Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
True or False: there is a "red" Riesling made from a red-skinned clone of the Riesling white wine grape?
True
"Roter Riesling" is a rare red Riesling wine, made from a clone of Riesling that has a reddish skin. There is also a similar wine made from red-skinned Traminer grapes, which is often also referred to as Roter Riesling.
The compound 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) is responsible for what common wine aroma?
Petrol notes in Riesling
1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) causes the gasoline / petroleum aroma that can often be found in high-quality Riesling. The growing conditions that favor high quality Riesling production - including appropriate ripeness levels, high acidity, water stress for the vines, and good sun exposure - also favor the production of 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN).
Biela Grasevina, Graefenberger, Rheingauer, and Uva Pussila are all synonyms for what white wine grape?
Riesling
While some of its other synonyms are better known (Welschriesling, Johannisberger, White Riesling), the Riesling grape has a dizzying number of lesser-known alternative names, including Rezlink, Pfefferl, and Rislinenok.
A wine labeled "Pinot d'Alsace" may contain what grapes varieties?
All of the above
Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir are all permitted under "Pinot d'Alsace." Any quantity of those grapes are allowed, but those with fifty percent or more of one of the noble varieties in the blend may also use the "Gentil" designation.
True or False: Alsace has a cold, continental climate?
True
Alsace is in France's northeast corner, and is one of the drier areas of the country (due to its position near the Vosges mountains, which act as a barrier to rain and humidity). The area receives ample sunshine despite its cooler temperatures, which allows for a long ripening period for white grape varieties such as Riesling.
As instituted in the German wine law of 1971, how many stages are included in the official quality control testing for German wine before it can be sold on the market?
Three
There are three stages of testing for ensuring minimum quality standards are met for German wine: examination of harvest details, an analytical examination, and a sensory examination. Once all three are passed, the wine receives an official quality control test number, or A.P.Nr.
True or False: Germany is the second largest market for sparkling wine in the world?
False
The German wine consumer is seriously devoted to bubbly: the country is the single largest market for sparkling wine, consuming almost one quarter of all bottles of bubbly made worldwide.
True or False: Germany ranks third worldwide in vineyard area devoted to Pinot Noir plantings?
True
France and the USA take the top spots, but Germany is number three in the world when it comes to vineyard area for Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder). Eleven percent of the country's vineyard area is planted with Pinot Noir, equivalent to over eleven thousand hectares.
