🇬🇷GREECE

GREECE IS–  Regional PGI.- 8     Districts- 41     Area PGI.- 70     PDO.- 33  ?   @Athens

  • WHITE= Achladi, Agoumastos, Aidani, Areti, Asprouda Santorinis, Asprorompola, Assyriko, Asproudes, Athiri, Aydani, Batiki, Cholores, Dafni, Debina, Fileri, Gaidoura, Goustolidi, Kakotrygis, Katsakoulias, Katsano, Kirtiko, Kountoura, Koutsoumpeli, Kritiko, Kydonitsa, Lagorthi, Malagousia, Maloukato, Malvasia, Malvasia de Candia Aromatica, Monemvassia, Moscophilero, Muscat Alexanderi/ Traini, Nassiakos, Opsimo Edessis, Petrokoritho, Platani, Plito, Plyto, Potamissi, Priknadi, Robola, Rhoditis, Rokaniaris, Savatiano, Sklava, Skyolpnichtis, Thiniatiko, Thrapsathiri, Tourkopoula, Tsaoussi, Vardea, Verjami, Vidiano, Vilana, Violento, Volitsa Mavri, Zoumiatiko
    • –International– Chardonnay, Muscat Blanc Petits Grains, Malvasia di Lunga AKA=Pavlos, Riesling, Rousanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano
  • RED= Agiorgitiko AKA=St. George, Aidani Mavro, Amfioni, Ariomavritiko, Araklinos, Athiri Mavro, Avgoustiatis, Bekari, Boghialamades, Chandromavro, Chidiriotiko, Fokiano, Karabraimis, Karnachalades, Kolindrino, Korinthiaki, Koriostafylo, Kotsifali, Krassato, Lesvos, Liatiko, Limnio AKA=Kalambaki, Liminiona, Mandilaria, Mavro Kalavritino, Mavro Messenikola, Mavrouda, Mavrotragona, Moschomavro, Mouhtaro, Negoska, Nigrikiotiko, Pamii, Pamidi, Ritino, Romeiko, Sefka, Sideritis, Skopelitiko, Stavroto AKA=Amabelakiotiko, Syriki, Theiako Mavro, Thiako, Vaftra, Vertzami, Vlachiko, Voudomato, Voydomatis, Vrathiano, Xynomavro
    • –International– Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Negria AKA=Monastrell, Syrah

GEOGRAPHY– REGION-Balkan Peninsula, COUNTRY-Greece

  • BORDERS-Albania(North-West), Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey(East), LATITUDE: 35°- 42° ‘N’
  • Sub-Zones-(3)– Central Greece, Northern Greece, Greek Islands
  • Regional PGI.’s–(8)– Aegean Sea, Central Greece, Crete, Epirus, Macedonia, Peloponnese, Thessaly, Thrace
  • District PGI.’s-(41)– Achaia, Arcadia, Argolida, Attica(Attiki), Chania, Corfu, Corinth(Korinthos), Cyclades, Dodecanese, Drama, Evia, Evros, Florina, Fthiotida, Grevena, Halkidiki, Keraklion, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kozani, Lacania, Lasithi, Lefkada, Lesvos, Magnissia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Rethymno, Serres, Thassos, Thessaloniki, Verdea, Zakynthos
  • Area PGI.’s–(70)– Adriani, Agora, Anavyssos, Atalanti Valley, Avdira, Elassona, Epanomi, Gerania, Halikouna, Ikaria, Ilion, Ismaros, Karystos, Kissamos, Klimenti, Koropi, Kos, Krania, Krannona, Letrina, Lilantio Pedio, Mantzavinata, Markopoulo, Martino, Metaxata, Meteora, Metsovo, Mount Athos, Meo Messimvria, Opountia Locris, Paiania, Pangeon, Parnassos, Pisatis, Pylia, Retsina Koropi, Retsina Markopoulo, Retsina Gialtra, Retsina Halkida, Retsina Karystos, Retsina Megara, Retsina Mesogia, Retsina Pikermi, Retsina Paiania, Retsina Pallini, Retsina Spata, Retsina Thebes, Ritsona, Siatista, Sithonia, Slopes of Ainos, Slopes of Aigialia, Slopes of Ambelos, Slopes Kitherona, Slopes of Paiko, Slopes of Parnitha, Slopes of Pendeliko, Slopes of Petroto, Slopes of Vertiskos, Spata, Syros, Tegeo, Thapsana, Thebes, Trifilia, Tyrnavos, Velventos, Viltsa
  • PDO.’s-(33)– Amynteo PDO., Anchialos PDO., Archanes PDO., Candia PDO., Dafnes PDO., Goumenissa PDO., Lemnos PDO., Malvasia Candia PDO., Malvasia Messenikola PDO., Malvasia Paros PDO., Malvasia Sitia PDO., Mantinia PDO., Mavrodaphne Cephalonia PDO., Mavrodaphne  Patras PDO., Messenikola PDO., Muscat Cephalonia PDO., Muscat Lemnos PDO., Muscat Patras PDO., Muscat Rhodes PDO., Muscat Rio Patras PDO., Maoussa PDO., Nemea PDO., Paros PDO., Patras PDO., Peza PDO., Rapsani PDO., Rhodes PDO., Robola Cephalonia PDO., Samos PDO., Santorini PDO., Sitia PDO., Slopes of Meliton PDO., Zitsa PDO.

TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Mountainous”

  • Greece is Made Up of Mainland and 4,000 Islands.
  • On~Ionian Sea~(South), On~Mediterranean~Sea~(East), On~Aegean~Sea~
  • All Grape Vines In Greece No More Than 70km. From Water.
  • In Greece Mountains +Alt. Act of a Air Conditioner, Allows Grape +Acidity
  • Some Vines Face North to Mediate Heat.

SOILS– “Metamorphic”,  “Volcanic”, “Sedimentary”

  • Mainland– Limestone   |   Islands– Volcanic
  • **Refer to “GREECE/ Sub-Chapters” For Detailed Information On Soils
  • **Refer to “TERROIR/ Geology & Soil” For Detailed Information On Soils

CLIMATE– Mainland- “Continental”   |   Islands- “Mediterranean”

VITICULTURE– 130,000 ha.

  • Greece is- #15 In Grape Production/ #15 In Wine Consumption In World.

VINICULTURE– PRACTICE– Promotion of Native Varietals, Basket Pruning, Terraces.

  • Vinliastos- Sun-Drying Grapes On Straw Mats.
  • Raki- By-Product of Grape Pomace Distillation AKA=Tsikoudia, Tsipouro
  • Early Wines Flavored With Spices, Herb, Sweeteners
  • Amphorae- Clay/ Earth-Ware Container for Storage/ Transportation of Wine Gallons, 22lbs. Empty.
  • Greeks Were First to Mix and Dilute Wine With Other Things Like Pine Resin, Oil and Aromatized Wines With Flowers and Botanicals.
  • Historically Wine Wasn’t Bottled But Barrels Brought to Taverns by Horse Draw Carriage.
  • Many Greek Co-Operatives.
  • Prior to Barrels Wine Was Stored In Amphorae Often Lined and Sealed With Aleppo Pine Resin.  Over Time the Acquired Taste Became a Feature of Wine Rather Than Unwanted Side Effect.
  • Ancient Greeks Believed Wine Was Gift From Greek God of Wine Dionysus.
  • Viticulture Emerges; Parallel Rows, Spacing.
  • RETSINA– Wines That Derives Its Flavor From Exposure of Pine Resins.
    • GEOGRAPHY- Greece- Regions– Attica, Boeotia, Euboea
      • Regions With Proximity of Vineyards to Resins Producing Pine Forest.
    • VINICULTURE- Grapes Used– Savatiano, Assyriko, Rhoditis
      • Historically- Greece, 10th. Century, Prior to Barrels, Wine Was Stored in Amphorae Often Lined and Sealed With Aleppo Pine Resin. Over Time the Acquired Taste Became a Feature of Wine Rather than Unwanted Side Effect.
      • Presently- Resin Added During Fermentation.
        • Historically Resins Where Used to Cover Up Flaws of the Wine. Presently Resins Are Used to Highlight Flavors of the Wine, and Come Across In a More Integrated, Refined Way.

HISTORY– 5,000 Year Wine Culture

  • 4500-1050 BC. @Greece–  “Prehistoric Times”
  • 2500 BC. @Greece–  “Ancient Greece”
    • Crete Introduced to Viticulture by Phoenician/ Egyptians
  • 1050- 700 BC. @Greece–  “Early Historic”
  • 700- 480 BC. @Greece–  “Archaic Period”
  • 480- 323 BC. @Greece–  “Classical Period”
  • 323- 146 BC. @Greece–  “Hellenistic Times”
  • 146- 324 @Greece–  “Byzantine Times”
  • 1000- 500 @Greece–  “Roman Period”
  • 1200-1700 @Greece–  “Venetian Rule”
    • 1600 @Mesopotamia– “Glass Making Emerges”
  • 1453-1821 @Greece–  “Ottoman Rule”
  • 1945-1975 @Greece–  “Modern Times”
  • 1990’s @Greece–  “Quality Wine Revolution” Investment In Modern Technology.

