Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
True or False: Ribolla Gialla is the grape used in most of the produciton of Italy's Collio DOC wine?
False
Ribolla Gialla accounts for 9% of the wine production in Italy's hilly Collio DOC. While popular, its production is outpaced by several other varieties in the region, including Pinot Grigio (29%), Sauvignon Blanc (19%), and Friulano (15%).
Which of the following AVAs does NOT sit on the eastern side of Sonoma County ?
Rockpile
Established in 2002, the Rockpile AVA contains 15,000 acres of land, with just 160 acres of it planted to vine. It overlaps the Dry Creek Valley AVA in the northern part of Sonoma County.
According to Wine of Georgia, the Republic of Georgia is home to how many indigenous grape varieties?
More than 525
The country of Georgia lies on the eastern edge of the Black Sea, and historically has been a crossroads between Europe and Asia. While only slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Connecticut, Georgia is a hot-spot of bio-diversity, and supports at least 525 different indigenous grape varieties.
True or False: Georgians have made wine in qvevri (egg-shaped clay vessels) continuously for 8,000 years?
True
In 2015, archaeologists working in Georgia discovered the remains of ancient, egg-shaped clay vessels (qvevri) containing residue of cultivated grapes. Rearchers were able to date these artifacts to roughly 6000 BCE, during the Neolithic Period. A research report published by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences described the discovery as possibly the earliest evidence of human viniculture and winemaking. Georgians have been making wine in qvevri continuously for about 8,000 years. These large vessels (usually able to contain 1,000 or more liters) are buried in the ground, to help keep temperatures constant during fermentation and aging.
Which of the following is the most traditional style of vineyard terracing in Portugal's Douro winegrowing region?
Socalcos
The steepness of Douro's hillsides often necessitates terracing for planting vineyards. The most traditional style is Socalcos, terraces supported by schist walls built by hand (and requiring hand-harvesting and maintenance). Patamares are more modern terraces, built since the 1970’s, cut into the hillsides using bulldozers. Vinha ao alto are vertical rows of vines running perpendicularly up the hill, allowing for mechanized harvesting (and only appropriate for hills with gradients under 30%).
What is the most planted grape variety in Portugal's Douro DOC?
Touriga Francesa
While Touriga Nacional gets much of the press when it comes to Douro wines, and Tinta Roriz (a.k.a. Tempranillo) is probably the most widely known grape variety grown in the Douro, according to AXA Millésimes the most planted variety in the Douro DOC is Tinta Francesa. It gives consistent yields, with resulting wines that are perfumed in aroma and deep in fruit flavors.
True or False: For a Cava to qualify as "Cava de Paraje Calificado," it must be aged for a minimum of 36 months?
True
To qualify as Cava de Paraje Calificado - the highest Cava designation as of 2021 - a Spanish sparkling wine must come from vines grown in small qualified areas in the Cava production region, and be aged for a minimum of 36 months before release on the market.
As of 2020, how much of Alsace's wine grape vineyard production area is Organic?
32%
According to Wines of Alsace, as of 2020 France's Alsace region can boast an impressive 32% (just over 12,000 acres) of its vineyard area as Organic, with 585 wine producers taking part in the designation.
Which of the following is mandatory for a wine to carry the Prosecco Rose designation?
All of the above
In order for a Prosecco to be able to carry a Rose designation (introduced to markets worldwide in 2021), the sparkling wine must be made with 10-15% Pinot Nero grapes (with the remainder predominantly Prosecco's traditional Glera variety) in Italy's Prosecco growing region, with grape yields that are more restrictive than those permitted under normal Prosecco production. Additionally, the wine must carry a vintage designation (Millesimato).
