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Vintage Reports |
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| November 28th 2006 |
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| Greece: Mixed emotions |
by Alex Sakkas
While some Greek regions are full of praise for the 2006 vintage, others complain about low yields and unripe grapes. Nonetheless, as late as early September authorities were expecting a harvest of 4.2 million hectolitres; this would be some ten percent above the long term average. |
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 With exports sputtering, lower yields would have been a blessing.
After a rather cool spring and a pleasant summer, the grapes ripened slowly but steadily in Eastern Macedonia, Thrakia, Drama, Mount Athos and Chalkidiki. When the rains hit in mid September, most of the harvest had already been brought in, so that 2006 there is considered excellent. In Central and Western Macedonia as well as Thessalia, late ripening varieties like Xinomavro experienced difficulties. Good results were possible only through careful selection and low yields.
A wave of heat followed by heavy rain showers made it difficult for varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen properly in Epirus and Central Greece. The vines produced good results only when yields were minimized during the summer. The white varieties on the Peloponnes were harvested prior to the heavy rains and show good ripeness with wellbalanced acidity. For the reds, the results in the hills were generally better than in the plains which suffered severely from heavy rains. In Santorini and Rhodos, as well, low yields were the key to a good vintage. Lots of sun and moderate temperatures in Crete insured that grapes like Mandilaria had one of its best vintages of the last ten years. |
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