Csw- Eastern Mediterranean Chapter 15

Front 1

Greek wine history

Back 1

Dating back at least 4000 years. Historically exported widely, but Ottoman rule placed heavy taxes and crippled industry. Until recently best known Greek wine was Retsina, a non-representative example for the quality today.

Front 2

Greece- Geography and Climate

Back 2

Mountainous peninsula surrounded by Mediterranean on three sides. Classic Med climate. Mountains run up the western side, creating a rain shadow on the Eastern side. New trend towards high elevation, to take advantage of cooler climate.

Front 3

Greece: Red Grapes

Back 3

Xinomarvo: in northern areas, esp Macedonia. Often compared to Pinot Noir

Agiorgitiko: more tannic and fruity than Xinomarvo, grown in the Peloponnese.

Mavrodaphne: used for sweet fortified wines similar to Ruby Ports

Front 4

Greece: White Grapes

Back 4

Moschfilero: pink grape like Pinot Gris from Mantinia region. High acid with floral and spice.

Assyrtiko: high acid white, originally from Santorini now throughout country. used for dry and sweet wines

Muscat (Moschato): used for sweet wines Muscat of Samos, Rio Patras and Patras. Apricot, honey, orange peel, spice

Athiri: Rhodes and Santorini. Low acid, good weight, aromatic

Roditis: Widely planted. Easy drinking, crisp, fruity

Front 5

International Grapes in Greece

Back 5

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah.

Can only be used in PGI level wines

Front 6

Greek Wine Laws

Back 6

EO (epitrapezios oinos): table wine, 1/2 of production

OKP (onomasia kata paradosi): appellation by tradition. Created to protect Retsina w/o tying it to a place

TO (topikos oinos): regional wine. PGI

OPAP (onomasia proelefseos anoteras piotitos): PDO category for dry unfortified wines. light red seal.

OPE (onomasia proelefseos eleghomeni): PDO, only for sweet wine. light blue seal.

Front 7

Greek PDO Categories

Back 7

PDO Wine (15% of Production):
1) OPE- light blue seal, for sweet wine

2) OPAP- light red seal, for dry unfortified wine

Front 8

Greek PGI Categories

Back 8

PGI Wine:

1)TO- has geographical indication

2)OKP- for Retsina, no geographic area

Front 9

Greek "Wine" Legal Category

Back 9

Wine (1/2 of Production): EO

"Kava" on label means it the EO wine has been aged for two (whites) to three (reds) years minimum.

Front 10

Kava

Back 10

"Kava" on label means it the EO wine has been aged for two (whites) to three (reds) years minimum.

Front 11

Amyndeon OPAP

Back 11

Macedonia. dry to off dry red and rosé wines made from Xinomarvo

Front 12

Côtes de Meliton OPAP

Back 12

Macedonia. red and white wines made from Greek and French varieties

Front 13

Goumenissa OPAP

Back 13

Macedonia. dry red from Xinomarvo and NEgoska

Front 14

Naousa OPAP

Back 14

Macedonia. dry to off-dry red from Xinomarvo

Front 15

Mantinia OPAP

Back 15

Peloponesse. dry white from Moschofilero

Front 16

Mavrodaphne of Patras OPE

Back 16

Peloponesse. sweet fortified from Marvodaphne

Front 17

Nemea OPAP

Back 17

Peloponesse. largest red wine appellation in Greece. Dry to sweet reds from Agiorgitiko. Age worthy, nice acidity and aromatics

Front 18

Patras OPAP

Back 18

Peloponesse. dry whites from Roditis. Elegant light, citrus

Front 19

Santorini OPAP

Back 19

Aegean. Dry windy climate. Low trained Assyrtiko vines. Wines with acid, and minerality that get richer with age.

Front 20

Vinsanto

Back 20

Dessert wines produced in Santorini. Sweet or fortified. Must be aged in barrel for min 2 years

Front 21

Muscat of Samos OPE

Back 21

Aegean.

Sweet white, from Samos. Three styles: Samos Doux, Samos vin doux naturel, Samos nectar

Front 22

Commandaria

Back 22

Most known wine of Cyrpus. Amber colored dessert wine made with red Marvo and white Xynisteri varieties. Sun dried after harvest to concentrate sugar. Reaches high abv naturally, but also may be fortified. Traditionally used fractional blending system.

Front 23

Mana System

Back 23

fractional blending system used in Cyprus to make Commandaria. Uses earthen pots intead of barrels

Front 24

Wine of Turkey

Back 24

Turkey is one of the largest grape growing countries by volume but most is used for table grapes or raisins.

Largest producer Kavaklidere is one of few to export.

Both native and int'l varieties

Front 25

Bekaa Valley

Back 25

Main wine growing region of Lebannon. High elevation areas in the western end of the Valley is planted to take advantage of nighttime cooling.

Front 26

Upcoming wine regions in Lebannon

Back 26

Eastern Bekaa Valley

Batroun

Jezzine

Front 27

Most well-known producer of Lebannon

Back 27

Chateau Musar

Front 28

Wine Regions of Israel

Back 28

Galilee- north, inc Golan Heights

Shomron (Samaria)- Sharon plan near coast/Haifa

Shimson (Samson)- between JH and coastal plain

Jerusalem Mountains (Judean Hills)- on a plateau surrounding Jerusalem

Negev- south, semi arid. Only possible with drip irrigation

Front 29

Galilee

Back 29

Most Northerly wine region of Israel, and higher elevation. As a result, the most temperate. Most important wine region.

Front 30

Israeli wine trends

Back 30

--Most wine made Kosher, but not always stereotypical sweet wine.

--Only beginning to make appellation system

--Focus on understanding terroirs

--Export of non-Kosher wine growing