THRAKI
Maronia:
The
harvest in the area of Maronia was late. This year the harvest began at
least 15 days later than last year.
With the volume of
production remaining steady, both Chardonnay and Syrah varieties,
which will produce the Ismarikos regional wine, have reached their
best degree of maturity whilst keeping their acidity at a high
level.
Chardonnay grapes were
gathered with potential alcoholic content of 12,5% vol. and acidity
of 7,5 gr./L, a fact that will give the production of Chardonnay 2004 a
unique taste, complex flavours and the ability to resist becoming
tired.
MAKEDONIA
Naoussa - Goumenissa :
The main characteristics
were the late harvest, the continuous rain fall until June, the
increased production and the rich foliage. It seems that the vintage
for Xinomavro is good, while for the early harvest of Merlot and Syrah
the results are expected to be excellent. The weather conditions were
good until the harvest, having as a result the smooth technological and
fenolic maturity of the grapes.
Αmynteo
:
This year
the harvest was late in Amynteo. Spring started with rainfall, while
strong hail falls during May helped the development of mycological
diseases, which were faced with systematic care. The result was a
slight decrease of production but improved grape quality.
The white varieties of
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, in accordance to the total acidity and
this year’s baume, are expected to have fruity flavour and good
acidities, while the varieties of Xinomavro, Merlot and Syrah are in
good fenolic maturity.
Halkidiki:
This year the harvest started on 24th August. This was 12
days earlier than in 2003. As usual, the variety of Sauvignon Blanc,
which is used for the regional white wine of Halkidiki has started “the
dance of this year’s harvest”, followed by Assirtiko, Athiri, Rhoditis
and Merlot.
The climatic conditions
during the germination period of the vine were ideal. Relatively low
temperatures occurred, while the number of useful rainfalls was
increased compared with past years. Also the absence of high
temperatures during the summer months was characteristic. The
aforementioned conditions in combination with the proper implemented
cultivating techniques has helped the grapes to reach their best
maturity.
Mount Athos :
In contrary to the rest of Halkidiki area the conditions at Metochi
Chromitsa of Mount Athos were the standard of the area, where the
climate is always hot and dry, a fact that has helped the biological
cultivation, which has been followed here for several years.
In this way, the white
varieties of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay have matured slightly later
than last year, while Athiri and Assyrtiko started their way to the
winery on the 1st of September like last year.
In the middle of
September the first grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon reached the winery.
Here, too, the potential for rich colour, the excellent quality of
tannins and the low production per stremma (600 Kgs/stremma) are all
promising wines of high quality.
Côtes
de Meliton :
The harvest started on 23rd August and finished on 4th
October. The excellent climatic conditions during winter and spring,
the microclimate of the area and the precautionary tests of biological
plant protection have positively influenced the production and also the
quality.
This year the white grape
varieties having an alcoholic degree of 12,5 % will give wines of
excellent quality, while the red varieties having 13 % vol. will present
red wines with good aging ability.
Εpanomi
:
The
viniculture year of 2004 was normal for the area of Epanomi. In
contrary to previous years, the sufficient rainfalls and snows during
the winter very much helped water collection of the area.
The winter was wetter
than average and this helped the correct structure of the grapes.
The spring was relatively wet and helped the correct grape development.
From the beginning the production seemed to be very good, more than 1000
Kgs/stremma. Many producers have done what we say “Green harvest” by
throwing down grapes, before they were matured, so as to decrease the
average production per stremma and keep it to less than one ton per
stremma, in this way improving the quality. The weather during summer
was cool with low night temperatures, which favoured the fenolic grape
maturity. The harvest started on 19th August with the white
varieties of Malagousia, Chardonnay and Assyrtiko and continued until
the beginning of September, when the harvest of the red varieties of
Merlot and Syrah began. These show big extracts of their fenolic
elements (colour and tannins), and the wines have sufficient body and
excellent quality like last year.
Drama :
The
summer was gentle in the Drama area, without great heat or sudden
rainfalls, a fact that helped good and relatively early grape
maturity. The harvest started on 18th August with the white
varieties of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semmillion and ended with the
red varieties of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo and Agiorgitiko.
All tests show an excellent quality.
IPIROS
Zitsa :
The
summer was cool. The Debina variety has contributed to the production
of white wines with a freshness and unusual aromatic character. The
quality of the wines is excellent.
