Wine Quiz

1. What does 'vintage' mean on a wine label?

1. The quality classification of the wine
2. The region where the wine was made
3. The wine is very old and expensive
4. The year the grapes were harvested

2. What grape variety is Burgundy's Côte de Nuits primarily known for producing?

1. Chardonnay
2. Gamay
3. Pinot Gris
4. Pinot Noir

3. What is the difference between 'Old World' and 'New World' wines?

1. Old World refers to European wine regions with long traditions; New World refers to wine regions outside Europe (Americas, Australia, South Africa, etc.)
2. Old World uses oak barrels; New World uses stainless steel
3. Old World wines are more expensive; New World are cheaper
4. Old World wines are sweeter; New World wines are drier

4. What is a 'tannin' in wine and which type of wine has more of it?

1. A flavour compound from oak barrels — only in wines aged in new oak
2. A naturally occurring acid that preserves wine — equal in red and white
3. A polyphenolic compound creating a drying sensation — more in red wine from grape skins
4. A type of sugar that makes wine sweet — more in white wine

5. Malbec is Argentina's signature grape. Where did it originally come from?

1. France (Cahors region)
2. Italy
3. Portugal
4. Spain

6. What does 'Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée' (AOC) mean in French wine?

1. A legal guarantee that the wine was produced in a specific region following defined rules of grape varieties, yields, and methods
2. The wine contains no artificial additives
3. The wine is aged a minimum of 10 years
4. The wine is produced organically

7. What is the primary grape of Champagne alongside Pinot Meunier?

1. Aligoté and Chardonnay
2. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
3. Pinot Blanc and Riesling
4. Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay

8. What is 'malolactic fermentation' (MLF) in winemaking?

1. A method of concentrating wine by freezing out water
2. A second fermentation that converts tart malic acid to softer lactic acid, reducing acidity
3. Fermenting wine in clay amphorae underground
4. The process of adding yeast for the primary fermentation

9. Barolo is made from which grape variety and is known as the 'King of Wines'?

1. Barbera
2. Dolcetto
3. Nebbiolo
4. Sangiovese

10. What is a 'sommelier' and what is their role in a restaurant?

1. A certified wine professional responsible for wine service, cellar management, and food-wine pairing in a restaurant
2. A waiter who specialises in desserts
3. A wine producer who sells directly to restaurants
4. The chef responsible for cooking with wine

11. What is the difference between Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley (France) and New Zealand?

1. Loire Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé) tends to be more mineral and restrained; NZ (Marlborough) is more intensely aromatic with tropical fruit and 'cat's pee' character
2. Loire Sauvignon Blanc is always aged in oak; NZ is not
3. NZ Sauvignon Blanc is sweeter
4. They are identical

12. Riesling is a grape capable of producing wines from very dry to very sweet. Which country is considered its homeland?

1. Austria
2. France (Alsace)
3. Germany
4. Luxembourg

13. What does 'reserve' or 'Reserva' mean on a wine label?

1. It is meaningless in most countries — only legally defined in Spain and Italy
2. The wine has been stored in the winery's own reserve cellars
3. The wine is from a single vineyard
4. The wine is made from reserved (best) barrels, always with legal minimum ageing requirements in Spain/Italy

14. What is the most planted wine grape variety in the world?

1. Airén
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
3. Chardonnay
4. Merlot

15. The 'Judgment of Paris' (1976) was a significant wine tasting event. What happened?

1. France and California agreed a wine trade deal
2. French wine producers agreed on a universal quality classification
3. In a blind tasting judged by French experts, California wines beat French wines — shocking the wine world
4. The first official wine auction was held at the Louvre

16. What is 'Amarone della Valpolicella' and how is it made?

1. A fortified wine from Verona aged 20 years
2. A powerful dry red wine from Veneto made from grapes dried for months (appassimento) to concentrate sugars and flavours
3. A sweet sparkling red wine from Sicily
4. A Venetian rosé made from partially fermented grapes

17. What is the purpose of decanting wine?

1. To add carbonation to still wine
2. To cool red wine quickly before serving
3. To remove alcohol from wine
4. To separate wine from sediment and expose it to air to open up aromas and soften tannins

18. Sauternes, one of the world's great sweet wines, gets its sweetness from which unusual process?

1. Adding concentrated grape juice
2. Adding sugar before fermentation
3. Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) — a fungus that concentrates sugars in the grapes on the vine
4. Stopping fermentation early to leave residual sugar

19. What is 'terroir' and why do winemakers and wine lovers consider it so important?

1. The cellar conditions during ageing
2. The combination of grape variety and vintage year
3. The complete natural environment (soil, climate, aspect, microorganisms) of a vineyard that gives wine its unique character
4. The winemaker's technique — how they make the wine

20. Château Pétrus is one of the world's most expensive wines. It is in which Bordeaux appellation and primarily made from which grape?

1. Pauillac, Cabernet Sauvignon
2. Pomerol, Merlot
3. Saint-Émilion, Cabernet Franc
4. Saint-Estèphe, Merlot