Test your wine knowledge with quiz questions from our expert.
About 70% of what Portuguese grape variety is found in the Lisboa wine region?
Vital
Vital has a reputation for being difficult to grow, Vital plantings have declined in recent decades. However, this white wine grape variety is seeing some popularity again among producers in its home region of Lisboa, where about 70% of all Vital can be found according to Vinhos de Lisboa.
True or False: cultivation of the Cortese grape variety in Italy dates back to the 10th century?
True
The first references to the cultivation of Cortese (the grape variety used to make Gavi) date back to the 10th century, when the region belonged to the Obertenghi Marquises. Genoa's merchant fleet ensured that the wines made from Cortese were sold well abroad, and they became a symbol of the quality of goods from the area.
Which of the following are part of Italy's Gavi DOCG?
All of the above
There are eleven municipalities in Italy's Gavi DOCG, all within the province of Alessandria. They include Tassarolo, Pasturana, Bosio, and Capriata d'Orba.
What percentage of the world's Grenache/Garnacha plantings are in Europe?
93%
One of the most planted wine grape varieties worldwide, the vast majority of Grenache/Garnacha plantings are in Europe, which accounts for 92.8% of the world's Grenache plantings. The highest concentration of these plantings can be found in Spain and France.
True or False: Portugal's Alentejo accounts for more than 1/3 of the world's cork forests?
True
Portugal's Alentejo is one of the cork producing capitols of the world, accounting for more than one-third of the world's cork forests. Cork in Alentejo is harvested by hand just once every nine years.
Portugal's Alentejo wine region is about the size of which U.S. state?
Massachusetts
Alentejo is roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts. With 56,500 acres, it has slightly more vineyard plantings than Napa Valley, and about the same amount as Washington State.
True or False: Portugal's ALentejo is the only part of Portugal where the technique of making wine in clay amphorae is still widely practised?
True
Portugal's Alentejo area has been making wine in clay amphorae since Roman times. The large clay pots are called "talhas de barro" and can reach seven feet in height, hold up to 520 gallons of wine, and weigh a literal ton.
In what year did Sademan's iconic "The Don" image make its debut?
1928
Sandeman was founded in London in 1790 by George Sandeman, and began branding casks with their warranty stamp in 1805. Sandeman's iconic image of "The Don" (brandishing a Portuguese student's cape and a wide-brimmed hat) first appeared in 1928, created by George Massiot Brown. In 2002, Sandeman became part of the Sogrape company.
References to Italy's Nas-cetta variety date back to what year?
1877
Giuseppe of the Counts of Rovasenda wrote in an 1877 essay on ampelography that Nas-cetta was "a very delicate grape and exquisite wine." The variety would all but disappear in Italy's Langhe region during the 1990s, and was only saved from extinction by the efforts of local growers. By 2002, Nas-cetta enjoyed a resurgence to the point that it was officially included in the Langhe DOC.
Which style accounts for 99% of Gavi wine production?
Tranquillo
Tranquillo, or still, accounts for 99% of the production from Italy's Gavi winegrowing region. Like Gavi's Frizzante and Spumante sparkling wines, Tranquillo Gavi must have a minimum alcohol content of 10.5%.
