Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
True or False: Portugal's Alentejo winegrowing region sees some of the highest sunshine amounts in Europe?
True
Portugal's Alentejo region enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. This puts is on par with San Diego, and is well above Portugal’s national average of sunshine hours (already the highest in Europe, according to Wines of Alentejo).
What grape variety is also known as Preto Mortágua and Mortágua?
Touriga Nacional
An important red grape variety for Portugal's Alentejo region, Touriga Nacional is also known in the Dão and Douro regions as Preto Mortágua, Mortágua, Tourigo Antigo, and Tourigo.
What is the more common name of the grape variety also known as Grande Vidure, Carmenelle, Cabernelle, Grant Carmenet, Carbouet, and Cabernet Gernischt?
Carménère
Carménère's name is derived from the French carmin (meaning crimson), a tribute to the color that its vines' leaves turn in Autumn. Carménère is also known as Grande Vidure, Carmenelle, Cabernelle, Grant Carmenet, Carbouet, and Cabernet Gernischt (the latter being used primarily in China, where it is also planted).
Carménère is a cross between Cabernet Franc and what other grape variety?
Gros Cabernet
Considered one of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux, and now planted primarily in Chile, Carménère is a cross between Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet.
About 70% of what Portuguese grape variety is found in the Lisboa wine region?
Vital
Vital has a reputation for being difficult to grow, Vital plantings have declined in recent decades. However, this white wine grape variety is seeing some popularity again among producers in its home region of Lisboa, where about 70% of all Vital can be found according to Vinhos de Lisboa.
True or False: cultivation of the Cortese grape variety in Italy dates back to the 10th century?
True
The first references to the cultivation of Cortese (the grape variety used to make Gavi) date back to the 10th century, when the region belonged to the Obertenghi Marquises. Genoa's merchant fleet ensured that the wines made from Cortese were sold well abroad, and they became a symbol of the quality of goods from the area.
Which of the following are part of Italy's Gavi DOCG?
All of the above
There are eleven municipalities in Italy's Gavi DOCG, all within the province of Alessandria. They include Tassarolo, Pasturana, Bosio, and Capriata d'Orba.
What percentage of the world's Grenache/Garnacha plantings are in Europe?
93%
One of the most planted wine grape varieties worldwide, the vast majority of Grenache/Garnacha plantings are in Europe, which accounts for 92.8% of the world's Grenache plantings. The highest concentration of these plantings can be found in Spain and France.
True or False: Portugal's Alentejo accounts for more than 1/3 of the world's cork forests?
True
Portugal's Alentejo is one of the cork producing capitols of the world, accounting for more than one-third of the world's cork forests. Cork in Alentejo is harvested by hand just once every nine years.
Portugal's Alentejo wine region is about the size of which U.S. state?
Massachusetts
Alentejo is roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts. With 56,500 acres, it has slightly more vineyard plantings than Napa Valley, and about the same amount as Washington State.
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. We use cookies to provide a better user experience.
Dinner for Two on Us
We want to reward one of our subscribers with a relaxing dinner for two on our dime.
Enter our giveaway for your chance to win a $100 Grubhub gift card.