Weather

Prolonged spring rain brought downy mildew in places. Summer temperatures were steady, with no jarring extremes. Yields were down, which helped overall quality. In spite of a flat market there was shortage of red grapes. Harvest conditions were varied, but overall healthy. In some appellations showers actually helped. Autumn started overcast, with a notable drop in temperatures. This was followed by an Indian summer. Perfect for the late harvesting of red grapes. Tasted wines show no alcoholic imprint. Attractive in these early stages. Bright fruit. Balanced. An opportunity for regional differences to shine. Added bonus? Typicity in the more-demanding grapes.

Peloponnese
Achaia: Walked two name places at 840 m and 920 m. Mountainous horizon. One peak faded onto another. An idyllic setting, yet far from easy to farm, I learned. Lack of water in these hills means overstressing of vines is an issue; there are (cumbersome) solutions, though. Climate change? Hot air mass waves originating from the Thessaly plain present new farming challenges. It appears that nature has yet to adapt to fast-paced, extreme changes. Which means, up here, a mixed bag, in contrast to an exceptionally good 2010.

Nemea: Quantity down by 40% from the (recent) average of 15,000 tonnes. Healthy grapes, normal- and smaller-sized berries. Tasting the grapes that are delivered to wineries is instructive: The tastier grape, think of aroma on the palate, were good. No surprise that the best sites (and farmers) achieved this ‘‘aromatic’’ hallmark. Neutral-tasting grapes are destined for bulk- and entry-level labels. Going carefully over the numerous cluster variations one wonders how many types of Agiorgitiko exist. A trustworthy technician mentioned 280. One thing is certain: Agiorgitiko has been around for a very long time. Good colour, charming wines oozing character.
Laconia: The difficult in farming white grape Kydonitsa was bar none the single most remarkable tank tasted. A smoky mineral charged with gravitas fruit bomb. Simply, there is nothing else like it in the Greek vineyard. Photographer Kostantinos Pittas who rarely comments on our daily tastings was smitten. Forget Malagousia. ‘’ Little quince’’ has it all. Aroma, fruit and acidity. Minerality? It transposes the windswept rocky arid environment it struggles in this eastern ‘‘finger’’ of the Peloponnese. Untapped high potential.

Central Greece

Hinterland of Thebes: Quantities were down. Delicate aromatic Savatiano showed more typicity than the blowsy 2010s. Terrific, new to me Assyrtiko. Is this the birth of a new terroir for this star grape? The obscure dark-skinned Mouchtaro may not be the next best thing in the Greek vineyard. Useful in blends with cosmopolitan varieties, such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, for rosé or dry red wines.

Tyrnavos: Thanks to an up and coming address, another pleasant surprise. Summer was cooler, with marked diurnal temperature variation. Re-discovered floral Limniona is poised, balanced. This cultivar is not to be confused with the demanding Limnio grown in Macedonia.

Northern Greece

Thrace: What a difference from recent previous visits! A still hazy terroir has grown up, slowly coming into focus. Fragrant, soft, mouth-watering. Star? The difficult to ripen Limnio. Have never seen this historic, though now obscure, grape deliver its distinctive identity.

Drama: in all colours, very impressive. Lip-smacking freshness in whites. Rosés are pleasing, with their refreshing bone-dry factor. Reds, varietal or blends, have taken this re-energised region a notch up. They will be talked about.
Kavala: A terroir is unfolding in these foothills of Mount Pangeon, influenced by the cooling breezes of the northern Aegean shoreline. Vibrant freshness, grapey whites. A new dimension of added depth in red blends. These are all worthy efforts.

Naoussa: In 17 years of field trips I have never tasted such attractive site translation (early November). Good colour. Perfumed complexity. Tasty ripe tannins. Elegance. Interesting to follow how these seductive wines develop. There was a change of guard in several underperforming estates. As reported elsewhere in these pages the so-called “Naoussa gang” 30-somethings are upping their game. This, shrinking in acreage, historic region needed this kick start. Look out for forthcoming reviews from a clutch of estates in transition.

Amyndeon: Vineyard hygiene was not the best; affected with downy mildew. Diligent farmers were rewarded with a small yet high-quality crop. Exciting Xinomavro sparkling Blanc de noir developments emphasize the increasingly understood talents of this cooler plateau. Xinomavro’s and blends are complete.
Siatista: What a change the Egnatia highway has brought to this, once important, historic old-vine region famous for its late-harvest Xinomavro and Moschomavro dessert wines! The fur business may not be what it once was, with most of the manufacturing moving to China. Nevertheless, I sensed a renewed interest for dry red wine. Met with several younger and older farmers. Soft, spicy aroma. Discreet. Whispering; not shouting. A new to me Xinomavro expression. Extolling the virtues of a wine made from 87 year old vines, I urged vineyard owners not to uproot the precious DNA pool of surviving old vines.

Aegean

Santorini: Cool weather patterns sealed a terrific vintage. It equals the 2009, perhaps surpasses the exceptional 2006. High standards in all the top names. Citrus-pear aroma, crisp fruit on the mineral-charged template, are all highlighted from some of the highest acidities on record. A keeper.

