Greek Vintage Report 2016: A year of mostly high expectations

Classic Terroirs

Naoussa & Amyndeon – Xinomavro Land

For Naoussa, vintage for Xinomavro started officially in September 14 but best parcels should be harvested during the following days. Moderate rainfall during the first days of September delayed sugar ripeness, so producers needed to wait for drier conditions. Overall Kostis Dalamaras from Domaine Dalamara speaks of an earlier harvest of about five to ten days than usual - depending on the site - and is optimistic of a promising, very good quality crop. 

Vintage assesment: Good to very good (Update will be posted). 

For Amyndeon, Angelos Iatridis commented earlier on high expectations created during the development of the growing season, provided a typical dry summer is experienced. Unfortunately that was not the case as skies opened during the critical last days of August and early September. Iatridis points out that harvest was stopped when 70% of white grapes were picked suggesting that for the rest we need to wait about ten more days. Thanos Dougos from Rapsani and Tatsis brothers from Goumenissa where Xinomavro is blended, comment on a vintage that started aiming for perfection and resulted in crossing fingers to be saved by the bell. Stergios Tatsis believes however that harvest is the apogee of a year where work carries on for 365 days, so attentive viticulture will be rewarded.

Vintage assessment: Challenging (Update will be posted).

Santorini – The cradle of Assyrtiko

A particular dry vintage that started almost ten days earlier compared to 2015 (July 27 versus August 4). Assyrtiko which forms the backbone of the wines was picked in early August. Grapes looked healthy with the exception of some sunburns for the lower planted vines. In higher altitude vineyards however, the ripening cycle was more uniform. Yields were 20 to 30% higher according to Lefteris Anagnostou, oenologist for Karamolegos winery. Yiannis Paraskevopoulos from Gaia Estate speaks of a very good vintage overall. 

Vintage assessment: Very good.

Nemea - Agiorgitiko's blue velvet

Yiannis Kanakis, viticulturist-consultant confirms an earlier picking vintage that shows very good quality overall with the exception of lower lying parcels in Nemea, Ancient Nemea and Leondio where botrytis made its appearance after severe rainfall. Vines planted in slopes have performed very well though, while yields proved to be moderate contrary to initial prediction of a significant rise. There was a spring frost incidence on April 27 in parts of Nemea valley and Asprokampos valley, that damaged 20-100% of the shoots depending on the vineyard. Upcoming week will be crucial so there is a lot of crossing fingers for dry weather. 

Vintage assessment: Very good for the most favourable mesoclimates. Challenging for the rest. 

Mantinia – The elegance of Moschofilero

During Orthodox Easter week there was severe spring frost that resulted in a crop reduction of 20%. In late June catastrophe followed in the regions of Tegea and Zeugolatio with heavy rainfall. Yields are expected to be 30-40% lower. Overall a challenging vintage that started in mid September for some parcels says Yiannis Kanakis.  

Vintage assessment: Difficult to challenging (Update will be posted).