Agiorgitiko Nemea P.D.O.
Nemea in Peloponnese peninsula is the largest red P.D.O. appellation of Greece, home of the Agiorgitiko grape.
Nemea‘s key points
Climate: Relatively cold and humid winters with low temperatures that rarely drop below the freezing point. Summers are warm, without excessively high temperatures and with few showers during June. Typically, a long Indian summer follows summers. Warm September days with significantly colder nights and relatively dry conditions synthesize an ideal weather pattern for a good maturation. The total rain precipitations (600-700mm annually) occurs mainly (80%) between October and March.
Soil: It consists of a shallow (70-80cm) clay layer that lies upon the lime mother soil. This type of clay – called marls – unlike others can retain humidity and release it to the vines ones needed, thus helping in naturally monitoring water stress.
The vineyard starts at about 250m altitude and stretches up to 850m. There is a large variation of environmental conditions inside the P.D.O. area. Hillsides on calcareous soils and stony soils on foot slopes are considered the best for long-ageing wines.
Agiorgitiko’s key points
– Grown almost exclusively in Nemea, in northeast Peloponnesus. Nemea P.D.O. zone covers 3.000ha.
– Moderately vigorous and productive vine. It matures in mid to late September, depending on the site and the yield.
– The wines have deep red color and aromatic descriptors of red-fruit (ripe strawberries, black-current) and butterscotch when young. Older wines from the best plots have aromas of confected or dried fruit (fig, raisins, plums). Tannins are remarkably soft and evolve in time very slowly.