For 17 years I visited his vineyards and Canava. Clam-like, he slowly opened up. Eventually, in a measured and frank manner, we spent precious hours tasting from dozens of Vinsanto casks and older vintages of bone-dry wines. However, it was his profound understanding of the shrinking Santorinian sub-regions – Akrotiri, Megalochori, Pyrgos, Episkopi, Imerovigli – that was truly impressive. He also knew who the best farmers were. These were some of the fascinating aspects of this self-taught winemaker. His legacy lives on in the stunning collection of Vinsanto. In fact, it was this man’s persistence and continuous investment that singlehandedly repositioned Santorini Vinsanto as Greece’s top sweet wine. One of the great dessert wines to find anywhere in the world, it is expensive to produce and requires extensive ageing. Rewards include a searing acidity and a unique mineral character. His son Mattheos (29) has been groomed to continue this family business, now in its fourth generation.

On my last visit in June 2011, prior to his being diagnosed with cancer, I entered his tiny courtyard. He had some type of measuring instrument made of transparent material. It resembled a bicycle pump. I had never seen anything like it before. He pumped and looked at the gauge. “What is this?”, I asked, to which he retorted, “You tell me.” My deduction was that he was checking carbonic gas levels of the 2010 vintage. It was so, that was Yannis. Always thinking ahead. Always the perfectionist, protecting his wines. During the course of 40 years, he amassed the finest reserves of the island’s Vinsanto. In my ’The Greek Wine Guide and The Illustrated Greek Wine Book, his vintage Vinsanto was the only one regularly garnering 5 stars.

The last time I saw him was under happy circumstances. His great love was horses. He kept a couple. He was riding out with one of his son-in-laws on a balmy Saturday afternoon. They rode out to Monolithos, a black volcanic beach. Skimming the waves of the Aegean. Brimming with joy. A humble and gentle man. Farewell, Yannis Argyros.

One learns about grape varieties by walking. Knowing where and how they are farmed partly helps decipher the sub-regional puzzle. Occasionally, there is a reward – that magic word, terroir. Memorable moments? Discovering high Roditis amongst the pine-forest terraces in Egialia. Untangling the complicated links of Amyndeo Xinomavro and today’s Naoussa. Most recent discovery? Standing on a patch of centenary Vidiano in the shadow of Crete’s Mount Psiloritis (2456 m.). There is more ground to cover. Santorini was top of my shortlist. Finally, the right people were in place. Truth is, little did I know what I was getting myself into.

The central character of Lea Binzer’s film Pelican’s Watch (www.pelicanswatch.gr), Nikos Pelekanos, is one of the island’s awesome grape growers. Modest and factual, Nikos is also a thinker. His formidable self-taught knowledge is as refreshing as the Meltemi wind that blows through the Aegean in the summer. While shooting a forthcoming video on the two main Santoriniote pruning methods, I sensed Pelekanos’s zen-like rapport with this extraordinary vineyard. Ages when I last met with such a steward of the land. One of my early questions to him was how many grape varieties he can identify. “30 to 34”. Yet, as our long-planned walk unfolded, it turned out it was not that simple of an answer. At my invitation, leading grape specialist Kostas Bakassietas joined us. Donning a hat, water bottle in hand, I followed this meeting of minds. Initial contact between the two reminded me of the morning fog that engulfs these extreme vineyards. Eventually, contact was made, and several points of mutual interest emerged. Some highlights: Mavrotragano has such vigour, Bakassietas feels, that it is best suited to the poorer soils of Akrotiri, rather than premium sites, such as the slopes of Pyrgos and Megalochori. By the second day, my companions had identified 27 varieties and three mystery grapes. Name places Kontarades and Tourlos were logged, amongst others. Bakassietas took pictures of leaves and green grape clusters. My duties? Secretarial. Noting on a clipboard points dictated by Bakassietas – locations, plant differences, picture indexing. Apparently, I passed the audition. Eventually, I felt comfortable to join ‘‘their’’ world. I fired off to Pelekanos: In winter, with no leaves helping to identify a vine, how does he recognize what he is about to prune?

“The colour of the wood.” Long silence, as mutual appreciation between farmer and technician illuminated both faces. We walked from sunrise to sunset. Breaking for lunch, debriefing, planning. Gulls flew over our heads. Ferries came in and out of focus in the haze. Even jet streaks kept us company. Yet, neither of us would ever see this historic vineyard in the same manner again. I am still taking it all in.

Viticultural Environment describes the abiotic factors of a given site interacting with grapevine and affecting its growth and development. Man had long recognized the importance of the natural habitat in which the vine grows for the sensory attributes of the wine, and described it by the notion of ‘terroir’. Seguin (1988) defined terroir as an interactive ecosystem in a given place, including soil, climate and the vine. The concept of terroir has been so highly regarded among wine producers and connoisseurs that led to the establishment of a system of appellations of origin for the most prestigious wine-producing areas, responsible for the hierarchy in selling prices. In today’s market, “terroir’ wines are often distinguished as being closer to the vineyard conditions and grape cultivar and less affected by winery processing.

So, are all the great wines the result of a perfectly balanced terroir or is it possible to manage and control the environment in which grapes are produced according to our objectives?

First of all, let’s make clear that there is no such thing as a perfect terroir, that is, an ideal combination of climate and soil factors, leading to the production of premium wines. Great wines can be produced in a wide variety of soils, from deep and finely textured to shallow and poor, depending on the style of wine. This means that, contrary to existing beliefs, stony and sandy soils or limestone soils, to name a few examples, do not have the absolute privilege of being suitable for quality wines. The effect of soil on vine behavior and grape composition is complex and largely depends on the general climate of the area, as well as the cultivar itself, mainly its vigor and earliness. For instance, in a warm and arid climate of the Mediterranean zone, it is impossible to grow quality grapes on shallow soils, especially from early-ripening varieties such as Sauvignon blanc or Chardonnay. Under such conditions, the limited water and nitrogen supply will greatly reduce vine vigor and accelerate ripening, thus decreasing the aromatic expression in the wine. However, soils of limited depth and fertility are ideal when growing red varieties under cooler climatic conditions.

