Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
Which of the following is Washington State's newest AVA (as of 2020)?
Royal Slope
Royal Slope is Washington’s newest American Viticultural Area, the state's 15th, as of September 2, 2020. It covers 156,389 acres (all within the Columbia Valley AVA), and is located just south of the Ancient Lakes AVA, and to the north of the Wahluke Slope AVA.
True or False: While California's Lodi region is often perceived as having a hot climate, its average temperatures are comparable to (and soemtimes lower than) those of Napa Valley's St. Helena or Healdsburg?
True
In terms of average temperatures measured over a 120-year period (1896-2016), California's Lodi region typically falls between about 1-2 degrees Fahrenheit of the average temperatures of other famous Californian wine areas, including Napa Valley's St. Helena, Sonoma's Healdsburg, and Paso Robles.
Which of Lodi's sub-AVAs has the most wine grape-growing acres?
Mokelumne River
Lodi has seven distinct sub-AVAs with differing soils, climates, and topographies. The largest is Mokelumne River, which has 42,000 acres of wine grapes, including over 100 different grape varieties (and some of Lodi's oldest vines).
Which of the following is the Portuguese term for foot-treading wine grapes?
Pisa a Pe
In Portugal, "Pisa a Pe" refers to wine that is made by foot treading grapes in traditional lagar vats. "Vinho de Talha" and "Vinho de Curtimenta" refer to wine fermented in clay amphorae, and white wine made with skin contact during fermentation, respectively.
True or False: Portugal is among the top 10 countries in the world in both wine exports and wine production?
False
While Portugal is the 9th largest exporter of wine globally, it just misses the top ten list of wine producing countries - it is the world's 11th largest wine producing country by volume (as of 2019).
As of 2020, how many appellations are included in France's Loire Valley?
87
There are 87 appellations under the AOC, VDQS and Vin de Pays systems spread out among the 629 mile length of France's Loire Valley. 69 of those qualify as AOC (Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées).
True or False: Humans can detect approximately one trillion different odors/aromas?
True
A 2014 study found that the human olfactory system - essential for appreciating wine's myriad aromas and flavors - can detect one trillion different odors, and that count might even be on the low side.
True or False: Germany grows over 130 different wine grape varieties, roughly half of which are for red wine?
False
While 130+ wine grape varieties are grown in Germany, the are predominantly for white wine production. This is due tot he fact that Germany has some of the most northerly vineyard locations in the world, necessitating grape varieties that can withstand a long, slow ripening curve and cold continental climate conditions.
The Müller Thurgau grape is a cross between Madeleine Royale and what other grape variety?
Riesling
Müller Thurgau developed as a cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royale. It was created by Swiss botanist/oenologist Hermann Müller, from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau (hence its name).
