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As with last year the current vintage is sufficiently good in quantity, but also mostly in quality terms, in accordance with the favorable conditions under which harvest was completed.
The information included in the Harvest Bulletin of the Greek Wine Federation, which represents almost all the producers of bottled wine, gives the impression of a very good harvest both in quantity and mostly in quality terms.
Now, It remains to the winemakers, who certainly possess both the know-how and the skills to make wines of equal quality to the excellent grape quality, which will be enjoyed both by Greek and foreign consumers.
The expectations and the first evaluations refer to white wines of vivid and aromatic richness and to red wines with strong alcohol, dark colour and intensity.
A report is given below for each region :
Achaia - Patras : The grape production in the zone of VQPRD Patras is gathered by selective semi-mountainous communities.
This year's harvest for all the varieties is approximately 20 % lower than last year's. The quality condition of the grapes is excellent and the sugar content of white table wines is 9,5-11 Be, while for white VQPRD wines (Rhoditis) is 11,2-12,5 Be, and for dry table red wine 10,5-12 Be and for Mavrodaphne of Patras 11,8-12,5 Be.
NEMEA : Until September 15th everything was showing that 2005 would be the exceptional, rare, and great vinicultural year. Healthy grapes, with rich colour were approaching quickly their full maturity (some of them were almost ready) and the production per stremma was very low for Nemea, that is 700 - 800 Kgs./stremma : fewer, smaller grapes, with dark colour and intense fruit. On Thursday 15th September 110 mm of rain fall in 12 hours. 20 % of the annual rain fall in only twelve hours !! The next days the vineyards responded wonderfully and hopes were rekindled again. The low production per stremma and the excellent health conditions which existed until then, permitted the miraculous recovery to get over this extraordinary phenomenon.
However, the saturated soil had not as yet dried and in one week time the problems started again. Memories of 2002 were recalled. Every day, around noon, the sky became darker and the undesirable rains began.
2005 for Nemea had all the prospects to become a unique year, however it did not prove so. Those who managed to harvest before the primary volume of the rainfalls will remember it as the perfect harvest. Indeed this is so. We will discover it, when after ten years we will taste its results which will seem as yet young : Wines of matured fruit, excess colour, dissolving tannins in mouth, a banquet.
On the contrary, the wines which followed the rains will remain in our memory as simply decent. Here, we have to point out that even after so much rain the vineyards with the proper implemented cultivation techniques, with the correct exposure, inclination, leafage and load, showed a very nice proportionately reaction, giving certainly not a great, but indeed a sufficient result.
Mantinia : From early September there was the optimism that the harvest of 2005 would be a remarkable one. The grapes were of excellent healthy condition, the maturity was at a satisfactory level and seemed to proceed smoothly and the reduced production compared to the other years seemed to obtain a very high quality in the whole zone. However, as from the 15th September the weather changed to rain accompanied with heavy clouds with the result that the process of maturation was slowed. Despite this, there was no remarkable problem during the harvest due to the excellent quality of the grapes and the decreased production. The grapes were brought to the wineries in excellent healthy condition and to a level of maturity of 10 Be - 12 Be.
Côtes de Egialias : Although the viticulture zone of "Côte de Egialias" belongs to the viticulture zone of Patras, it constitutes a separate viticulture zone with completely different climatic conditions and configuration. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 300-900 m.
Rhoditis remains the primary variety. However, varieties including Lagorthi, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and the red varieties of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are also permanently cultivated. The harvest started on August 2nd and finished on October 20th.
This year's harvest was not accompanied by any particular occurrence except the long lasting drought during July-August. The climatic conditions were developed normally and the vines even though they delayed to open, managed to reach maturity 5-10 days earlier, compared with last year.
The quantity production of all the varieties had a decrease of 5-20 %. The grapes were quite healthy and even Rhoditis, which was harvested on the mountainous slopes until October 20th, was mostly without any problem since the humidity of the last days was intense. The results of the first wines was produced presage a good quality year.
Attica : The weather conditions during summer on the mountains of Attica favored a very good maturity of the early foreign varieties ( Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) and the harvest in the area took place on the usual dates. The sufficient maturity of these varieties and the excellent condition of grapes prepared us for an exceptional year of quality wines.
However, on the contrary, the unfavorable weather conditions of the second part of September (low temperatures especially during night, continuous cloudiness, frequent rainfalls) resulted in the late maturity of the Savatiano grape variety.
The presence of rot due to the rain had consequently accelerated the harvest and the strict selection of vines.
