Ζίτσα (Zitsa)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Debina variety is grown at altitudes of 500–700 metres in shallow calcareous soils, with a microclimate influenced by marine breezes that reach the area through the passes of the Kalamas river.
• The potassium-rich soils of the region confer disease resistance while at the same time ensuring good ripening of the grapes.
• The vineyards are south-facing, sheltered from summer humidity and from cold air currents during winter.
• The climate of Epirus is characterised as Mediterranean, with cool summers and average temperatures of 23 to 26 degrees Celsius, while winters are mild to cold, with temperatures reaching as low as -10 degrees Celsius during peak cold periods.
• Mean annual rainfall ranges from approximately 1,100 to 1,400 millimetres, distributed in a pattern typical of Mediterranean climates, with precipitation concentrated between October and April.

• Historical evidence indicates that the Debina variety has been cultivated continuously in the region of Epirus since the 7th century, a fact that highlights the long viticultural tradition of Zitsa.
• Traditionally, sparkling wines were produced across the broader Zitsa area because fermentation of the must was interrupted during winter by the cold and completed in two phases, with the vessels sealed so that carbon dioxide was retained.
• Almost all vineyards in the Zitsa PDO zone are fenced, as wild boar and other members of the local fauna are attracted to the Debina grape.

• The Debina berry is medium-sized and spherical, with a yellow-green colour and soft flesh, and a flavour ranging from sweet to lightly tart.
• The aromatic character of the wines recalls perfectly fresh green apple, alongside aromas of brioche and biscuit that enrich and sweeten the variety's primary aroma.

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-A1532
• Official trade body site — ΕΔΟΑΟ — Εθνική Διεπαγγελματική Οργάνωση Αμπέλου & Οίνου