Ionian Islands and the Aegean Cyclades

Question 1

What is unique about the history of the Ionian islands?

Answer 1

They never fell under Ottoman rule, they were ruled by the Venetians and briefly belonged to France and then Britain before becoming part of Greece

Question 2

What is the only island in the Ionian Sea to posses any PDOs?

Answer 2

Cephalonia

Question 3

What natural disaster devastated Cephalonia in 1953?

Answer 3

A huge earthquake

Question 4

What are the PDOs of Cephalonia?

Answer 4

Robola of Cephalonia
Muscat of Cephalonia
Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia

Question 5

What style if wine is made in Robola of Cephalonia PDO?

Answer 5

Dry white from 100% Robola

Question 6

What style of wine is made in Muscat of Cephalonia?

Answer 6

VDN, VdL, and Vin Liastos from 100% Moschato Aspro

Question 7

What style of wine is made in Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia?

Answer 7

Fortified sweet red form a minimum 51% Mavrodpahne with the balance made up of Mavri Korinthiaki

Question 8

What mountain in Cephalonia claims the best vineyards for Robola?

Answer 8

Mount Ainos

Question 9

What special clone of Mavrodaphne exists in Cephalonia?

Answer 9

Tsigelo

Question 10

What is the most Southerly Ionian island?

Answer 10

Zakynthos - lies just off the coast of the Peloponnese

Question 11

What is the main grape of Verdea PGI?

Answer 11

Skiadopoulo - has a high sugar content and moderate acidity

Question 12

List 4 islands in the Ionian?

Answer 12

Cephalonia
Zakynthos
Lefkada
Corfu

Question 13

List 3 islands in the Cyclades

Answer 13

Mykonos
Santorini
Paros

Question 14

How do intense winds stall photosynthesis?

Answer 14

They cause the leaf stomata to close

Question 15

Did phylloxera reach the Cyclades?

Answer 15

No!

Question 16

What are the dominant white grapes of the Cyclades?
Red grape?

Answer 16

Assyrtico and Monemvasia
Mandilaria

Question 17

What natural disaster is credited with ending the Minoan society and is the birth of the Atlantis myth?

Answer 17

A volcanic eruption on Santorini in the 17th century BCE

Question 18

Who changed Santorini’s name to Santorini from its original Thera?

Answer 18

The Byzantines. Named after Saint Irene

Question 19

How did Hatzidakis come to the island of Santorini?

Answer 19

As the wine maker for Boutari

Question 20

What soils does Santorini have?

Answer 20

volcanic basalt that sits atop metamorphosed limestone and schist

Question 21

What is the effect of the Koulori / stefani training of the vines?

Answer 21

1. Helps to trap moisture from the morning fog. Water is a huge limiting factor of Santorini
2. Protects the grape bunches for the intense meltemi winds
3. Keeps the vines cool under the hot sun

Question 22

What are the accessory varieties permitted in the Santorini PDO?

Answer 22

Athiri and Aidani

Question 23

What is the minimum % of Assyrtico in Santorini PDO for dry white and vin santo?

Answer 23

Dry white: 85%
Vin santo: 51%

Question 24

How is Vinsanto made?

Answer 24

Grapes are dried, pressed, and aged in oak for a minimum of 2yrs. Fortification is optional but rarely practiced

Question 25

What product is Paros famous for?

Answer 25

Marble

Question 26

What is the central peak of Paros?

Answer 26

Mount Profitis

Question 27

What styles of wine are permitted in the Paros PDO?

Answer 27

Dry white from Monemvasia Dry red from a minimum 35% Mandilaria co-fermented with Monemvasia