Another common belief is that only “cool climate” areas can produce wines of typicity and style, the warmer areas being just too hot for quality wines. This generalization was mostly the result of the widespread use of French varieties, originating from areas of mild climatic conditions, thus adapted to attain full ripeness under moderate heat loads. In fact, thermal needs are highly variable among grapevine cultivars and can lead to differences in harvest time (for the same site) of as much as 2 months. This implies that grapevine can be successfully grown in a wide variety of climatic conditions, providing that variety and regional climate are correctly matched (i.e. late ripening varieties for warmer areas and early ones for cooler areas).

So, where does the vine grower stand in this context and what is the contribution of vineyard management in determining wine attributes, as compared to the role of the environment? Moreover, is it possible to mediate wine quality using an agronomic approach, under suboptimal environmental conditions?

The answer is yes, but within certain limits and depending on the goals set by the winemaker. That means that, for the production of premium wines, the result of vineyard management techniques will be greater as long as climate and soil conditions are as close as possible to the favourable range of the variety.

This agronomic approach includes both permanent as well as seasonal practices. Among permanent choices a vine grower has to make to exploit the full potential of a given site, is the choice of planting density, row orientation and training system. For example, low (and not high) density, coupled to more elaborate training systems, is desirable on fertile soils to control vine vigor. Under hot climates, it is also better to abstain from the traditional north-south orientation to protect the grapes from direct sunlight exposure. Possible adaptation will also include the choice of rootstock which can greatly influence scion vigor and precocity. Seasonal techniques, often described under the term ‘canopy management’, mainly aim to control leaf and grape microclimate and restore vine balance to enhance berry ripening. For instance, leaf removal should be chosen depending on the variety and climate (less for Sauvignon in warm areas to prevent aroma loss, more for Cabernet in cool areas to increase colour and reduce methoxypyrazines etc.). In this context, irrigation is probably the most powerful tool for grape growers, as it affects many vine physiological parameters.

In sum, the “terroir” effect is more pronounced when grape variety is correctly chosen according to climate and soil factors. As we move away from these conditions, vineyard management techniques become more and more important in achieving the desirable results. Today’s advances in viticultural science and practice, have greatly contributed in increasing grape and wine quality, especially in areas where vine cultivation was recently introduced.

When Nico Manessis and I first talked about this article, I had it all laid out in my mind. I was to unite the two loves of my life, wine and fashion (my little lovie Urania is beyond compare), and talk about parallel lives, about fashion and wine as powerful partners in contemporary lifestyles and expressions of conspicuous consumption.

However, the economic crisis has since forced us to tighten our belts even more and I felt compelled to factor this into the equation. What are our ‘Responses to the Recession’? How do companies cope in the current economic crisis? Are tight-spending consumers now in charge or can companies still drive buying behaviour? Will the market polarise into a world of ultra-luxury products for the “haves” and super-inexpensive ones for the “have-nots”? How can we attempt to answer these questions, when entire economies collapse around us like dominoes?

Let’s begin by taking a brief look at the consumer and their buying behaviour to survive the crunch. An ING survey this year, which interviewed 11,000 people in nine countries, found that people have embraced a “cocooning” culture created by the financial crisis. We have become domestic hedonists, spending more time at home as the crisis bites.

Another study, conducted by psychologists at Cornell University, found that ‘experiences’ are more rewarding than ‘things’. According to the study, experiences are so effective at making us happy because we truly ‘own’ them. They become integrated into our characters and help shape our personalities. Andrea Pfeffer, Director at the Sales and PR agency Robinson Pfeffer, agrees: “The new luxury is about experience,” she suggests. “Ultimately, the shopper wants to feel personally connected to the brand.”

So one new trend is experience branding and experience retailing. Another one – actually linked to the previous one – is to buy things that are painstakingly hand-built instead of efficiently mass-produced. Architect and writer Steve Mouzon wrote near the beginning of this meltdown: “So I believe that the meltdown will begin to cause people to think long-term again, and to begin to value enduring things.”

In this vein, Tokyo-based designer Junya Tashiro describes his creations as “clothes that will mature,” aging like a fine wine, but also becoming more comfortable like an old sofa or favorite sweater. “The more you wear and wash your clothes, the more they become familiar to you, and the more you feel comfortable in them,” Tashiro explains. “If apparel has a nice feel to it to begin with, after 5 years, or 10 years, you will think ‘this is better now than when I bought it.’ I want to make apparel based on the idea that good clothing doesn’t get old, but matures.”

Choosing organic, believing in sustainable development, adopting a (frugal) green living stance and embracing the reduce/reuse/recycle motto is the way a lot of consumers (from various income groups) and companies alike have chosen to cope with the crisis.

Some companies choose to maintain a sense of exclusivity, by targeting specialised distribution channels; these are faring well under the current economic climate. Companies are also altering their public perception and developing a dialogue with customers through social media websites, such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Brands are now in a position where failure to nurture ‘genuine’ relationships with their customers may result in decreased sales, negative brand association and, ultimately, a failed enterprise. Trend analyst Dion Chang signaled the start of an “empathetic economy”, in which “value systems changed drastically” and companies, communities and families collaborated to survive. Whether we’re talking about wine, fashion or any other kind of business.