CULTURE–

  • GODS OF WINE~
    • ~Dionysus~ Greek God of Wine.
      • 13th. Classical Greek God, Son of Zeus and Semele (a Mortal Women), 13 Sibling Including Hercules, Apollo, Aphrodite.  Dionysus is Known For Being Empathetic and Helpful, Held Yearly Parties In His and the Harvest Honor
    • ~Sign of Dionysus~ Wand/ Shaft of Giant Fennel Wrapped With Grape Vines and Topped With a Pine-Cone.
    • ~Cult of Dionysus~ Bringer of Wine to Reduce the Cares of Mortals.
  • GASTRONOMY… Roasted Goat On Slit, Greek Salad
    • CHEESE… Feta(Sheep-Got/ Fresh),  Kasseri(Goat/ Sheep/ Semi-Hard)
  • WINE DAYS~ ~International Xinomavro Day~ (November 1st.)
  • PIONEERS~  ~Homer~,   ~Plato~,    ~Aristotle~,   ~Hippocrates~,   ~Hesiod~
    • Were All Involved With the Advancement of Wine Culture.
    • ~Theophrastus~ Philosopher and Botanist, 370-255 BC.
      •  Get Credit of Varietal, Soil Research, Meso-Climates, Propagation by Cutting.
  • ASSOCIATIONS~ ~New Wines of Greece~
  • ACADEMICS~ ~Wine Institute/ Vine Institute of Greece~
    • Specialization~ Devoted to Researching Greek Wine and Native Grapes and Preserving and Improving the Country’s Winemaking.
  • WINE & PHILOSOPHY? “As a Sea Fairing Country the Greek Get Credit For Spreading Wine and Wine Culture Around the Mediterranean Sea/ Basin?”
    • “Greece Had the Want and the Means to Push the Wine Market From Their Shores to the Shore of Other Countries.”
  • WINE & PHILOSOPHY? “Did Drinking Wine Have a Profound Effect In the “Thinking of Man?”
    • “Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Hippocrates, Hesiod All Use Wine as the “Lubricate” That Sprang Beginning of Western Philosophy.”

GOING THERE–

  • TOP GREECE WINE REGION
    • CRITERIA– History, Culture, Magnitude, Quality of Wine, Terroir, Diversity In Wine, Wine Tourism, Personal Preference
      1. Sanorini PGI., Cyclades Islands
      2. Patros PDO., Peloponnese
      3. Nemea PDO., Peloponnese
      4. Crete GI., Dodekanese Islands
      5. Slopes of Meliton PDO., Macedonia
      6. Amynteon PDO., Macedonia

GREECE WINE LAW

  • GOVERNING BODY-
  • LAWS GOVERNING- Geographic Boundaries, Topography
    • Label Requirement-

GREEC WINE CLASSIFICATION “Old”

  • ONOMASIA PROELEFSEOS ANOTERAS PIOTITOS- OPAP.
    • Classification For Dry Wines.
    • Equivalent to “Appellation of Origin Superior Quality”/ “Protected Designation of Origin”.
    • Under Capsule is a Light Red Paper Seal Guaranteeing Bottle as OPAP.
  • ONOMASIA PROELEFSEOS ELEGHOMINI OPE. Classification for Sweet Wines
    • Equivalent to “Appellation of Controlled Origin”
    • Under Capsule is a Light Blue Paper Seal Guaranteeing Bottle as OPE.
  • TOPIKOS OINOS- TO.– Regional Wine
  • ONOMASIOLOGIE KATA PARADOSI–OKP.– Appellation to Tradition
  • EPITRAPEZIOS OINOS-EO.– Table Wine

NEW GREECE ‘EU’ CLASSIFICATION

  • PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN PDO.
    • Historical Wine Growing and Winemaking Area of Greece, Varietals Are Determined Strictly On the Basis of Native Greek Grape. These Bottles Have a Mandatory Characteristic Red Band On the Neck of Their Bottles, and Must Be Produced by Wineries Located Within Their Wine growing Zone
  • PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION PGI.
    • Comprise the Greek “Local Wine” and “Traditional Appellation” Aimed to Reinforce the Concept of Authenticity and Typicality PGI. Wines or Divided Into 3 Levels…
    • PGI. Regional Wines- Constitutes a Broader Overall Level of PGI., One That Stipulates a Overall Region.
    • PGI. District Wines- Grapes Have to Originate In Areas Within the Boundaries of the District and Must Be Vinified Within Those Boundaries.
    • PGI. Area Wines- Constitutes the Most Restrictive Designations. Boundaries are Usually From a Particular Part of a District or Community or Village.

GREECE WINE TERMS

  • Archondik0- Chateau
  • Ktima- Estate
  • Monastiri- Monastery
  • SUB-CHAPTERS Of GREECE
    • Thrace
    • Thessalia
    • Macedonia
    • Central Greece
    • Epirus
    • Peloponnese
    • Greek Islands
  • **Refer to These Proceeding Sub-Chapters For Detailed Information.

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.