Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
What grape is a speciality of Piedmont's Novello area?
Nascetta
Nascetta - a grape with a history in the Langhe dating back to at least 1877 - was nearly forgotten in Italy's Piedmont once the mighty Barolo took off in popularity in the 1990s. Thanks to effort to revitalize its production, it has become the flagship white wine grape of the Novello area, where it is used in the production of Langhe DOC Nas-cëtta del Comune di Novello.
What percent of California’s premium Zinfandel is supplied by Lodi annually?
40%
Lodi produces about 760,000 tons of winegrapes each year, making up 18 percent of California’s total yield. Zinfandel is one of the region's leading grapes, supplying 40 percent of California’s premium Zinfandel annually.
True or False: the often overlooked Piedmont grape variety Ruchè surpassed 1 million bottles produced?
True
As of the close of 2021, the once little-known Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG in Italy's Piedmont hit a milestone of of 1 million bottles produced (according to data reported by the Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato). Made only by about 30 producers in the region, and once thought of as suitable only for early consumable table wine, modern Ruchè has proven to be a new darling of wine industry tastemakers around the globe.
True or False: Wine has been made in the US state of Maryland since the 17th Century?
True
While the modern winemaking scene was set in Maryland when Boordy Vineyard (located in Hydes) was bonded in 1945, winemaking in Maryland dates back to at least the 17th Century. Maryland’s wine industry is now made up of 115 wineries and (according to WineAmerica), has a statewide impact of nearly $2.6 and supports up to 14,000 Maryland jobs.
True or False: the Mesilla Valley AVA is one of the newest AVAs in Texas?
False
The Mesilla Valley AVA is located at the far western tip of the Texas border, northwest of El Paso. With about 225,000 acres of plantable land at elevations up to 4,300 feet, it was established as an AVA in 1985, and overlaps its borders with New Mexico.
What country drinks the most Prosecco outside of Italy?
United Kingdon
The United Kingdom has been entertaining a love affair with Italian Prosecco. In 2019, the UK consumer over 12.7 million bottles of Prosecco, putting it well ahead of other Prosecco-thirsty countries such as Germany (6.7 million), Switzerland (5.1 million), and the USA (2.8 million).
True or False: Zinfandel is the leading grape by tonnage in California's Lodi region?
False
According to the California Department of Agriculture Grape Crush Report, Lodi crushes about 147,000 tons of Zinfandel, coming in at the number two slot just behind the roughly 166,000 tons of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes crushed in the region.
Which Portuguese grape variety is known for its ability to grow in sandy soils?
Castelão
Castelão is a leading red grape in Portugal, and known among Portuguese winegrowers for its ability to thrive in sandy soils (particularly those in Península de Setúbal), creating wines with good acidity, prominent tannins, and the ability to age in bottle.
True or False: The Burn of Columbia Valley and White Bluffs are two of the oldest Washington State AVAs?
False
Both White Bluffs and The Burn of Columbia Valley were made official Washington State AVAs in June of 2021, making them among the very newest official wine producing areas in the state.
Which of the following is NOT a white grape used in Port production?
Fernao Pires/Maria Gomes
Fernao Pires (also known as Maria Gomes) is a widely planted grape throughout Portugal, and a diverse one (being made into dry, sparkling, and dessert wines). It is not, however, a grape used in Port production.
