| Agiorgitiko | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
 | |
| Color of berry skin | Noir |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Aghiorghitiko, Mavro Nemeas, St. George, and other synonyms |
| Origin | Nemea |
| Notable regions | Greece |
| VIVC number | 102 |
Agiorgitiko (Greek: Αγιωργίτικο; also known as Aghiorghitiko) is a red Greek wine grape variety that, as of 2012, was the most widely planted red grape variety in Greece, ahead of Xynomavro. The grape has traditionally been grown in the Nemea region of the Peloponnese but can be found throughout the country including Attikí (Attica) and Makedonía (Macedonia).[1]
One of the more commercially important indigenous Greek varieties, it can exhibit a wide range of characteristics, from soft to very tannic, depending on factors in the growing and winemaking processes.[2] The grape is typically made as a varietal, though it is notably blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in the area around Metsovo to make the table wine traditionally called katoi. In the region of Nemea it is often made into rosés of oak-aged red wines. The wines are known for their high level of fruitiness but tend to lack some acidity and body.[3]
The red wine produced from the grape is characteristically spicy with notes of plum. It has low acidity but good fruitiness and coloring.[4]
Agiorgitiko is generally planted in dry, infertile soil to encourage the production of fewer but more concentrated grapes, ripening after mid-September.[2]
- ^ J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours pgs 10-11 Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
- ^ a b Konstantinos Lazarakis (2005). The Wines of Greece. Sterling Publishing Company. pp. 69–70. ISBN 1-84000-897-0.
- ^ J. Robinson, ed. (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 7. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
- ^ Oz Clarke (2001). Encyclopedia of Grapes. Harcourt Books. p. 34. ISBN 0-15-100714-4.