Λήμνος (Limnos)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The mean monthly sunshine duration on Limnos is high, at 227.8 hours, a fact that facilitates the complete ripening of the vines.
• Annual rainfall is relatively low, at 474 mm per year; however, the light summer rains combined with high relative humidity (71%) provide the vine with the water it requires.
• The mean maximum temperature during July and August is 29°C and 28.2°C respectively, without giving rise to extreme heat-stress conditions.
• The soils are mostly volcanic, fine-grained, and deep, allowing the root system to penetrate to considerable depth so that the vine can achieve water autonomy.
• Viticulture on Limnos extends from sea level to approximately 300 metres altitude, on soils that are slightly acidic and rich in potassium.

• In a survey conducted in 1947, 7,000 stremma were planted with Limnio and 5,000 stremma with Muscat of Alexandria, whereas today there are 7,000 stremma of Muscat and approximately 400 stremma of Limnio.
• The production of liqueur wines on Limnos began in the early 1930s, when local merchants prepared what was known as mistelle by adding grape spirit to grape juice on behalf of mainland Greek companies.

• The high potassium content of the soils of Limnos contributes to better ripening of the grapes and to an increase in their sugar content, resulting in the production of quality sweet wines.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Greece

Sources

• National product specification (PDF) — ypaat
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-GR-A1614
• Official trade body site — Agricultural Cooperative of Limnos (Limnos Wines)