Seminar #1

Question 1

Where and when did viticulture begin?

Answer 1

Georgia 6000 BC

Question 2

How did the first winegrowers vinify their wines?

Answer 2

In Qveris (amphora jars)

Question 3

According to the bible, who was the first winegrower?

Answer 3

Noah

Question 4

Where did viticulture move afterwards?

Answer 4

Moved west into Egypt, and then Greece

Question 5

According to many legends, what animal taught winegrowers to prune?

Answer 5

Donkey

Question 6

Who was the greek god of wine?

Answer 6

Dionysus

Question 7

What miracle did Jesus perform in Cana? What tradition did it inspire?

Answer 7

Turning water into wine, wine as a celebratory beverage

Question 8

What made wine so important in Christian religions?

Answer 8

Wine as blood of Christ

Question 9

In what Eastern country was wine appreciated and celebrated?

Answer 9

Iran (Persia)

Question 10

Why wasn’t wine readily adopted in India, China and Japan?

Answer 10

These cultures are built around tea, not wine

Question 11

After the fall of the Roman Empire, who took care of vineyards?

Answer 11

The church (monks)

Question 12

What was Saint Benedict’s rule concerning wine?

Answer 12

Monks could drink wine in moderation

Question 13

What famous estate did Cistercian monks develop in Burgundy?

Answer 13

Clos de Vougeout (1125)

Question 14

What famous estate did Cistercian monks develop in Burgundy?

Answer 14

Clos de Vougeout (1125)

Question 15

What were the main uses of wine in monasteries?

Answer 15

As medicine, as a substitute for water, for calories and offered in hospitality

Question 16

Mention a Cistercian contribution to viticulture

Answer 16

Movement of earth to create arable land in marshes, close, climats

Question 17

How were close constituted in Burgundy?

Answer 17

Originally built to keep animals away from choice plots–only the wealthy could afford them

Question 18

Why was Bordeaux not popular in France during the Middle Ages?

Answer 18

Bordeaux (Aquitaine) was part of England at this time

Question 19

Why were there no vineyards in the Medoc in the Middle Ages?

Answer 19

The soil was not suitable-marsh

Question 20

What cultivar did Philip the Bold ban from Burgundy in 1395?

Answer 20

Gamay noir-against poor quality and high yielding vines that growers could profit from

Question 21

Did viticulture make winegrowers rich after the 100years war? What did they drink?

Answer 21

No–they drank piquette (made by adding sugar and water to grape pomace to ferment into low alcohol Bev)

Question 22

Who invented champagne?

Answer 22

Champagne invented itself