To end this brief foray into consumer behaviour and marketing strategies of the economic crisis, in relation to wine and fashion, on a pleasant note, I will introduce you to some ‘Evochia’. Evochia is the ancient Greek word for the mirth and conviviality present at a symposium. Evochia is also an organic food shop near my house, where I met Dimitris Theocharidis. The shop belongs to his family and, after he’d completed his B.A (Hons) at the London College of Fashion, I met him there, designing his clothes and selling wine and calendula baby creams.

Then Dimitris returned to London and teamed up with fellow graduate Jenny Holmes to create JENA.THEO. They then went on to win the highly coveted Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden 2009, chaired by Donatella Versace, with a “recession-proof” collection inspired by womens’ sexual revolution movements, from ancient Crete all the way through to the ‘60s.

What is their next collection going to be? “Maybe we can call it Times of Crisis”, they say. “We wish to celebrate the century that has just gone. We have looked at times of crisis through the 20th century from the French Resistance, the depression of the 30s through to the recession in the 90s.” We wish them all the best.

There are glowing reports, on Alsace and Bordeaux. In Greece, it was a difficult vintage. Technicians are still scratching their heads. With no doubt, this year has thrown up formidable challenges in vineyard management. There were fewer regional patterns of uniformity. Suddenly, the already fragmented vineyard has become one of baffling changes. During my month-long autumn tour, a common thread emerged: ‘Sudden (weather) changes.’ In many ways, a strange year, with unusual weather upheaval. More than in any previous year, there was a larger period of cloud cover, which helped the aromatic varieties. North-western Greece was mildew-ridden, eventually ending with rotten grapes. Yet, for some pockets, especially on islands specialising in white wines, straight-talking producers said ‘unusual but good’. Broadly speaking, the year championed the most diligent farmers. Greediness, in red grapes especially, was punished. Those risk-takers triumphed who waited long enough to get ripe pips and the pH’s in ‘windows’ where it made sense to pick.

Epirus & Macedonia

Heavy spring and unusual early-summer rains caught most growers in Amyndeon, Goumenissa, and Naoussa unprepared. Mildew was omnipresent. One farmer I visited was ‘praying’ for a mini heat wave. It never materialised. In hotter and usually dry Drama, it is the year of freshness, lacking the usual heat imprint. One of several pleasant surprises.

Sterea Ellada

The weeklong fires in north-eastern Athens suburbs were an ecological disaster. Adjacent vineyards were affected with smoke taint. Ironically, the vineyards not close to these ravaging fires benefited from the early September rains. By the time harvest begun around September 10, the old-vine Savatiano came up with good, if not great, wines. Even at a usefully low 12.3% ABV, they are brimming with typicity. Further north, in Boeotia and onto the nearby island of Evia, the imported grapes are quite good. There is bright fruit and all-around freshness. Syrah was a near star.

Peloponnesus

The northern shoreline and Patra was average and lower. The usually dependable high-altitude Roditis of Aigialia was not helped by the higher yields. Nemea had not faced such early rains since the 2002 wash-out. Storms broke out on September 6. The weather held for four days, and the heavens opened. The ugly face of politics, in the broader sense, appeared with a promise of subsidies. Some things never change. Therefore, only 2,000 tonnes of healthy grapes were harvested from the estimated 18,000 tonnes. Old bush vines, of which there are few, made little but decent wine. All high-yield vineyards are at best weak to poor. ‘Anaemic’ was one farmer’s succinct comment. Mantinia: The landlocked plateau right in the middle of the grape garden of Greece. Summer rains and cooler temperatures helped the blanc de gris Moschofilero maintain its aromatic profile and balance. For the most part there are good wines. The best-farmed sites excelled.

Ionian Islands

Cephalonia: The island which challenges Santorini for one-of-a-kind, bone-dry wine, is Cephalonian Robola. Winter and perfectly timed spring rainfall increased from an average (2002-2008) of annual participation of 600-800 ml. to 1,250 ml. For the time being, it appears that normality has returned. Southern-facing slopes retained moisture throughout summer. June showers affected the valley of Saint Gerassimos at 600 m. but not the southern-facing high slopes which reach up to 800 m. The vines looked healthy green with no external signs (yellowing leaf) of water stress. Grapes were harvested ten days later than in 2008. Ripening evenly, bringing out super fruit and, early on, their minerality. Acidities are amongst the highest ever. An unqualified success, with crisp, minerally wines that capture the limestone-dominated terroir.

