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1. Which of the following California chardonnay producers took part in the famous 1976 “Paris Tasting” that brought California wines to the forefront of the wine world’s attention?

   1. Chateau Montelena
   2. Grgich Hills
   3. Robert Mondavi Winery
   4. Stony Hill Vineyard

   ANSWER: A. The 1973 Chateau Montelena made its way into the history books by beating out many of the great white Burgundies of France. Prior to this historical tasting event, the world’s greatest wines were thought to come from France, and American wines were scorned and dismissed as amateur productions.

   The complete list of California wineries chosen for the 1976 chardonnay tasting was: Chateau Montelena, Chalone Vineyard, Spring Mountain, Freemark Abbey, Veedercrest and David Bruce.

   Check out the movie Bottle Shock for a great Hollywood rendition of the “Paris Tasting” and to learn more about the art of viticulture in California!

2. Many of the finest vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina, are covered with mesh netting as protection against one of the following:

   1. Wild turkeys
   2. Dust
   3. Owls
   4. Hail

   ANSWER: D. Mendoza is the most hail-prone wine region in the world. Hail destroys vine leaves and sometimes the grapes themselves.

3. Which other wine region is at the same latitude as Ontario, Canada?

   1. Normandy
   2. Tokaj-Hegyalja
   3. Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
   4. Tuscany

   ANSWER: D. Tuscany is at the same latitude as the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario’s best-known wine region. The Niagara Peninsula accounts for almost 75 percent of the wines grown in Canada, and its temperate climate allows the region to produce complex and intense flavors.

   Other wine regions of Ontario share the same latitude as the Bordeaux regions of France and the Northern wine regions of California.

4. Which grape variety would not be used to make a Meritage wine?

   1. Chardonnay
   2. Cabernet sauvignon
   3. Sauvignon blanc
   4. Merlot

   ANSWER: A. To easily label and sell blended wines in 1980, a group of California wineries created and trademarked the term Meritage. Meritage—rhymes with heritage—wines refer to California blends made from a mixture of Bordeaux-grown varietals. This trademarked term for blended wines was necessary, due to a federal law requiring any wine carrying a varietal on its label to be composed of 75 percent of that varietal. Despite being blends, Meritage wines have strict requirements: a white Meritage must be based on a blend of sauvignon blanc and semillion; a red Meritage, on a combination of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and/or petit verdot.

5. What is found in higher quantities in red wines and helps with UV protection?

   1. Lipids
   2. Tannins
   3. Phosphates
   4. Clorophyll

   ANSWER: B. Tannins are bitter chemical substances common in most plants, which are found in grape skins. The destruction of tannins influences the ripening and sweetening of grapes for wine. Therefore riper grapes tend to produce sweeter wines with fewer tannins. Due to the fermentation process, and the amount of time the wine is in contact with grape skins, red wines tend to have a higher density of tannins than white wines. Tannins, which also serve as UV protectors, are also responsible for the dry feeling in your mouth after drinking red wine.

6. What is the name of the study of vine-growing and grape harvesting for winemaking?

   1. Oenology
   2. Viticulture
   3. Sommelierism
   4. Négociant

   ANSWER: B. Viticulture, named after the Latin word for vine, describes the science of producing, studying grapes and harvesting grapes. Oenology, a similar term, covers all aspects of wine making except for vine-growing and grape harvesting.

7. What are the origins of Port wine?

   1. Douro Valley, Portugal
   2. Port-au-Prince, Haiti
   3. Portland, Oregon
   4. Port of Cagliari, Italy

   ANSWER: A. Port wine, formally known as Vinho do Porto or Porto is a typically sweet dessert wine that originated in the Douro Valley of Portugal. Many countries around the world produce wine in the style of port, including: Australia, South Africa, Canada, India and the U.S. In the U.S. many of these countries can sell their wines under the name “port.” However, European Union guidelines only allow wines made in Portugal to be sold by the name of “Port.”

8. What is saperavi?

   1. a leading grape in the Republic of Georgia
   2. an Italian method of extracting flavor compounds, tannins and coloring agents from grape skins to increase the wine’s body
   3. a colloquial Chilean term for an excellent wine with powerful flavor
   4. the process of fusing a new bud with the highly developed roots of another grape vine

   ANSWER: A. The Alazani valley of Georgia on the edge of the Caucasus Mountains lays claim to being “the cradle of wine.” Archaeological evidence suggests that wine has been made here for more than seven millennia. The valley’s specialty is saperavi, a dark-skinned red grape variety that is still fermented in large subterranean clay pots called kvevri.

   The saperavi grape is known for the deep red wines it produces, and has the potential to produce wines with high alcohol levels. Saperavi also responds well to extensive aging and can be laid down for close to fifty years!

   While Georgian wines are not easily available in the US, the region has a thriving wine tourism industry.

9. Jerez is a wine region where some wineries actually touch the beach. In which country is Jerez located?

   1. Portugal
   2. Argentina
   3. Spain
   4. Chile

   ANSWER: C. Jerez is located in Andalucia, a region in southern Spain that includes the “Sherry triangle”: the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlucar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa Maria. The area is known for its albariza soil, a moisture rich mixture of limestone, sand and clay. The most important grape grown for Sherry production is the Palomino.

10. Which of the following grape varieties is native to Sicily?

    1. Sangiovese
    2. Barbera
    3. Nero d'Avola
    4. Dolcetto

    ANSWER: C. Once considered best as a blending grape for its deep color and full body, nero d’avola, also called calabrese, is now one of the most sought-after grape varieties grown in southern Italy. You can find many examples of 100% nero d’avola wines with big cherry, plum, spice and raspberry flavors in wine shops across the US, as well as countless Italian wine lists. The best news is that these nero d’avola wines typically deliver a huge amount of flavor for a modest price!

11. The average American drinks 54 gallons of soft drinks and 30 gallons of coffee per year. On average, how much wine does an American consume each year?

    1. 45 gallons
    2. 30 gallons
    3. 3 gallons
    4. 10 gallons

    ANSWER: C. Per capita, per year, wine consumption in the U.S. is much lower than in Europe. Italians, for example, drink 14 gallons per person on average. In France, the average is higher, reaching more than 15 gallons per person per year!

12. The region of Burgundy, France, has earned worldwide fame for its white (chardonnay) and red (pinot noir) wines. What food is it also known for?

    1. walnuts
    2. mustard
    3. venison
    4. beets

    ANSWER: B. Mustard is France’s best-loved condiment, and most of it is moutarde de Dijon – the creamy, smooth, pungent style of mustard – comes from Burgundy.