Greece

Question 1

Greece

Answer 1

• There are 120 PGI wines and 33 PDOs. 2 of the most traditional PGIs are Verdea (an oxidized style white wine from Ionian Zakynthos) and Retsina (Pine flavor) which can be produced in 15 regions in Greece.
• ”Cava” is a term for PGI Wines – ‘high end’ table wine or wine cellar – aged 1yr for white and 3yrs for reds with 6 and 12 mths in oak respectively

Question 2

Grapes (red)

Answer 2

Question 3

Grapes (white) 1

Answer 3

Question 4

Grapes (white) 2

Answer 4

Question 5

Thrace

Answer 5

No PDO
Only 1 PGI of Evros
Main grapes are Mavroudi and Limnio (Reds)

Question 6

Macedonia

Answer 6

• 4 PDO: Amynteo, Naoussa, Goumenissa and Slopes of Meliton PDO
• Xinomavro rules in Macedonia

Question 7

Macedonia PDOs

Answer 7

• Amynteo PDO
  Cool site on a plateau up the hills. Only Xinomavro is grown and made in still, rose and sparkling rose for PDO wines.
• Naoussa PDO
  Warmer than Amynteo. Most famous for its complex and robust Xinomavro. Only Xinomavro for PDO with 13 crus located within
• Goumenissa PDO
  Warmest PDO of all in Macedonia.
  PDO wines are Xinomavro with 20% Negoska (a softer varietal)
• Slopes of Meliton PDO
  Sole PDO for only one winery: Porto Carras. Red wines are Limnio with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc. White is Assrytiko, Athiri and Roditis

Question 8

Thessaly

Answer 8

• 3 PDOs: Anchialos, Messenikola, Rapsani PDOs
• Rapsani PDO
  Greece smallest region (60ha) located at the slopes of Mount Olympus.
  PDO for Xinomavro but blended with Stavroto and Krasato

Question 9

Epirus

Answer 9

1 PDO: Zitsa PDO from white Debina making still and sparkling wines both dry and off dry.

Question 10

Central Greece (Sterea Ellada) and Attica

Answer 10

No PDOs
2 Regional PGI: Attica and Evia
Main production is Retsina made from Savatiano, Assrytiko and Roditis

Question 11

Peloponnese (7 PDOs)

Answer 11

7 PDOs: Nemea, Mantinia, Patras, Mavrodaphne of Patras, Muscat of
Patras, Muscat of Rio Patras and Monemvasia-Malvasia

Question 12

Nemea PDO

Answer 12

• Nemea PDO
  Most important PDO
  Agiorgitiko is the main grape also called St George. Drank by Hercules to slay the Nemean Lion. Can be made both dry and sweet.
  17 villages in the region

Question 13

Mantinia PDO

Answer 13

Red clay and rocky as a PDO for Moschofilero (85% min) and Glikerithra
Can be made still or sparkling from dry to sweet styles

Question 14

Rest of Peloponnese

Answer 14

• Patras PDO
  The only PDO for dry wines is Patras PDO making dry whites from Roditis.
• Mavrodaphne of Patras PDO
  Fortified Mavrodaphne (min 51%) blended with Corinthiaki
• Muscat of Patras & Muscat of Rio Patras PDO
  Muscat a petit grains – fortified or made by dried fruits
• Monemvasia-Malvasia PDO
  In the region of Laconia home to Sparta lies the port city of Monemvasia. A historical sweet wine is made in the region. 51% Monemvasia with a mix of Assrytiko, Asproudes and Kydonitsa

Question 15

Ionian Islands

Answer 15

• 3 PDOs: Muscat of Cephalonia, Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia, Robola of Cephalonia PDO
• Robola of Cephalonia PDO
  The only dry white PDO of the Ionian made from Robola.
• Mavrodaphne of Cephalonia PDO
  Fortified wine from Mavrodaphne. Unique clone called Tsigelo (Tsi gay lo)
• Other notable PGIs
  Zakynthos is famous for Verdea (traditional dry oxidative wine from Skiadopoulo.)
  Corfu is the most northerly island with white grapes like Kakotrigis and Petrokoritho

Question 16

Aegean Islands

Answer 16

4 subregions of the Aegean: The Cyclades, Dodecanese, North Aegean and Sporades

Question 17

Cyclades

Answer 17

• Very hot and dry part of Greece. Strong Meltemi wind stalls photosynthesis
• Santorini PDO is most famous. It makes 2 PDO wines. A dry wine and a Vin Santo made from dried grapes aged 2 years in barrel.
  The grapes are Assrytiko (51%), Athiri and Aidani that are dried to 370g/L RS. Aged 2yrs in cask
• Paros PDO is the only PDO in Greece allowing a co-ferment of Mandilaria (min 35%) and Monemvasia into a dry red wine
• Malvasia of Paros PDO is made from sun-dried grapes with Monemvasia (at least 85%, max 15% Assyrtiko)

Question 18

Dodecanese

Answer 18

Rhodes PDO covers everything from still to sparkling, dry to sweet.
Main grape is Athiri and red is Mandilaria.
Muscat of Rhodes PDO is 100% Muscat blanc made Vin Doux, Vin Doux Naturel and Vin Naturellement Doux.

Question 19

North Aegean

Answer 19

• Samos PDO is arguably the most famous. Made from 100% Muscat Blanc locally known as Moschato Aspro. Only Muscat PDO that does not name its grape in the PDO.
• Samos Nectar is dried grapes fermented without fortification and aged 6 years in oak.
• Muscat of Lemnos PDO makes fortified dry wine from Muscat Alexandria
• Lemnos PDO makes red dry and sweet wine from the local Limnio grape (Kalambaki) and Muscat.

Question 20

Crete

Answer 20

Iraklio District houses 5 PDOs:
* Peza PDO – Whites from Vilana, Reds from Kotsifali and Mandilaria
* Archanes PDO – Reds only from Kotsifali and Mandilaria
* Daphnes PDO – Dry and Sweet wines from Liatiko
* Candia PDO – Dry red from Kotsifali and Mandilaria, Whites from Vilana but allowing 15% of other white blends
* Malvasia Candia PDO – Sweet wines from 15% Malvasia Candia and Muscat Blanc.
*
The Lasithi district houses 2 PDOs:
* Sitia PDO – Whites from Vilana and Reds from Liatiko. Dry to sweet. Sweet wines must be 100% Liatiko to claim PDO
* Malvasia Sitia PDO – Only sweet wines from Malvasia Candia and Muscat Blanc

Question 21

Famous Producers &
Wines

Answer 21