Limnio

Limnio (Greek Λημνιό, also Kalambaki, Limniotico, Ntouro - kara ) is an indigenous red grape variety, which probably comes from the island of Lemnos, but today mainly in northern Greece ( Halkidiki, Kavala, Drama ) is grown. It is a very old variety that already by Hesiod (about 700 BC ) and Aristotle (384-322 BC) as " Lemnia " or " Limnia " was mentioned.

Early 1990s was the area under vines 371 acres, but decreased sequentially to 122 hectares in 1999. During the variety was largely obsolete by the Muscat d' Alexandrie on Lemnos, she continues to play in the wine region Rapsani in the Thessaly region a major role. The vine provides a rustic, full-bodied wine with strong acidity and spicy flavors stresses, which are reminiscent of sage and bay leaves, and medium tannins. Varietal expanded the alcohol-rich red wine takes a long storage time. In Greece, modern wineries use the grape in the blend with the internationally renowned Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc.

Ampelographic varietal characteristics

In the ampelography the habit is described as follows:

• The shoot tip is open. It is spinnwebig hairy and reddish color. The red, blistered young leaves are only spinnwebig hairy and slightly glossy.
• The medium-sized leaves are five-lobed and sinuate moderately deep. The petiole is lyres - shaped open. The sheet is cut sharply. The teeth are set moderately dilated in comparison to other varieties.
• The drum-shaped bunch is medium and dichtbeerig. The roundish berries are medium in size and of a blue - black color.

Synonyms

The grape Limnio is also known by the name Kalabaki, Kalambaki, Kalampaki, Lembiotiko, Lemnia, Lemnio, Lemniotico, Limniona, Limniotico, Mavro Limnio, Ntourou - kara - kara and Ntoyrou.