General questions Flashcards
What are the main grape varieties used to make Champagne?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier.
What is the most widely planted grape variety in the world?
Cabernet Sauvignon.
What does ‘Old World’ wine mean?
Wine from traditional European wine-producing countries like France, Italy, and Spain.
What does ‘New World’ wine mean?
Wine from countries outside Europe, such as the USA, Australia, and Chile.
What is ‘terroir’?
The combination of soil, climate, environmental conditions and human influence on a vineyard.
What are two primary red grape varieties of Bordeaux?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
What is the main grape variety in Barolo and Barbaresco wines?
Nebbiolo.
Which grape variety is used to make Rioja wines?
Tempranillo.
What is the primary white grape of Sancerre?
Sauvignon Blanc.
What grape variety is used to make Chianti?
Sangiovese.
What region is known for Malbec in Argentina?
Mendoza.
What is the most famous wine region in New Zealand for Sauvignon Blanc?
Marlborough.
Name two key wine regions in Burgundy.
Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
What is the primary grape in Alsace Riesling?
Riesling.
Which country is known for the wine region of Barossa Valley?
Australia.
What is a dry wine?
A wine with little to no residual sugar.
What does ‘tannin’ refer to in red wine?
A compound that adds astringency and structure.
What is the most popular sparkling wine made in Italy called?
Prosecco.
What is the term for a sweet wine made from frozen grapes?
Icewine or Eiswein.
What does ‘oaked’ mean in wine?
A wine aged in oak barrels, which can impart flavors like vanilla or toast.
What wine pairs well with oysters?
Chablis or Muscadet.
What type of wine is a classic match for steak?
Cabernet Sauvignon.
What is a good pairing for spicy dishes?
Off-dry Riesling.
What wine pairs with creamy pasta dishes?
Chardonnay.
What pairs well with blue cheese?
Port or Sauternes.
At what temperature should Champagne be served?
6–10°C (43–50°F).
What is the ideal serving temperature for a full-bodied red wine?
15–18°C (59–64°F).
What is the purpose of decanting wine?
To separate wine from sediment or to aerate it.
How many standard servings are in a 750ml bottle of wine?
Five 150ml servings.
What is the best glass shape for red wine?
A large, bowl-shaped glass.
What is malolactic fermentation?
A process that converts malic acid into softer lactic acid.
What is ‘botrytis cinerea’?
A fungus that can create noble rot, used to make sweet wines.
What is the main method for producing sparkling wine in Champagne?
Traditional method.
What is the purpose of sulfites in wine?
To preserve the wine and prevent oxidation.
What is ‘fortified wine’?
Wine with added spirits, such as Port or Sherry.
What are the three main steps of wine tasting?
Look, smell, and taste.
What does ‘legs’ or ‘tears’ on a glass indicate?
Alcohol content or viscosity.
What is a ‘corked’ wine?
Wine spoiled by a faulty cork, often smelling like wet cardboard.
What does ‘body’ refer to in wine?
The weight or fullness of the wine on the palate.
What is a common aroma of Sauvignon Blanc?
Grass or gooseberries.
What does ‘AOC’ stand for in French wine?
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée.
What does ‘DOCG’ signify in Italian wine?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita.
What is the primary grape used in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
Grenache.
What does ‘Reserva’ mean in Spanish wine?
A wine aged for a minimum period before release.
What country produces wines in the Stellenbosch region?
South Africa.
What grape is used for Port wine?
Touriga Nacional, among others.
What is the main grape in Sauternes?
Sémillon.
Where is Tokaji Aszú produced?
Hungary.
What does ‘PX’ stand for in Sherry?
Pedro Ximénez.
What is the key feature of Madeira wine?
It is heated during production.
What is phylloxera?
A vine-destroying pest that devastated vineyards in the 19th century.
What does ‘cru’ mean in French wine?
Growth or vineyard of recognized quality.
What does ‘méthode champenoise’ mean?
The traditional method of making sparkling wine, including a second fermentation in the bottle.
What does ‘dry’ mean on a wine label?
The wine has little to no residual sugar.
What is ‘residual sugar’?
The natural sugar left in wine after fermentation.
What is the main grape in Valpolicella wines?
Corvina.
Which grape variety is known as Shiraz in Australia?
Syrah.
What is the main grape in Beaujolais?
Gamay.
Which grape is used to make Vouvray wines?
Chenin Blanc.
What is the primary grape in Zinfandel wines?
Zinfandel (known as Primitivo in Italy).
What wine is Marlborough famous for producing?
Sauvignon Blanc.
Name two regions in Italy famous for sparkling wines.
Franciacorta and Prosecco.
What type of wine is made in the Douro Valley?
Port.
What is the wine region of Napa Valley known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Which French region is known for producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay?
Burgundy.
What is a rosé wine?
A wine with some color from grape skins, but not enough to qualify as red.
What is an ‘off-dry’ wine?
A wine with a slight hint of sweetness.
What does ‘unoaked’ mean on a wine label?
The wine was not aged in oak barrels.
What is ‘carbonic maceration’?
A winemaking process where whole grapes ferment in a carbon dioxide-rich environment.
What does ‘biodynamic wine’ mean?
Wine made using biodynamic farming principles, including lunar cycles.
What wine pairs well with salmon?
Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.
Which wine pairs with roasted lamb?
Syrah or Bordeaux blends.
What is a good pairing for fried chicken?
Champagne or sparkling wine.
What wine pairs well with sushi?
Dry Riesling or sake.
Which wine pairs well with dark chocolate?
Port or Zinfandel.
What does ‘vintage’ mean?
The year the grapes were harvested.
What is ‘vinification’?
The process of turning grapes into wine.
What does ‘body’ in wine describe?
The weight or fullness of the wine on the palate.
What does ‘acidity’ in wine do?
Adds freshness and balance.
What does ‘blend’ mean in wine?
A mix of two or more grape varieties.
Why is wine stored on its side?
To keep the cork moist and prevent it from drying out.
What does ‘serving wine blind’ mean?
Serving wine without revealing its identity.
What is the purpose of a wine decanter?
To aerate the wine and enhance its flavors.
At what temperature should white wine be served?
7–10°C (45–50°F).
What is the proper way to open a sparkling wine bottle?
Hold the cork and twist the bottle slowly to release pressure.
What is a ‘single vineyard’ wine?
A wine made from grapes grown in a single vineyard.
What is the ‘lees’ in winemaking?
Dead yeast cells and grape solids left after fermentation.
What is ‘batonnage’?
Stirring the lees to add texture and flavor.
What is ‘maceration’?
The process of soaking grape skins in juice to extract color and flavor.
What is a ‘cuvée’?
A blend or special batch of wine.
What does ‘aroma’ refer to in wine tasting?
The scents from the grape itself.
What does ‘bouquet’ refer to in wine tasting?
Aromas that develop from aging and winemaking.
What flavor is typical of aged red wine?
Earthy, leathery, or dried fruit flavors.
What characteristic is common in oaked Chardonnay?
Vanilla or butter flavors.
How should wine be evaluated visually?
By its clarity, color, and intensity.
What is the difference between Ruby and Tawny Port?
Ruby Port is fruitier, while Tawny Port is aged longer and nuttier.
What is the primary grape in Sherry?
Palomino.
What does ‘LBV’ mean on a Port label?
Late Bottled Vintage.
What is a Muscat wine?
A sweet or fortified wine made from Muscat grapes.
What does ‘solera system’ refer to in Sherry production?
A blending and aging system using stacked barrels.
