GREEK HARVEST REPORT – 2003

 The Greek Vineyards are ready for the Olympic challenge !

It appears that one of the most successful test-events for the Olympic Games will be the one that guarantees the best quality of Greek wine for the last 20 years. Indeed, this year’s production of Greek wines will be the best of the last decades. In this way Greece will welcome the millions of visitors who will arrive for the Olympics with some of its best production. The weather conditions were some of the best for an excellent vintage (not too much rain, and the right amount of warmth).  What remains is the good handling of the grapes and the correct wine-making.  The white varieties will give fresh and crisp wines which will be available for consumption from the beginning of the coming year, whilst the red wines will be placed in oak barrels to be aged. For every region a report is given below :

THRACE

Maronia: The climatic conditions that occurred in this remote area of north eastern Greece were excellent.  There was a diurnal temperature range which allowed, especially the white varieties, to develop rich bouquets and high acidities.  Under these circumstances the Chardonnay variety gave high sugar content (more than 12 bomé) and high acidity. 

The good climatic conditions in the month of September led the Syrah variety to full maturity and it is expected to give to the local wine a deep red colour with soft roundness, and  to give special emphasis to the characteristic bouquet of the variety.  Chardonnay gave to the local country wines of Thrace full colour and bouquet.

MACEDONIA

Naoussa – Amyndeo: Naoussa in 2003 had a very rainy winter and it decreased production.  The summer was mild, with the right quantity of water and the correct maturity was achieved.  The early varieties of Syrah and Merlot were harvested 10 days earlier than normal with excellent maturity.  The wines had deep red colour and very good structure for aging. The first samples of Xinomavro which were harvested show that this year’s Naoussa wine will  be excellent.  The condition of  the grapes  was excellent and the  later pickings were even  better due  to  the continued fine weather. 

The winter in the Amyndeo area created problems in certain places due to frost.  But the good climatic conditions of summer have produced high quality grapes and the possibilities for excellent wines.

Goumenissa: The year started with a slight delay in the development of the vines but it continued at a fast pace afterwards.  There was excellent quality in the early foreign varieties and the  expectation is for great wines.  The Negoska variety showed more advanced maturity than Xynomavro and the condition of the grapes was excellent.

Halkidiki: The harvest in Halkidiki started earlier than usual, at the beginning of August with the international variety, Sauvignon Blanc.    The exceptional element of this year’s harvest is that the grapes maintained a high acidity as well as a high alcoholic degree.  This was helped by the good weather (mild temperatures and light rains all year round) as well as the application of the correct cultivation techniques.  The vine growers of Halkidiki realized that under these climatic conditions in order to achieve a high degree of maturity they had to decrease the production of grapes per stremma and on the other hand, to cultivate in such a way to allow the development of leaf coverage.  This  opinion was accepted by most of the winegrowers with the result that this year’s production was down by some 20 %.  The alcoholic degree was 0,5 % higher and the total acidity was increased by 1 g/litre.  The same climatic conditions allowed in the other well known variety of Halkidiki, the Merlot, the acquire high sugar content (over 13 bomé) and, at the same time, to develop a rich colour.

The white country wines of Halkidiki are particularly aromatic and fresh with a light sensation in the taste.  The red country wines of Halkidiki originating from the Merlot variety have the richest colour ever achieved.  They have a full taste and are most suited for aging. They have a full taste and are most suited for aging.  They possess soft tannins and they can be easily consumed fresh.

Mount  Athos: The climatic conditions in Metochi of Mt. Athos were slightly different from the rest of Halkidiki.  There were no great variations in temperature, nor heavy rainfalls and as a result the vines developed naturally throughout the growing season.  These conditions led to an early harvest of Athiri and Assyrtiko with a relatively high sugar content and high acidity.  At the same time the weather conditions were ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, Limnio, and Xinomavro, and as a result they produced wines with high sugar content and intense colour.                    

Côtes de Meliton: The harvest began around 20 August and continued until the middle of October.  The grapes were of excellent quality and the production was increased compared with 2002.  Much was due to the good weather conditions throughout the year, the microclimate of the region, and the frequent checks against plant disease.