Aegean Islands

Samos: The source of great fortified (and a little unfortified) dessert Muscat. Winter and early summer showers and the absence of heat-waves have propelled it amongst the top-performing island vineyards. Floral and zesty aromas. Vibrancy, in all styles. Santorini, which lies 35N, never ceases to amaze me. This far south and with the desiccating winds one does not usually mention malic acid. Yet, spring and summer was cool enough for 1.5 gr./l. of malic acid to be present at harvest time. As a veteran put it: ‘In twenty harvests I have never encountered malic acid’. Grape picking commenced the first week of August and then it turned… cold! Conscientious winemakers stopped. Nocturnal temperatures dropped, maturity inched at snail’s pace forward. Harvest recommenced August 16th. First impressions? Atypical Santorinis. A notch lower in alcohol levels, juxtaposed with terrific, new to me on this island, grapefruit-citrus aromas that carry through on the palate. Rhodes: The south-eastern Aegean island and the template for Athiri. In off vintages this island usually comes up top. Not this time. Mostly average. More complex with good body wherever the grapes matured in the earlier part of the harvest. As our friends in America say, ‘go figure’. Crete: The white wines from central Crete are exceptional, highlighting the floral spicy character of the Vilana grape. Wines of character and lift. The reds are a mixed bag: Only the best-managed vineyards produced great fruit. Wines have soft tannins. Heavy rains on September 11-12 created havoc on the latter-harvested reds.
Time may prove me wrong. I will stick my neck out on this. During my 16-year beat, the near- clockwork regular, variations on a theme, across-the-board quality of Greek harvests (with the odd washout as in 2002) has been confined to statistical records. Lack of rainfall, when needed, extended heat waves, higher nocturnal temperatures and, above all, ‘sudden changes’ have brought new issues and challenges to this eastern Mediterranean vineyard. My point? Vines have genes that have adapted to local conditions. With the climatic parameters now ‘stretched’, we have sailed into uncharted territory. So far, the only benefit from all of these weather vagaries is communication. The increased dialogue between farmers, agronomists, oenologists and nurseries is nothing short of fascinating. There is plenty to think about.

Irrigation is the most controllable vineyard management technique in determining grape and wine quality under semi-arid conditions

Traditionally grapevine was a nonirrigated crop covering extended areas in semi-arid regions. However, the current climate changes (significant rise in average growth season temperature and evapotranspiration) have increased drought impacts on vine productivity and grape quality. On the other hand, it is well known that, to produce wines according to the quality specifications of today’s wine market (especially red ones), grapevine varieties have to be grown under environmental stress that most commonly implies a limitation of water availability in certain stages of vine growth cycle. Extensive research and practical experience over the last two decades in vineyards worldwide have shown that moderate water deficit increases berry quality potential (via shoot growth cessation, reduction of berry size, steady ripening process and stimulation of phenolic and aroma compound synthesis) and winery net profits (despite reducing yields in most cases). Moreover, irrigation remains the single most controllable factor in determining grape and wine quality (especially in areas where summer rainfall is scarce) and, thus, is a key factor in vineyard management for achieving both high quality standards and substantial economies in water resources.

Recently, irrigation was introduced in Greece to minimize unfavourable impacts of excessive water stress and ensure the regular production of high quality grapes and wines. Moreover, proper irrigation has been proved to facilitate the expression of the distinctive characteristics of Greece’s numerous indigenous varieties, thus enhancing wine “typicity” which normally generates a higher selling potential (and which was until recently “buried” under the frequently oxidized flavour of average greek wines, mainly because of excessively stressful water conditions in the vineyard).

The irrigation strategy usually applied in order to reduce water supply during specific stages of vine growth has been termed regulated deficit irrigation (RDI). The principle of RDI is to apply a water deficit of variable intensity according to the objectives of grape production, i.e. white wines, light red wines to be drunk when young, long-ageing red wines etc. For example, for the production of aromatic white wines, only a light water restriction is desirable (especially in warm areas) to conserve grape varietal aromas. The same is also true for rose or fruity red wines. On the contrary, a more pronounced water deficit during green berry development (berry set to veraison) is necessary for premium-quality red wines in order to reduce berry size and yield, limit vegetative growth to create a more open canopy and impove grape microclimate and stimulate the accumulation of phenolic compounds which are essential for wine ageing.

However, due perhaps to the need for important investments in management equipment, the majority of vine-growers in Greece still decide irrigation application based on personal experience and habits, or, at best, according to seasonal weather conditions. Nevertheless, as water resources become limited and as wine quality is acknowledged as more important than yield in determining winery profits, the demand for accurate assessment of vine water status through the use of adapted indicators is becoming more often, especially in boutique wineries, oriented towards the production of high quality wines of distinctive character.

Among the various monitoring techniques used worldwide to define vine hydric condition, stem water potential has been proved to be the most reliable. The basic apparatus for the measurement of stem water potential is the so-called “pressure chamber (or pressure bomb)” which permits the placement of a leaf (formerly enclosed in opaque bags for at least one hour) in a sealed chamber leaving only the extremity of the petiole outside. Pressure is most commonly applied through the deliverance of inert gas (nitrogen) and the pressure necessary to extract the first drop of xylem sap from the leaf is recorded in a manometer, corresponding to the water potential of the stem bearing the leaf. The more negative the water potential, the greater the water deficit of the vine. Midday stem water potential values can thus be used as thresholds for irrigation management, depending on the variety and the desired wine style. Lowest (more negative) values are desirable for red varieties destined for the production of premium red wines while higher (close to zero) are better for aromatic white, rose/red wines.

Of course, research is continuing in scientific establishments to develop an easier and less time-consuming technique for water status assessment. However, the accuracy and reproducibility of this technique has not yet been surpassed. That’s why it remains an invaluable tool for vine growers and winemakers for irrigation management.

See Stephanos on Videos: Measuring water stress.

As a little girl growing up in Washington, D.C. it was always my dream to eventually move to Greece. Having vacationed in Crete religiously every summer I knew that one day I would end up on this mythical island where everything seemed heavenly. After graduating from Washington International School I set off for the other city I loved, New York, where I attended New York University.