Especially in western Attica the production of most varieties during the initial shaping of grapes proved to be 10-15% lower compared with last year. Apparently, in early July the green harvest took place and the production was adjusted to the desired low levels for both red and white varieties.
The harvest of Chardonnay started on 17th August then Merlot, Syrah, Grenache Rouge, Assyrtiko, Rhoditis followed, at the end by Savatiano on 20th September. White varieties are expected to give rich, balanced and fragrant wines, while the red varieties due to the high fenolic maturity are expected to produce well structured wines with deep intense colour and great ageing ability.
Fthiotida : This year's harvest in the area of Fthiotida and specially in the Locrida viticulture zone is of exceptional quality. The low temperatures during winter had not created any problem due to the particular microclimate. The cool breezes coming from Parnassos mountain corresponding with the warm breeze from Evoikos bay prevented frost occurring in the area and low temperatures not bearable for the vines. In addition the rains during spring had created a wet reserve a moisture which was proved useful.
This specific microclimate in combination with the correct precautionary measures taken by the vine growers resulted in ideal conditions in the period of budding in March and during blooming in May.
In the summer low temperatures especially during the night occurred, which kept the environment cool and in combination with the protection of the leafage wall contributed to the best development of maturity.
The harvest took place at the beginning of August under very favorable conditions and resulted in wines of high acidity, but simultaneously of high degree. The white wines possess distinct aromatic character, while the red wines' high extract was due to the ideal maturity procedure of fenolic substances.
Rapsani : The harvest of the traditional varieties of this region - Xinomavro-Krassato and Stavroto - began as usual at the beginning of October. The steep incline of the vineyards in Rapsani together with the special microclimate of the area, which is protected from the northwest by Olympus mountain, and from the east enjoys the salutary breeze of the Aegean sea, did not permit the autumn rains to affect negatively the quality of grapes. The grapes possessed a high level of alcohol content and intense colour.
The VQPRD Rapsani of 2005 is expected to have very deep red colour with mature, velvet tannins and very good ageing properties.
Metsovo : The gentle weather conditions that occurred in Metsovo during the summer months assisted the slow maturity of the grapes which helped their bouquet ability. The white wines of this year's harvest are distinguished for their high acidity and their elegant varietal bouquet. In addition, the strict selection of grapes of specific varieties has allowed the red wines coming both from indigenous and international varieties to present good fenolic structure and complex, primary, aromatic characteristics. With all these elements and in combination with the proper vinification and the necessary ageing a very good year is anticipated.
Halkidiki : This year's harvest started on 16th August with the international variety of Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes were rich both in sugar content and in acidity, since they had not faced unfavorable conditions e.g. intense heat, rainfalls.
The same climatic conditions contributed to the dark deep colour obtained by Merlot which is widely cultivated in the area of Halkidiki. The variety of Cabernet Sauvignon which has also been cultivated in this region for many years, presented a particularly increased quality potentiality in 2005, since the very salutary and gentle climatic conditions meant that few problems had to be faced.
Agion Oros - Metochi Chromitsa : The weather conditions at Metochi Chromitsa ware somewhat more gentle to those in Halkidiki due to the higher altitude (150-350 m). In addition to the indigenous varieties of Athiri and Assyrtiko, the international variety Chardonnay reached the winery rather early and presented high sugar content and acidity.
The early red varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Limnio and Xinomavro were of excellent quality and harvested before the rains at the end of September.
Côtes de Meliton : The harvest started on 16th August and finished on 19th September. The excellent climatic conditions during winter and spring, the microclimate of the area and the proper precaution taken against the enemies and diseases of the vines as well as the continuous observation by experienced scientific personnel all influenced positively the production.
The satisfactory level of acidities and the high alcoholic degree (12,8 % for white and 13,2 % for red wines) are expected to give white wines of excellent quality and red wines of great ageing ability.
Amyndeo : Following the winter sleep, the awakening of the vines was relatively early, encouraged by the gentle weather during March.
Later on, the presence of relatively more rain falling during June was welcome and contributed to the quality grape development and the potentiality of each variety until the harvest period.
On the other hand the lack of water during July, August and until the middle of September raised the quality of production to specially high levels.
The harvest started on 4th September with the precocious varieties and finished on 5th October with the Xinomavro.
The production of the vineyards did not exceeded 1000 kgs./ per stremma for all the varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Xinomavro) resulting in wines with rich bouquet. This year's harvest is characterized as one of the best vinicultural years for the Amyndeo area.
Naoussa - Goumenissa : In accordance with the materialized sampling tests Xinomavro grapes were relatively early due to the good weather conditions obtained.
