| Santorini Entertainment
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| Terms Frequently Found on
the Labels of Greek Wines |
| The Greek word for wine. We
find the same root in the words “wine” in English, “wein”
in German, “vinum” in Latin, “vin” in French and “vino”
in Spanish. It is unknown, however, where the origin of
the word comes from, although in the Greek language the
word dates back to the Mycenean Period (1600-1100 BC). |
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| A term used for wine produced from vines
of original stock that are at least 40 years old. Restricted
to Appellation or Regional Wines. |
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| Someone who has earned a degree
in winemaking. Derived from the Greek word for wine: "oenos". |
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| A term used for Appellation
or Regional Wines produced from vineyards located in the
islands. |
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| A wine aficionado, literally
in Greek: "wine friend". |
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| A term used since Byzantine
time for dessert wines produced, as the name implies,
on the island of Santorini. The grapes used must be at
least 51% Assyrtiko and the rest can be a combination
of the aromatic Athiri and Aidani grapes as well as other
white grapes typically grown on the island. The Vinsanto
wines should be aged at least 2 years in barrel. |
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| The term Cava is used for white
and red Table Wines. The whites should be aged at least
2 years in stainless steel tanks and bottle combined or
at least 1 year in barrel and bottle combined. The reds
should be aged at least 3 years, of which at least 6 months
must be in barrel, if it is new or 1 year if it is used. |
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| The term Mezzo can only be used
for wines made in Santorini since it is a term traditionally
used on the island of Santorini. The wines are made in
the same way as Vinsanto wines but are not as sweet. |
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| The term Reserve is only used
for wines with Appellation of Origin. The white wines
must be aged at least 2 years of which at least 6 months
must be in barrel and 6 in bottle. The reds must be aged
at least 3 years of which at least 1 year must be in barrel
and 1 year in bottle. |
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| A traditional term for Appellation
wines that are produced on the island of Santorini and
contain a minimum alcoholic content of 13.5%. This wine
must also be barrel aged. |
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| The term Grand Reserve can
only be used for wines with Appellation of Origin. The
white wines must be aged at least 3 years, of which 1
year must be in barrel and 1 in bottle. The reds must
be aged at least 4 years of which 2 years must be in barrel
and 2 in bottle. |
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| The term Liastos can only be
used for Regional or Appellation Wines that have been
made from well ripened grapes that have been allowed to
dry in the sun or shade. The word comes from the Greek
word helios which means sun. |
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| Ktima means Estate in Greece.
It is a term used either for AOC or restricted Regional
Wines. The wine should be made from grapes cultivated
in vineyards within the Estate and vinified by a winery
within the Estate. |
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| This term can only be use for
wines with Appellation of Controlled Origin. It refers
specifically to wines made from selected vineyards. |
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.. that Santorini's most famous wines are considered
to be the white dry and aromatic wines Nykteri and Assyrtico
and the world famous Vinsanto. Both the Nykteri and Vinsanto
belong to the category of "Name of Origin of Superior
Quality" and come under the European Union status for
" Quality Wines Produced in Statedly Areas ".
.. that Nykteri took its name due to the fact that it is
produced instantly in the middle of the night from grapes
harvested the previous day. The viticulturists press the grapes
from morning till night and the whole process of wine making
takes place during the night when the temperatures are lower.
The undermined ' canavas 'with their carefully studied windows
create the adequate night streams, necessary for the fermentation
process.
.. that Vinsanto is a sweet, white or red wine produced from
grapes dried in the sun. The celebrated sweet wine which expresses
Santorini's uniqueness is used to complete the gustative feasts
of the Medieval time noblemen, while at the same time, comprised
for centuries the ' Holy Communion ' to all the chalices of
the Russian Orthodox Church.
.. that Santorini's ecological conditions have produced over
time a unique type of vine pruning that growers call "kouloura"
(curl), because its shape resembles a round basket. The "basket"
shaped vines protect the soft and tender grape leaves from
being damaged by the island's strong wind and sand. |
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