There I studied Business Administration, Art and Hellenic Studies at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study.  It was at NYU that I was able to cultivate even more my fascination with Greece and, more specifically, with Crete. I tried tapping into my roots by becoming president of the Hellenic Heritage Association (a club for students of Greek origin on campus) and I started to learn about Modern Greek history and focused my studies on Modern Greek identity.  I spent my weekends at Greek clubs in Astoria, Queens and you could say I was as much in the Greek world of America as I could be at that point.

Shortly after graduating I put off my dream of moving to Greece and took a job in real estate marketing and sales. That is when reality hit. All of a sudden there weren’t enough hours in the day and stress was the adrenaline that kept me going; Greece was far from my mind. According to American culture, I was exactly where I should have been. I had a great job with a salary that I hadn’t even dreamed of at 21 years old.  My job was defined by long hours and high levels of stress with the not so infrequent phone calls from developers cursing and wondering why a deal hadn’t gone through.

Summer came around and I was determined to go to Greece. I had five working days vacation time so I took a ten day trip to Crete-my shortest ever. Although many of you reading this may think that ten days is plenty of time, I was used to at least a month on the island that was my second home. I left Crete that summer with the usual feeling of emptiness but this time that feeling was just too consuming. I started thinking about how my life would end up. If I stayed at my job I potentially could have had everything set (the economic crisis hadn’t set on at this point). I’d have a great job in one of the best cities in the world where I would be living the over glorified “Sex and the City” lifestyle. But then what? This question plagued me. Was this it? What about my plans to try out life in Greece? I examined the people around me and focused on their preoccupation with material things and started to become worried that this superficial life would get the best of me. I had to get out of there. I had to live out my dreams before it was too late. But what would I do in Greece?

Now is the time for me to tell you that in 1993, my father established the Manousakis Winery here in Crete. But all I knew about wine was how to drink it in hefty quantities…

As I was struggling with my decision to move to Greece my dad had been planning to build a new winery in Crete. We spoke about the possibilities and he suggested for me to head the building of the new winery in order to get a taste of what construction is like in Greece (because as hard as it might be in the States, he said, it will be 10 times harder in Greece). So the plan was that after the completion of the new winery, we would explore real estate opportunities.

So after 6 years of living in New York I packed up my bags in August of 2007 and left the city that never sleeps and arrived to the city that has a daily 3 hour siesta.

This is when I got my second dose of reality… It is important to keep in mind that for me Greece, and especially Crete, was number one. It was paradise. I couldn’t imagine that anything could go wrong in this land of perfection.

I started working as of September 1^st. At that time my family was still visiting from the States and my job basically consisted of going to meetings with my dad and trying to get familiar with the different people, the wines, the lifestyle etc. A few weeks later the time came for my dad to leave and all of a sudden my schedule was pretty empty. Still being a New Yorker at heart, I had no idea what to do… the anxiety of not having stress was overwhelming. The laid back attitude on the island started to suffocate me. I would go run errands (the few I had at that point) and the shop owner would invite me to sit down and have a cup of coffee… “COFFEE?? In the middle of the day? How can I possibly relax with a cup of coffee during business hours?” These thoughts occurred daily for me. It took me quite some time to realize that I didn’t need to go at warp speed in order to get things done here.

Each day brought along a new problem. I was trying to get adjusted on many different levels; I had to learn to do business in Greek.  Not only that, but I had to learn the “Greek way” of doing business in Greek.  I also had to sort my personal life out. From getting my national ID card to paying my first month’s rent, I was moving blindly and was perpetually confused.

Coming from a city where every transaction is done online and all information about documentation needed for certain services can be found simply by clicking “submit” made me feel completely lost my first few months here. I would call friends to ask them where the bank was, or where the tax office was or where I had to go to pay my phone bills. I would call to be reminded of the word I needed to say when I got to the customs office in order to send an order of wines to Cyprus. It was madness. I had never felt so out of my element in all my life. The shock hit me hard because I thought everything would be easy. I made the assumption that things would flow just as smoothly as they did for me in New York. Boy was I wrong.

As the months rolled by, I slowly started to understand what to expect in different situations and that allowed me to focus on the winery. I deal with the business aspect of the winery; the marketing, the PR, the accounting etc. Being that I had never studied anything about wine I was once again, a fish out of water. I started reading articles on the wine world and meeting people with a great deal of knowledge of the industry and all of a sudden 1+1 started to equal 2 again. The world of wine is so rich and complex that I can say I have never been bored. The lifestyle that managing a winery offers is one that the New York me could only dream of for about 1.5 seconds a day.

The brand name of our wines is “Nostos”. This seems rather fitting in this story because the word nostos means “returning home” in ancient Greek and is the root word of nostalgia. My decision to come to Greece has been in its own way my return home, or at the very least my return to my roots.

After nearly two years of living in Chania I can say that the shock of having to wait 6 months to get internet has worn off and that all of the amazing things that this island has to offer in terms of quality of living outweigh the hassles that you need to overcome in order to get the ball rolling.

Most first generation Greek-Americans dream of moving to the Greece that their parents left. Most come thinking exactly as I did- Greece is heaven. A lot of them leave after having dealt with similar aggravations as the ones I mentioned above. But for everyone who is considering taking the leap I would say go for it. One quote that has stuck with me is something that one of my coworkers said to me just before I left New York: “Sometimes you need to change things up, give yourself a bit of a scare to feel alive.”