Epanomi: The winter was mild with the right amount of precipitation and correct temperatures throughout the year.  Accordingly, the grapes matured perfectly  and  the harvest was excellent.  It is expected to be one of the best years ever.

Drama: This year was one of the best for the grapes and the production.  The grapes matured well and the  average production per stremma was 1000 Kgs.  It is expected that this year’s production will give excellent quality wines.

EPIRUS

Zitsa: The year was excellent.  The summer was warm.  The summer rains were of the right amount and as a result this assisted the quality.  The grape variety, Debina, is likely to give excellent semi-sparkling wine with much freshness and unusual aromatic character.

Metsovo: The first variety harvested was the Traminer.  The grapes were in very healthy condition producing full bodied and aromatic character.  The red grapes grown in the low lying areas near to Ioannina (Cabernet – Merlot) were very satisfactory with good concentration of sugar, deep red colour, and good structure.

THESSALY

Rapsani: The late frost in April decreased the production of the three local varieties : (Stavroto, Xynomavro and Krasato).  The climatic conditions during the rest of the year were very good, and although this year’s production will be reduced the wines will have high sugar and intense colour.  The characteristics of the Rapsani appellation for 2003 will be its deep red colour, the noted presence of tannins, and its aging ability.

CENTRAL GREECE

Attica: The good amount of winter rainfall and the helpful temperatures, as well as the dry summer period have resulted in the good maturity of the early ripening varieties.  The quality of the grapes is excellent – perhaps the best for the last 10 years.  The production will be reduced by about 20 % below normal due to the summer drought.

Fthiotida: This year’s harvest especially in the appellation areas, is considered to be excellent both in quality and quantity.   Relatively high-temperatures and the limited amount of rain necessitated special viticultural attention, but finally the quality of the grapes is outstanding.  The heavy rains of last winter had provided good ground water.  The first  samples of wine show that the white wines are fresh and vivid whilst the reds are distinguished for their fullness, body and colour.  The varieties of Syrah and Merlot will show extraordinary results.  Likewise for the Greek varieties of Assyrtiko and Robola.

Viotia: Excellent quality with very healthy grapes characterized this year’s production. Production volumes varied according to areas.  The dry summer slightly affected the late developing white varieties such Rhoditis and Savatiano.  On the country the Grenache, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc varieties had tremendous results.  The growers that kept their production per stremma low this year were rewarded with excellent quality.

THE PELOPONNESE

Achaia-Patras:Mountains and Foothills – the best grapes of the decade.

Lowlands – the best grapes for the last 20 years, with an increase of alcohol by 1 degree.   However, production of the Rhoditis grape was down by some  30 %, and the prices for the grapes were up by some 10 %. The other varieties have shown an increase in production, especially Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Nemea: A very good year quality-wise with a little reduced production but with very healthy   grapes.  The maturity  in  the  mountainous areas was very good and early. In contrast, the maturity in the lower areas was late.

Mantinia: This area had a harsh winter with much rainfall which led to a late development of the grapes.  The good conditions of the summer resulted in normal maturation of the grapes and the result is excellent.  Production will be the same volume as in 2002.

AEGEAN ISLANDS

Santorini: This year was very good both for quality and quantity.  The favorable weather conditions with the right amount of rain during the winter and the spring gave for the first time the good development of the vines.  This is something most unusual for the Santorini vineyards.  Production compared with previous years was increased and the grapes were very healthy with the right degree of maturity.  The wines are expected to be aromatic, rich flavoured, but with delicacy.

Samos: The production was increased by 10 % with excellent quality due to the favorable weather conditions, particularly in the summer.

Rhodes: The high temperatures of August influenced the development of maturity and as a result the late harvest caused a reduction in sugar.  The quality of the grapes was considered to be very good.

Paros: Production was increased by 20 % and the quality was excellent.

Crete: The harvest was late with a reduction in production of about 30 % but with excellent quality and a very good level of maturity in all the varieties.

IONIAN ISLANDS

Cephalonia: Although there was a delay in development of the vines by about 20 days, and there were sudden changes in maturation, the harvest began early on 11 August with the Muscat grape which gave an increase of production compared with 2002.

The quality of the grapes was excellent.  All the whites (including Robola) are expected to be excellent and some of the best of the last decade.