Santorini PDO

Question 1

Min abv% Santorini?

Answer 1

Dry wines: 12%
Nkteri (3mos barrel) 13.5%
Vinsanto: 15% (21% after drying)
Fortified dried grape wine: 15% (15-21% actual)

Question 2

Islands of Production: Santorini?

Answer 2

Thera (Santorini)
Thirasia

Question 3

Dry wines of Santorini assemblage?

Answer 3

Min 85% Assyrtiko
plus Aidani and Athiri

Question 4

Min must weight: Vin Santo? (Santorini)

Answer 4

260g/l prior to drying
370 g/l after drying

Question 5

What is Nykteri?

Answer 5

Dry wine, very ripe grapes
harvested before dawn, pressed within a day (aged three mos in barrel)
85% Assyrtiko plus Aithiri and Aidani (13.5% abv)

Question 6

Who changed Santorini’s name from Thera to Santorini in honor of Saint Irene?

Answer 6

Byzantines

Question 7

What is a Kanava?

Answer 7

Small, Garagiste style winery in Santorini

Question 8

What winery was the first major winery to set up in Santorini?

Answer 8

Boutari (1989)

Question 9

This former winemaker for Boutari started his own winery in 1996 in Santorini?

Answer 9

Hatzidakis

Question 10

This Kanava expanded scale in 1970s and is a top producer now in Santorini?

Answer 10

Argyros family

Question 11

When did Sigalas and Gai’a come to Santorini?

Answer 11

1990s

Question 12

Soil of Santorini?

Answer 12

Aspa. Black tinted volcanic Basalt
Atop Metamorphosed limestone and schist

Question 13

Besides protecting vines from wind, what other purpose do koulora or stefani serve?

Answer 13

Collect morning dew as source of moisture
There is little rain and no freshwater in Santorini

Question 14

Elevation of Santorini?

Answer 14

0-300m

Question 15

Biblia Chora, a Macedonian producer (Gerovassilou) established this winery on Thirassia (island of Santorini)

Answer 15

Mikra Thira

Question 16

This blending partner of Assyrtiko is vinified on its own sometimes?

Answer 16

Aidani (Creamy, moderate acid)

Question 17

Most important red grapes of Santorini?

Answer 17

Mandilaria
Mavrotragano

Question 18

Min aging: Vin Santo of Santorini?

Answer 18

Min two years in barrel

Question 19

What was the sole commercial wine producer on Santorini since 1947?

Answer 19

Santo: Cooperative

Question 20

What is Mezza?

Answer 20

Red dessert wine made from Air-dried Mandalaria grapes produced in Santorini, but outside of Santorini PDO

Question 21

Styles permitted in Santorini?

Answer 21

Dry white
Sweet Dried grape wine (vinsanto/liastos)

Fortified dried grape wine (vinsanto)
NOT currently produced in Santorini, but legally allowed

Question 22

Assemblage: VinSanto? (Santorini)

Answer 22

Min 51% Assyrtiko
Plus Athiri, Aidani and small amounts other traditional grapes

Question 23

Average yield in Santorini?

Answer 23

25 tons/ha
25 hl/ha

Question 24

Oldest vines in Santorini?

Answer 24

125 years-pre phylloxera