How much do you really know about wine?

1. In the vineyard cycle, what does veraison mean?

   1. A: it refers to the size of the berries

      Add a point in A

   2. B: when growers thin the crop ahead of harvest

      Add a point in B

   3. C: the onset of ripening, when the grapes change colour

      Add a point in C

2. What is the cheapest method of making sparkling wine?

   1. A: adding glitter

      Add a point in A

   2. B: putting the wine through a secondary fermentation in the bottle (the traditional method)

      Add a point in B

   3. C: carbonation, the direct injection of carbon dioxide into the wine

      Add a point in C

3. Which region is not in New Zealand?

   1. A: Wairarapa

      Add a point in A

   2. B: Gisborne

      Add a point in B

   3. C: Coonawarra

      Add a point in C

4. The growing region of Swartland is located in which country?

   1. A: Argentina

      Add a point in A

   2. B: Germany

      Add a point in B

   3. C: South Africa

      Add a point in C

5. Grange is, arguably, Australia’s most celebrated wine – when was its first vintage?

   1. A: 1891

      Add a point in A

   2. B: 1931

      Add a point in B

   3. C: 1951

      Add a point in C

6. In what region is the American viticultural area of Stag’s Leap located?

   1. A: Montana

      Add a point in A

   2. B: Sonoma

      Add a point in B

   3. C: Napa

      Add a point in C

7. What is Aglianico?

   1. A: a wine region in Italy

      Add a point in A

   2. B: a Greek wine

      Add a point in B

   3. C: a grape variety

      Add a point in C

8. 1855 was an important year for French wines: why?

   1. A: it was a big harvest

      Add a point in A

   2. B: it was a great vintage

      Add a point in B

   3. C: Bordeaux wines were classified

      Add a point in C

9. Prosecco is made from which native Italian grape?

   1. A: Pinot Grigio

      Add a point in A

   2. B: Trebbiano

      Add a point in B

   3. C: Glera

      Add a point in C

10. What is the process in champagne production when you have to keep rotating the bottles to shake down the sediment (the lees) so that it rests in the neck?

    1. A: pigeage

       Add a point in A

    2. B: dosage

       Add a point in B

    3. C: remuage

       Add a point in C

11. Trockenbeerenauslese is the name of a sweet German wine produced from

    1. A: grapes that are picked frozen

       Add a point in A

    2. B: really ripe, late-picked grapes

       Add a point in B

    3. C: grapes picked later than the general harvest and affected by noble rot

       Add a point in C

12. A traditional small oak French barrel holds how many litres?

    1. A: 50

       Add a point in A

    2. B: 175

       Add a point in B

    3. C: 225

       Add a point in C

Buckets

1. Mostly As

   The correct answers are all Cs and you selected mostly As. This makes you a wine novice – but hey, that’s most of us. Don’t you fancy having a bit more wine knowledge stashed away for when you are next in a restaurant staring blankly at the wine list? Or glazing over at the supermarket, wondering if having a cat on the label means the wine will be OK? Start checking out the wine columns in the national newspapers, then buy a beginner’s guide to wine and enroll in the nearest beginner’s wine course. It’s fun, we promise.

2. Mostly Bs

   The correct answers are all Cs, whereas you selected mostly Bs. So you like a glass of wine and you made an educated guess – you just need to educate yourself some more, and taste more too (sensibly, of course). Even the experts acknowledge that there’s always something new to learn in the world of wine, given the cracking pace at which it moves. The more you learn, the more you enjoy – it’s a simple as that. Take another wine course and hang out at your local wine merchant – especially when they’re opening a few bottles to try. In a restaurant, always order wines you don’t know, so you can broaden your palate.

3. Mostly Cs

   Congratulations! The correct answers are all Cs and you either selected most or all of them. This can only mean one thing: you’ve got the wine bug. And once you’ve got it, there’s no turning back. The only downside is that you’ll be parting with a few more pounds when you buy a bottle of wine because you’re hooked; a font of all knowledge well loved by your mates. Holidays tend to mean hanging out in vineyards, rather than on the beach, and wine regions are your holiday destination of choice. You may well be on first name terms with top sommeliers, and doubtless a dab hand at pairing food and wine.