Metsovo :
The
harvest at Metsovo was late - 20-30 days later than in 2003. This
was due to the coolness during the spring, which delayed the budding of
the vines. The summer passed with gentle temperatures, while
September and October helped the slow but sufficient maturity of
grapes. The grape-loads of vineyards were slightly decreased compared
with those of 2003 and were at an average production of 450-500 Kgs/stremma.
The white wines were
particularly aromatic, due to the slow maturity, with very good
alcoholic degree (12,5% Vol) and very good acidity.
All the elements until
now show that the white wines of 2004 will be more aromatic compared
with those of previous years. The red wines have deep red colour, with
alcoholic degree over 12,5% vol., intense fruitiness and good tannins.
The general impression is that after the necessary maturity in the
barrel and in the bottle, these wines will produce a vintage in 2004
that will be remembered for several years.
THESSALY
Rapsani :
2004 could be considered as one of the best years for the Rapsani
area. The initial difficulties due to the cool and rainy spring were
overcome relatively easy. A determining factor was the special
microclimate of the area, which is protected from the north by Olympus
mountain, while from the east it enjoys the salutary breeze of the
Aegean sea.
These conditions have
positively influenced the quality of the grapes, as they have caused a
natural decrease in the grape load of vines, which in combination with
the weather conditions obtained from the beginning of the summer and
until the harvest, gave an unprecedented result.
The intense sunlight
without intense heat, the minimum but very beneficial and on time
rainfalls contributed to a slow but full maturity of the grapes.
This in combination with
the great temperature difference between day and night in the area
gave the grapes a rich aroma, colour and taste. The VQPRD Rapsani of
2004 is expected to have deep red colour with a bouquet of concentrated
rich and fine aromas, strong, tense, full body and the smoothness of
healthy and matured grapes.
CENTRAL GREECE
Attica:
Rainfalls started in the spring and were at regular intervals until the
harvest, which was late. The production was increased compared with last
year, while the condition of the grapes was good and healthy.
Particularly in West
Attica the harvest started on 28th August with Chardonnay and
then Merlot, Assyrtiko, Syrah, Grenache Rouge and Rhoditis followed.
Savatiano was the last one gathered, having a very good balance of acids
and sugar compared with previous years. White varieties are expected to
give rich balanced and aromatic wines, while in the red varieties
the high fenolic maturity in combination to the increased sugar level
will give wines of deep intense colour, full rich body and great aging
ability.
Fthiotida :
This year’s harvest in the area of Fthiotida and specially in the
Locrida viticulture zone is of exceptional quality. Although the
temperatures were very low during winter, the vicinity with the sea
helped to avoid problems. The intense rainfall during the spring
created a wet reserve, which was proved useful. The breezes and the
correct precautionary facing of the phenomenon by the vine growers
protected the vineyards from the early white rust. In the summer
unusual low temperatures during night occurred, which kept the
environment cool and contributed to the late harvest. The harvest
conditions were very favourable, and resulted in wines of high acidity,
but simultaneously of high degree. The international red varieties
Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet and from white varieties the Chardonnay showed
remarkable results.
Viotia :
This
year’s harvest in the area of Viotia resulted in low quantity
production, whilst the quality was excellent. Increased rainfall during
the spring occurred, creating high moisture levels and furthermore
resulted in the occurrence of white rust problems for the vine growers.
The wine makers who faced
this phenomenon precautiously, limited the damage with a decrease of
quantity, but to the benefit of quality.
The winemakers who did
not manage to react properly, due to bad weather conditions, suffered
great damage to their grapes and were compensated for this.
The
summer period, which followed, as well as the harvest were normal with
favorable conditions. This is a vintage of high quality results.
PELOPONNESE
Achaia - Patras :
The grape production in
the zone of VQPRD Patras is gathered by selective semi-mountainous
communities.
Here, too, the harvest
started 15 days later. The production was increased by 15 % compared
with last year. The healthy condition of the grapes was very good.
Côtes
de Egialias :
The viticulture zone of «Côte de Egialias” is characterized by a
sufficient altitude of its vineyards, which are north-facing.
The harvest was 10-15
days late compared with last year and this delay remained until the end
of this year’s harvest.
During summer there were
not intense and high temperatures, a fact that in combination with the
lateness of this year’s harvest produced white wines of improved aroma
and higher acidities, while the red wines were not able to succeed
their highest fenolic richness, especially those of the higher
altitude. The total average quantity of production was slightly
increased (3-4%) and the grapes were of excellent condition.