Mike Jones is the assistant winemaker at Gentilini. In this report he shares insight from his unique experience in working on two very different island vineyards. NM

All is not well with the wineries of New Zealand. Too much commercial wine has been produced and they have reached a saturation point. The vinegrowers and big wineries have been too greedy with their yield over the past 20 years which has resulted in cheap wine for the masses which has been good for the wine trade. But is that what the market needs right now?

Upon arrival to the East Cape this year, the Gisborne Herald headlined a story that would upset any wine producer. ‘Grapegrowing Glut’ by Debbie Gregory (18^th Feb ’09 http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/) explained that Constellation were to blame for leaving what I found out to be a conservative estimate of 650 Tonne of varieties used to blend with Sauvignon Blanc, on the vine. These normally early ripeners meant that the season was put back 2 to 3 weeks which meant that most overseas workers were left to find other work for that space of time. I was one of those workers and so found a job pinning nets in the vineyards of Gisborne. This gave me a good opportunity to nose around and have a good look and compare with the vineyards of Kefalonia.

When I first came to Kefalonia in 2004, I was shown around the vineyards of the Omala Valley on behalf of Gentilini Winery as part of my Work Experience module for Plumpton College. These Robola vineyards are small, family run affairs taken on as part of the daily life on Kefalonia which, in turn, adds to the grand total of the annual income when the yield is sold to local wineries. Small, vibrant plots which oozed personality according to the character that managed them.

One particular vineyard that sticks in my memory from that first year is at 800 metres above sea level and is managed by 83 year old (back then) Mr Tsassis. With the thought of visiting some vineyards on some steep slopes, I had come prepared with my brand new heavy duty Caterpillar boots, which did not fair well on the awkward schist slopes of Mount Ainos with its absolutely stunning views. However, to watch Mr Tsassis almost gambol around in his boat shoes like he was 30 years old was a breath of fresh air. Ever since that year, his fruit has always been in tip top condition with yields you would expect for quality winemaking.

With those thoughts of Kefalonian terroir in my head, I headed off to work in the vineyards of Gisborne with my cold drink and sandwich box to keep me company. On the way, I noticed that the scale of thing was very different to the grape growing style of Greek life. No bush vines but long, neatly trellised rows which had been mechanically serviced in paddocks the size of Argostoli.

Upon arrival at a vineyard run by a local Maori trust close to the Ormond growing area of Gisborne I couldn’t help noticing that the vines were heavily laden with a pink variety. Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris I thought. A quick taste told me the latter was the case and at around 14/15 brix it was about a month or 2 away from harvest. Pinot Gris had been heavily planted in the area around 4 to 5 years ago so I guessed this was the 2^nd year of fruit for these vines. A bit of research with one of the local workers confirmed this. ‘Far too many grapes on the vine’ I said. ‘Yes’ the local worker replied. ‘My boss wants me to take 3 bunches off each vine’. Wow, I thought. Only 3 bunches…… 3 kilos more like. I would have chopped 2 thirds off to keep the yields within line of producing any quality.

Now Pinot Gris, or Pinot Grigio if you are in Italy is a variety that has done the wine industry a lot of favours in the past. In its Italian incarnation, it has introduced many people to the delights of drinking white wine. Bars and pubs around Europe and the UK stock it as a reasonably cheap, quaffable alternative. For the more discernable drinker, Alsatian Pinot Gris has to be one of the most complex versions due to the uniqueness of the Vosges Mountains where, together with centuries of winemaking skills bring a more austere style. However, Pinot Gris has just found the Gisborne sun. Real fruit driven styles from wineries that keep their yields to a minimum are appearing from the smaller players. Careful vinification and oaking are making this a unique style and I think the big players should take note!

To conclude, New Zealand has the resources and know how to take wine making to another level. What it lacks is any appellation laws to achieve this. Laws should be written up and governed by a committee of vinegrowers, big and small. The big players should be punished for flouting these rules and encouragement and incentive should be given to all who abide by them.

It might at first seem outrageously oblique, but as I was re-reading recently Sun Tzu’s unsurpassed treaty The Art of War, I was struck by the lessons that could be drawn from the text and applied to the marketing of wine. And Greek wine comes to mind, having just returned from my fifth annual voyage to the cradle of the wine world. The purpose of the trip, in addition to judging at the 9^th annual international wine competition in Thessaloniki, was to participate in a “branding strategy session” to help shape the future promotional strategy for the wines of Greece. Along with a group of international, non-Greek ‘experts’ from the US, UK, Brazil and Russia in the fields of wine journalism and importation/distribution, I had been invited by PRC, a marketing/PR company hired by the Wines of Greece to come up with a promotional strategy for Greek wines. We were to take part in a tasting of potential ‘ambassador’ wines and weigh in with our outsider’s views on Greek wine grapes, wine styles, labeling and other promotional advantages and disadvantages of Greek wines in an international context.

On day one, we sat down to blind taste our way through about 70 wines divided into five flights: 4 flights of single-variety wines, two white and two red, and one flight of mixed sweet wines. The particular grapes, Moschofilero and Assyrtiko for whites and Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro for reds were pre-selected based on 11 different criteria, such as the number of producers and production levels of each. It obviously makes no sense to spearhead a promotional campaign using a grape grown by 1 or 2 producers in small quantities, no matter how interesting. The actual ‘quality’ of the wine produced from each grape was, interestingly enough, not one of the selection criteria – PRC has no resident wine experts – that was our job. Sweet wines were naturally included, given Greece’s ancient history of sweet wine production.

