Λευκάδα (Lefkada)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• A mountainous island: 72.6% of the terrain is mountainous, with lowland areas concentrated around Lefkada town and Vassiliki.
• The dominant bedrock is limestone, giving rise to rocky slopes, plateaus, and rocky outcrops.
• Mediterranean climate: abundant winter rainfall, mild winters, long sunshine hours, and an almost rainless summer.
• Summer north-westerly winds (Maestros) intensify from mid-July to mid-September; south-easterlies prevail in winter.

• The Vertzami variety was introduced to Lefkada during Venetian rule (14th–17th centuries) and is of Italian origin.
• From the last three decades of the 19th century, Vertzami wine was exported to France for the purpose of colouring French wines.

• The deep red colour of Vertzami made it highly sought after in France as an ideal natural colourant for local products.
• The organoleptic profile of ΠΓΕ Lefkada wines is shaped by soil, climate, and summer winds in combination with grape varieties and viticultural practices.

• The uniqueness of ΠΓΕ Lefkada wines is attributed to the interplay of soil, climate, and winds with the grape varieties and viticultural techniques employed.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• National product specification (PDF) — ypaat
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PGI-GR-A0866
• Official trade body site — Wines of Greece (EDOAO)