RED VARIETIES
A. Indigenous red varieties
AGIORGITIKO
Agiorgitiko (meaning “St Georges’s”) is a variety that may be considered the most appealing in terms of international recognition. Agiorgitiko is characterized as a multidynamic variety by Greek wine makers, due to its amazing ability to produce a large spectrum of wine styles: exciting “nouveau” wines, fresh “rosés”, soft reds and finally tannic, concentrated quality reds worthy of ageing. The color of the wine is deep, the nose has aromas of red fruits and sweet spices, there is an excellent affinity with new oak. It is mainly cultivated in the Nemea OPAP (Appellation of Origin of Superior Quality), as well as in the Peloponnese and Attica.

XINOMAVRO
Xinomavro (meaning acid black) is the opposite of Agiorgitiko. It is difficult to cultivate; it needs light soils and sites with high water retention capacities. Moreover, it is sensitive to potassium deficiency, this fact being reflected in extremely high levels of acidity in the grape (exceeding 7,5 gr/lt). It is the predominant grape variety in Macedonia, the northernmost grape growing area of Greece. Xinomavro is a multidynamic variety: it can produce the amazing rosés of Amyntaio OPAP in Florina. Macedonia, which can be dry, medium-dry, medium-sweet or still. The second OPAP is Naoussa. The third OPAP is Goumenissa in central Macedonia, where Xinomavro is blended with Negoska. The fourth OPAP is Rapsani in Thessaly, the only non-Macedonian OPAP. Xinomavro can produce wines with amazing depth, complexity and character. It also has great ageing potential with rich tannic character. The nose has tomato and dried plums. It is often compared with Nebbiolo, due to the similarity in tannic structure and the absence of sweet and fresh elements in its aromatic palate.

MANDILARIA (also known as AMORGIANO)
This is one of the most deeply co-lored varieties in Greece. It is low in acidity levels, weak in fruity aromas and thin in palate structure. It is frequently blended with other grapes: in the red OPAP of Paros island, the presence of 20% Mandilaria grapes intensifies the red color depth.
In Crete, Mandilaria becomes the colouring agent for Kotsifali in the OPAP’s of Archanes and Peza.

MAVRODAPHNE
This variety is associated with pale, tawny red style of sweet fortified wine. It is grown in the Peloponnese and on the Ionian islands.
It can be blended with Corinthian resin to produce the famous wine AOC Mavrodaphne of Patras.

B. International red varieties
SYRAH
This French variety became famous from the wines of the Rhone
Valley. In Greece, its cultivation started in Chalkidiki and has currently expanded into 16 geographical regions. The Syrah grape creates
wines of medium acidity, intensive red colour and strong spicy aromas, and it improves as it ages.

MERLOT
This French grape variety from the area of Bordeaux was imported to Greece in the late ‘80’s. It gives high alcoholic volume, good body acidity and has fruity aromas, soft tannins and the ability to age in oak. Merlot can be blended with Xinomavro, producing more fruity acidic reds

Int. Wine Competition
of Thessaloniki

The 8th International Wine Competition of Thessaloniki was successfully completed, giving strong evidence that is has become a major institution for Greek wine. The Competition is organized by the Wine Producers Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard under the auspices of the O.I.V. (International Organization of Vine and Wine) and took place in Thessaloniki, in March 2008.

42 wine tasters from Greece and abroad (enologists, sommeliers and journalists) tasted 791 wines from Greece and 9 other countries: South Africa, Brazil, Slovakia, France, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Mexico and Portugal.

According to Master of Wine Konstantinos Lazarakis, one of the salient points of IWCT is acquainting international judges with the exciting developments in Greek wine production. World class wine professionals, like Tom Stevenson, Steve Daniel and Roger Dagorn MS, have accepted the invitation of the Wine Producers Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard to judge at the IWCT and even before the competition was over, declared an interest in being invited back, totally fascinated by Greek wine.

The main characteristic of this year’s competition was the excellent quality of the samples submitted, a great number of which achieved the rate for a medal. Nevertheless, only 233 wines were awarded, corresponding to 30% of the samples, according to the O.I.V. criterion (Resolution O.I.V. 2/94):
- 9 Grand Gold medals
- 76 Gold medals
- 148 Silver medals

www.wineroads.gr