Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
True or False: The maximum number of buds per vine set in the Designation Specifications of the D.O.Ca. Rioja varies according to grape variety?
True
The maximum number of buds per vine permitted for Rioja wine is set in the Designation Specifications of the D.O.Ca. Rioja, and varies according to grape variety.
For the white varieties Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Maturana Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco and Turruntés, the maximum is 16 buds per vine.
For Garnacha (red and white), the maximum is 14 buds per vine.
For all remaining varieties, the maximum is lower, at 12 buds per vine.
Which of the following can be true for Rioja's Espumoso de Rioja sparkling wine designation?
All of the above
For Rioja's ‘Espumoso de Rioja’ sparkling wine, all of the grape varieties authorized by Rioja Regulations may be used and, in the case of sparkling rosé wines, at least 25% of those must be red grapes. The harvest must always be manual and, in addition to the use of the Traditional Method of sparkling wine production, there are minimum ageing times regulated for the different categories (for ‘Espumoso de Rioja’ this is 15 months, 24 months in the Reserva category, and 36 months in the Gran Añada category).
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.