Νemea
:
The harvest
took place between 27th September – 21st
October. The harvest in the viticulture zone of Nemea was unusual and
full of unexpected occurrences. A wet winter was followed by a cool
spring with much rainfall which resulted in approximately 20 days
blooming delay. The summer was relatively dry with low temperatures,
especially during the nights. The unusual low temperatures that
occurred during September, resulted in a considerable delayed vintage,
with very slow maturity of the grapes. Some of the vineyards never came
to the full technological maturity, leading in this way to relatively
low alcoholic level. However, in spite of the low technological
maturity, an unusually high fenolic maturity for the Nemea area
occurred, resulting in wines of intensive deep colours and special
strong and characteristic varietal aromas.
The harvest of 2004 for
Nemea was difficult, of “Burgundian” character. For another time the
choice of grapes proved to be the key to success.
Mantinia :
The
spring frost influenced a small number of vineyards in the area. The
high level of rainfall with a good distribution during the year gave
the vines sufficient water. The normal temperatures guaranteed high
aromatic possibilities. The harvest was very late and the sugar level
in the must was at the limit. The healthy condition of the grapes was
very good.
AEGEAN ISLANDS
Santorini :
Harvest period 12-25 August. This year’s harvest in the viticulture
area of Santorini was normal without particular difficulties. A wet
winter producing a sufficient water level, helped the development of
healthy shooting of vine stock. This, in combination with a cool
spring, without winds protected the sensitive buds, and led to a year of
rich production. Indeed, the harvested quantities were bigger than
last year, approaching unusual average production level of 600 Kgs/stremma.
The proportionally low
temperatures during the summer delayed somewhat the harvest, but not
too much to be considered as a late harvest. This slight delay resulted
in the gentle maturity of the grapes having direct effect on the
technical and organoleptic characteristics of this year’s wines. So, in
comparison with previous years’ harvests, we foresee the production of
more “conventional” wines, with low mineral character, high ph and
obviously more fruity character. We generally consider this year’s
harvest as interesting, although it was atypical.
Samos :
The
weather conditions were favorable for the normal maturity of the
grapes. Especially the cool summer contributed to the normal
development of the maturity and the expected character of the wines will
be excellent.
The xerophytic cultivation,
the configuration in terrace and the low production average per stremma
have contributed the most to the quality and the aromatic character of
the wines. The production this year is slightly increased compared to
last year.
Limnos :
It
is considered a particularly good year. The maturity was normal,
considering the adequate conversion of acids to sugar. To this result
helped favorably, too, the seldom experienced rainfalls which
occurred at the beginning of August. The well known quality results
expected from the vinification of the local Moschato Alexandrias
variety of the island, are expected. The production was 50 % less than
usual.
Rhodes :
The
normal climatic conditions of the spring with the necessary rainfall and
the exceptional cool summer was conducive to the normal maturity, which
depending on the variety sometimes exceeds 12,5 % baume and had
excellent quality, due to the care taken by the vine growers. The
harvest began on 30th August, approximately 10 days late,
with the varieties of Moschofilero, Trani and Athiri. This year’s
production was approximately 25 % more than last year.
Paros :
The
weather conditions have influenced positively the development of the
grapes’ maturity. The cultivation practices have not been changed from
the past years. The production is increased by aprox. 40 % and the
quality of the grapes is very good.
Crete :
The
climatic conditions during winter with sufficient rainfall, in
combination to the occasional rainfall during the spring, allowed for
the normal shooting of the vines. Specific attacks of white rust,
mostly during May, were successfully faced on time and they have not
become an epidemic. During the summer the lack of rainfall and the
normal levels of temperature contributed to the excellent health
condition of the grapes. The harvest was late for all the grape
varieties, while the production is considered higher compared with the
2003.
From the fist
organoleptic tests of the wines, we noted that their characteristics
were excellent. The aromatic intensity and the complexity of the Vilana
variety wines, as well the rich structure of the red wines support the
idea that the harvest of 2004 will be one of the best of the recent
decade.
IONIAN ISLANDS
Cephalonia
:
The
sufficient rainfall during winter, the dry and cool summer resulted in
grapes of excellent quality. The development of the grapes’ maturity
was normal and under very good conditions. The production was normal
for the island. |