After each flight we were asked place each of the grapes and their resultant wine styles in an international context, comparing them with other similar grapes from around the world, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, comparable price categories, and ultimately whether we believed it was a suitable variety on which to pin the vinous ambitions of Hellas. It was a challenging and demanding intellectual exercise. But that was not all, of course. Later that afternoon we were asked to verbally share our views with an intimate panel of industry stakeholders and senior executives from PRC. Each of the panelists provided his views on each of the flights and their relative potential to be an ‘ambassador’ grape. And this, too, was merely a warm up for the big symposium to come on day two, where we had the opportunity to share our views to a gathering of about 150 winemakers and winery owners from across the country.

So how would the legendary Sun Tzu have looked upon the prospects of Greek wine, speaking to us from remote history over 25 centuries ago, and would he have anything useful to say? Let’s have a look.

Sun Tzu says: “Generally, he who occupies the field of battle first and awaits his enemy is at ease; he who comes later to the scene and rushes into the fight is weary.”

John Szabo comments: Well, despite several thousand years’ head start in the wine making department, and even having taught the art to many of the countries that have now become the competition, Greece is definitely late on the scene. There is no remedy for that. The market is already fiercely competitive, and just about every serious exporting country is better, or at least is somewhat organized. Other fringe countries like Portugal or even Austria (a model of organization if there ever was one) are more established in the consumers’ mind this side of the Atlantic then Greece.

ST: “He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious”.

JS: Still profoundly true after 2500 years. While the purpose, that is, to sell wine abroad, is certainly common, I am not so sure about the ‘united ranks’ in the Greek wine industry. It is a challenge anywhere in the world to get a group of business people, operating independently, to come together to create a common strategy when ultimately they are in perceived competition with one another. The international wine market, although growing, is still finite and there is only so much market share for obscure wines. The Greeks, notorious free-thinkers and self-styled anarchists, are also very strongly tied to their regional origins. It is micro-chauvinism at its finest. What hails from where you hail is best. There is nothing inherently wrong in this belief, especially in the world of wine where origin is the one unassailable point of difference and potential competitive advantage. But at this point in the development of exports, it should be the underlying theme, not the overarching one.

Chang Yü, ancient commentator on Sun Tzu’s text, says: “Benevolence and righteousness may be used to govern a state but cannot be used to administer an army”.

JS: This could indeed spark a revolution, to suggest that the country that gave democracy to the world should abandon democratic process when it comes to marketing their wines. For an army to be successful in battle, there must be only one general, one chief commander who has the benefit of the full picture, who has designed the ultimate strategy for victory. It is impossible for each rank and file soldier to have a voice; this would lead to confusion and chaos. Greece, like everyone else, needs an independent body such as PRC to come up with a marketing strategy (which they have indeed done), which will ultimately serve the needs of everyone. After Alexander Kouros’ SWOT analysis of the industry at the Thessaloniki symposium, the commentary from the crowd, raising points that were often parochial or even irrelevant, made clear the need to establish one, non-democratic, driving force.

ST: “Anciently the skillful warriors first made themselves invincible and awaited the enemy’s moment of vulnerability”

JS: Here, Greece fares quite well. The dramatic development of the wine industry over the last couple of decades and the impressive rise in overall quality puts Greece in a strong position. No point going out to conquer the world with average quality wines; Greece cannot even compete in the bulk or sub-premium segment – cost of production is simply too high. Chile, South Africa, Argentina… you name it – all can produce better quality wines at the bottom end. Greece’s invincibility lies with the handful of indigenous varieties that have been understood and reworked, some even flirting with perfection. But not all, mind you. There is still tremendous work to do in the vineyards, identifying and propagating the right, virus-free clones, matching rootstocks with soils and regions and cultivars, and then learning how best to vinify the resulting fruit. The ambassador grapes identified by PRC, are, in my view good ones with which to start the campaign. They are distinctive and original and well established, they are produced in sufficient quantity to have an impact internationally and they offer more than a glimpse of the quality and potential of all Greek wines.

And finally, Sun Tzu’s most oft-quoted words: “Therefore I say: “Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.”

JS: I believe Greece is in peril. With some notable exceptions, my observation is that many Greeks are neither familiar with the wines available internationally nor even with some of the best wines made in their own country. Europeans in general are noted for being rather insular – just ask a sommelier from Burgundy about his/her favorite wines from Bordeaux or vice-versa, for a bemused raised eyebrow. The Italians call it ‘campanilismo’, where everyone rallies around their own campanile, or Church bell tower that is found in every village (why do you think that there is no single national body for the promotion of Italian wine). Campanilismo is alive and well in Greece, and it discourages winemakers from knowing and understanding what is happening in the rest of the world – a key success factor in any marketing campaign.

Overall, the Greek wine industry faces some serious challenges on the international market that must be addressed before the time comes to roll out their promotional campaign in earnest. Though I think Sun Tzu would agree: the battle is not lost. Greece possesses a wealth of high quality indigenous grape varieties, some of Europe’s best-equipped and most modern wineries, a critical mass of talented winemakers who have made the effort to go and study abroad and familiarize themselves with the competition, a range of climates and soils that in turn offer an impressive palette of stylistic possibilities, a proud tradition that is slowly but surely being revived, and a landscape of breathtaking beauty and positive associations in the minds of travelers. It won’t be easy, and immediate personal gain must be put on hold for the whole of the industry to be able succeed together, which will eventually lead back to personal gain. I, for one, look forward to following the story.

by John Szabo, MS