Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
In 1932, what is now Spain's Montsant was recognized informally as a subzone of what other wine producing region?
Tarragona
In 1932, the first official Spanish wine appellations were recognized by the state in the "Estatut del Vi" ("Wine Statute") document. Tarragona was one of the first such wine regions mentioned in the document, and it contained the "Falset subzone," which was located in what is now the Montsant DO.
True or False: Garnacha vines - both red and white - dominate the plantings in Spain's Montsant DO?
True
Garnacha accounts for almost 36 percent of the red wine grape plantings in Spain's mountainous Montsant DO. For white grapes, Garnacha Blanca makes up a whopping 55 percent of the plantings be hectare.
True or False: Chile's Puente Alto vineyard was established by Concha y Toro co-founder Don Melchor in 1890.
True
Meaning "high bridge," the Puente Alto was the work of Concha y Toro's Don Melchor (after whom the company's flagship red wine is now named), who established the vineyard with cuttings from vines imported from France. Today, the Puente Alto D.O. is almost a monopole, with Concha y Toro controlling over sixty percent of the area's 864 acres.
In what year was Alsace's Schlossberg granted Grand Cru status?
1975
Schlossberg was officially granted Grand Cru status in 1975. It has been referenced in ground rents documents dating back to the 15th Century, and as far back as 1928 was the focus of local winegrowers who sought to reduce vine productivity and increase wine quality.
True or False: in South-West France, over a third of the region's referenced grape varieties are native to the area?
True
In South-West France, 300 grape varieties are referenced, 120 of which are native to the region, including Cot (Malbec), Duras, Fer Servadou, and Mauzac.
From what body part does the Gaillac grape Loin de L'oeil take its name?
The eye
The South-Western French grape Loin de L'oeil is named from the fact that its bunches grow a good distance from the bud (a.k.a., the eye, or "l'oeil"). It tends to be made into both dry and concentrated sweet wines.
True or False: The area dedicated to Merlot plantings in France exceeds that of all other producers of Merlot in the world?
True
France is home to almost 115,000 hectares of Merlot, far exceeding the plantings of that grape in the rest of the world. A whopping 60% of French plantings are in the Gironde (Bordeaux accounts for nearly 71,000 of hectares of Merlot).
Plant Medoc, Semillon rouge, Beguey, Picard, and Crabutet Noir are all synonyms for what well-known red wine grape?
Merlot
Merlot has gone by many names, and dates back at least to the late 1700s, calling the Right Bank of Bordeaux its original home. Bordeaux is still the main purveyor of Merlot, being home to 3/5 of the world's Merlot plantings.
What percent of Beaujolais production is white or rose wine?
2%
While Beaujolais produces some white and rose wine, it is primarily red wine region; its red wine production accounts for 98% of the region's wine offerings.
The Edna Valley AVA is approximately how many miles from the Pacific ocean?
5 miles
The Edna Valley AVA in San Luis Obispo is about five miles from the Pacific Ocean. The AVA claims to be California's coolest, thanks to its geography providing a direct path to accept cool marine air from the Los Osos/Morro Bay area.
