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Published: June 24, 2019, 8:38 p.m.

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Greece is among both the oldest and among the newest wine nations
in the world. Although it got cooking with winemaking more than 6000 years ago, a huge break in the action took it out of the winemaking game from about the mid 1400s until the 1990s. It\'s back these days, and as it has always been grapes are grown everywhere in this small but diverse country. \\xa0With the best wines made from indigenous grapes and select regions, you\'ll want to listen to this show to know what to seek out. And don\'t forget to look at a map while or after listening!\\xa0

Here\'s a rundown of the topics we covered:\\xa0

Geography:\\xa0We go over where the heck Greece is and what\\u2019s here that\\u2019s good for grapes!

• Greece is in the southern end of Balkan Peninsula between Italy and Turkey
• Climate: Mesoclimates matter to quality wine!
  • Mountainous & semi-mountainous vineyards: altitude moderates climate, cools down the temps
  • Islands and the coast: Maritime climate/Mediterranean climate but very hot. Growers need cool sites for grapes to thrive
  • Volcanic Vineyards:Santorini especially - volcanic soils layers of which are 30 to 50 meters thick, VERY DRY -- high acidity of the grape of Santorini

History

• We discuss the entire deal \\u2013 from evidence of wine in Greek peninsula since the 4000 B.C. to Ottoman Rule which destroyed much of Greek viticulture until the early 1800s to the rebirth of viticulture of the last few decades.

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Classification:Before we launch into the regions and wines, we tell you about the classification

• For PDO (Protected Designation of Origin)wines \\u2013 higher quality):
  • Onomasia Proelefseos Anoteras Piotitos (OPAP) Dry wines
  • Onomasia Proelefseos Eleghomeni (OPE) --sweet wines
• For PGI level (Protected Geographical Indication): cover larger areas, more styles and grapes
  • Topikos Oinos (local/country wine)
  • Epitrapezios Oinos (table wine)

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The Regions and Grapes

Northern Greece: Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace

Thrace \\u2013isbordered by Turkey and Bulgaria in the North, Aegean in the south, makes mostly international wine varieties

Greek Macedonia\\u2013 borders the Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria in the north and the Aegean sea in the south. It\\u2019s semi-mountainous, and the rocky soils make it great red wine country

• Xinomavro (Kseen-oh-MAHV-roh):RED GRAPE.
  • Best when from Naousa in Macedonia
  • Firm tannins, bright acidity with flavors like red fruit and flowers, tomatoes, olives, dried prunes, nuts (compared to Nebbiolo)
  • Other growing areas: Northern and central Greece, Rapsani in Thessaly
• Malagousia (mala-GOO-zee-ah):WHITE GRAPE.From Macedonia, near Thessaly
  • Full bodied wines with strong acidity, peach, lime, lemon, and soft textures. There are sweet or dry versions
  • Thought to be extinct -- professors and top growers,\\xa0brought it back \\u2013resurrected by a winery Ktima Gerovassiliou (ktima = \\u201cestate\\u201d)

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Epirus:\\xa0NW Grecian mainland, mountains are essential to high quality.

• Wines have great acidity \\u2013 the PDO of Zitsa is making excellent sparkling wines and floral dry whites from Debina (WHITE GRAPE)

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Central Greece: Central Greece, Thessalia

Central Greece (this is where Athens is): Hot and dry, more white than red

• Saviatiano (sa-VAH-tee-AH-no) WHITE GRAPE\\xa0is the most widely planted grape in Greece. It makes dry wines but is known for Retsina, which tastes like the pine resin\\xa0that\\u2019s added to the must before fermentation.

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Thessalia\\xa0(Thessaly): Borders Greek Macedonia, Central Greece, the Aegean Sea \\xa0\\u2013 Mediterranean climate with continental influences.\\xa0Best areas are in the mountains that surround the region

• Rapsani\\xa0is on south facing slopes on Mt Olympus at altitude and makes Xinomavro and red blends

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Southwestern Greece: Ionian Islands, Peloponnese

Peloponnese: Where Sparta and Olympia were this is a peninsula on the southern edge of mainland Greece.\\xa0Best areas are on the eastern side of the Peloponnese, at altitude

• Roditis (Ro-deet-is) WHITE GRAPE: dry, food-friendly, high-acid with lime, melon, saline, bitter citrus. Grown all over.
• Agiorgitiko (ah-YOUR-yee-TEE-ko) RED GRAPE: Full-bodied with sweet raspberry, black currant, and plum, nutmeg and Italian herbs, smooth tannins. Wines from mountains are best especially Nemea
• Moschofilero (MOSH-ko-fah-LAIR-oh)WHITE GRAPE:Lychee, rose, lemon flavored with good acidity and medium body. Grown in\\xa0Mantinia: One of the coolest growing regions of Greece, specializes in the grape
• Mavrodaphne (MAHV-roh-DAF-nee) RED GRAPE:Sweet, late harvest, red wine that usually tastes of raisins and chocolate with high tannins. Better when blended. Grown in Patras

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Ionian Islands: Ruled by Venetians in Middle Ages \\u2013 today tourism = shrinking vineyards

• Robola, WHITE GRAPE:is Probably Ribolla Gialla from northeastern Italy. Lemon with pineapple, beeswax, quince, tart apple, can be rich and terroir-driven. Grown in\\xa0Cephalonia

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CRETE

Crete: Largest Island (150 miles long), on the southern edge of Aegean. Hottest vineyards in Greece.

• Mandilaria, RED GRAPE:\\xa0found throughout Greece and Crete in particular. It is too powerful to be made alone. Flavors are like stewed fruit, leather, with VERY powerful tannin

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Aegean Islands

• Santorini: Volcanic island, most famous WHITE GRAPE\\xa0is Assyrtiko (ah-SEER-teek-oh)grown in basket-like vines (see below)
  • Dry Assyrtiko:\\xa0lean, mineral, concentrated whites
  • Nykteri (\\u201cnith-terry\\u201d): oaked with creme br\\xfbl\\xe9e, pineapple, fennel, sugar cookie notes
  • Vinsanto:\\xa0Made with Assyrtiko, Aidani, and Athiri with cherry and raspberry notes. Tannic, high acidity, and can have high VA (\\u2018nail polish\\u2019 smell)

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• Samos: Muscat of Samos, WHITE GRAPE, possibly homeland of Muscat Blanc
• L\\xedmnos: Limnio, RED GRAPE\\xa0with raspberry fruit and herb notes.
• Paros: Monemvassia, WHITE GRAPE. From Peloponnese but cultivated only on Has mineral, citrus, nectarine flavors with a medium body, refreshing acidity.

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To sum up:

• Best whites:Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Moschofilero, Debina, Robola, Muscat of Samos
• Best reds:Xinomavro, blends with Agiorgitiko, sometimes Mandalaria or Limnio
• Best regions:Naousa (Xinomavro), Nemea (Agiorgitiko blends), Mantinia (Moschofilero), Santorini (Assyrtiko), Samos (Muscat)

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Thanks to our sponsor this week:

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Go to halpernfinancial.com/wine for more information!

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Thanks to\\xa0YOU!\\xa0The podcast supporters on Patreon, who are helping us to make\\xa0the podcast possible and who we give goodies in return for their help! Check it out today:\\xa0https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

\\xa0And to sign up for classes, please go to www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes!\\xa0

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Most of the info for this show came from the Official Wines of Greece Web site:\\xa0https://winesofgreece.org/

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