peaks.

Question 29

What would “Vin tânăr” indicate on a Târnave DOC wine?

Answer 29

That it is a “Young wine,” and that it was bottled before the end of the year in which it was produced.

Question 30

Match the following to the correct definition:

DOC-CT a - grapes harvested at full maturity
DOC-CIB b - late-harvested grapes
DOC- CMD c - botrytis-affected grapes

Answer 30

DOC-CMD: a; DOC-CT: b; DOC-CIB: c

Question 31

Where is Babadag DOC?

Answer 31

Dobrogei

Question 32

What is the name of the river that divides Oltenia from Mutenia?

Answer 32

The Olt River