Wine Quiz Quiz: Know Your Grapes Apr 02, 2021 1 of 12 RIGHT! WRONG! California wineries like Kistler, Marcassin and Peter Michael have had fantastic success with which white grape widely known for making rich, buttery wines with apple, spice and toast notes? Chardonnay Grüner Veltliner Pinot Blanc Moscato Of these regions, where are you least likely to find Pinot Gris (aka Pinot Grigio) vines growing? Oregon Italy France Portugal Whether it’s grown in France’s Bordeaux region or in California’s Napa Valley, why does Cabernet Sauvignon produce such full-bodied and ageworthy wines? Cabernet’s blue skins are particularly thick and rich in tannins, providing structure. Cabernet is naturally high in searing acidity to keep it fresh. Cabernet wines are rarely aged in wine-softening oak barrels. Cabernet tends to retain much of its sugar after the fermentation process is complete, adding body. In what way does California Pinot Noir most clearly differ from red Burgundy stylistically, despite both being made from the same grape? California Pinot is more often made using organic and biodynamic techniques. Red Burgundy is generally produced without oak barrels, and California Pinot is always oak-influenced. California Pinot tends to emphasize the grape’s vegetal and green flavors. Red Burgundy is often earthier than riper, more fruit-forward California Pinot. In addition to taking on an amber hue, Riesling often exhibits which of these "tertiary" aromas after it spends years aging in the bottle? Leather Petrol Truffle White chocolate Sauvignon Blanc is widely known for making crisp dry whites. But southwestern French winemakers also use the grape to make acclaimed sweet wines, often with the help of which beneficial vineyard mold? Botrytis cinerea Powdery mildew Downy mildew Sweet blight Which of these would be an ideal food pairing for a rich, tannic Nebbiolo from Italy’s Piedmont region, such as a Barolo or Barbaresco? Pasta with lamb ragù Osso buco Truffle risotto These are all delicious pairings for Nebbiolo. True or False: Syrah, Shiraz, Durif and Petite Sirah are all technically the same grape variety? True False Producing elegant and creamy whites with intense honey, spice and stone fruit notes, Viognier is the only grape allowed in the French appellation Condrieu. In which wider region is Condrieu located? Alsace Beaujolais Brittany Rhône Valley Which of these techniques is not widely used to give Chenin Blancs additional brioche, spice, toast and nut notes? Malolactic fermentation Carbonic maceration Oak aging Lees aging Among its primary regions, Grenache grows in France, Spain and on the Italian island of Sardinia, where it is known by which other name? Spanna Durif Cannonau Mataro Which of these best describes the ideal soil conditions for Merlot vines, as observed by winemakers in France’s Bordeaux region? Hot and dry soils like sand and cracking mud Cool soils that retain moisture well, like clay and limestone Moist and frosty soils with few nutrients, which forces vines to grow deeper Soils with plenty of drainage, like pebbles and gravel Next Results Your score is Retake this quiz