The rich sunlight favored the dominate variety in the area, Xinomavro, which reached complete maturity relatively early with a powerful alcoholic degree 12-13,5 % vol. and so the intense autumn first rains did not create problems to the wine growers, since the bigger share of the production was by then, already harvested.
Εpanomi : The harvest started on 19th August with the early white varieties and finished on 18th September with the red ones. This year's cool summer and the sufficient natural water supply of the vines resulted in a very good maturation.
The ample sunlight helped the red varieties to have natural fenolic maturity, without the stress of the high temperatures, - an important factor for the quality of tannins and the good ageing of the red wines.
Thus, it is expected to be a classic successful bouquet year for white wines, while for the red wines it will be an exceptional year.
Drama : The special characteristic of this year's harvest in Drama area was the hot and dry climate. With the exception of a few rains at the beginning of August, the weather was ideal for the proper maturity of the grapes. The average temperatures were not especially high, resulting in white and red wines of good quality. In addition, an important parameter was the low vine production per stremma, which specially for white wines gave a very good complex and sense of richness in the mouth. This fact together with not very high temperatures allowed the grapes to keep their characteristic bouquet, and lead us to the conclusion that it is an adequately good year for white wines and simultaneously very satisfactory year for red wines.
Maronia : The climatic conditions in Thrace were excellent during the whole period of vine stocks development and until the harvest period. During spring the temperature was cool without presence of any frost. In summer the weather was gentle with great temperature differences between days and nights, while during the harvest no rains occurred. The white wines and mainly Chardonnay and Rhoditis gave good alcoholic content (12-12,5%vol), high acidity and rich primary bouquet.
Indeed, the red grape varieties, Limnio and Syrah presented particularly increased quality potentiality and are expected to give red wines with soft tannins.
Santorini : The harvest of 2004 could be characterized as the return to normal levels of production per stremma. In previous years there were difficulties mostly in quantity levels, with the peak in 2002 year, when the extreme production phenomenon of 80kgs/stremma occurred. Consequently, the harvests of 2003 and 2004 were generous and in quantity terms the harvests of 2004 and 1998 were the largest. In 2005 maters came back to normal with a production of 300-350 Kgs / stremma, a fact that was most pleasing, as a considerable decline had been expected into consideration the previous two years. Doubts remain whether decline will be able to be preserved in 2006.
Apart from their normal performance the vineyards produced excellent grapes. The rains during winter were worryingly few, but did have negative consequences since during the spring and summer no extreme weather phenomena like strong wind or draughts was experienced.
The grapes reached normal maturity remaining full of vigour and health until the time of the harvest.
The harvest began on 12th August showing immediately the quality of the grapes. The greenish-yellow Assyrtiko was absolutely healthy, matured and fragrant as usual for Santorini island. The average production was 300-350 Kgs/stremma.
Conclusively, the harvest of 2005 in Santorini was of an excellent year both in quality and quantity terms.
Samos : This year's harvest was decreased by 20-25 % in comparison with last year. The weather conditions were sufficiently good with the exception of one rainfall the first weekend of August, which did not create any problem, since there was sunlight during the next days. The harvest in Samos island started on 8th August and the grapes collected were of excellent quality. Problems of diseases did not occurred while the sugar content and the acidities were of the usual levels for Samos island, 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.
A very good potential bouquet was created due to the limited production and the lack of diseases. This year's harvest in Samos area was one of the best of the last years.
Rhodes : The harvest of 2005 in the island of Rhodes showed promises for an excellent viniculutral year. The ideal weather conditions existed during the whole year with the peak at the days of harvest, when the microclimate gave an excellent technological maturity creating quality grapes. The low production per stremma has resulted in very good white wines while the rose and red were excellent. The sugar content of the varieties Athiri, Moschato, Mandilari, Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet were 12-13,5 Be (year of very good maturity).
Crete : This year's gentle winter together with the early rains during spring contributed to the regular shoot of the vines. The hail which fell during August influenced the production of specific areas only, and the production as a whole was not remarkably decreased.
During the summer the lack of rain and extreme heat contributed to the excellent health condition of the grapes and the maturity process was developed normally . The harvest was late for all the grape varieties, while the production is was decreased compared with the 2004.
From the fist evaluations and organoleptic tests of the VQPRD wines, we noted that their characteristics were excellent. The aromatic intensity and the complexity of the Vilana variety wines, as well as the rich structure of the red wines support the idea that the harvest of 2005 will be one of the best of the last years.
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