This is the first of a series of videos showing you 100 different grape varieties from Greece.
Fact File Kydonitsa
Area grown: Lakonia, Peleponnese
History: Kydonitsa was widely grown in ancient and Byzantime times. From 1460 until 1828, this part of Greece was ruled by the Turks, under Ottoman rule alcohol consumption came to a sudden halt. Kydonitsa was recently discovered in old vineyards and cultivated systematically by local viticulturists. The results of this work are now beginning to show.
Grapes: White, grow in relatively loose elongated bunches. They are medium-sized and turn golden yellow when ripe, harvest takes place around mid September. The must is usually fermented at a low temperature of 15 degrees Celcius.
Nose/bouquet: Quince, pear, lemon
Image from www.thegreektravel.com
Marcus,
I love the idea of doing 100 Greek varieties. Keep it up.
A suggestion: for white wine, have a piece of white paper with you so you can hold it behind the glass and we can see its color. Your yellow shirt was all we could see behind the wine.
Can you say the alcohol and dryness of this Kydonitsa?
Email me privately, too. I know an importer in the U.S. that you probably should meet.
Thomas,
thanks for your suggestions, you are correct, a white piece of paper should do the trick. The alcohol level of the Kydonitsa I tasted is 12.5%.