Specialty Wines, Misteles, and Spirits

Question 1

Bikavér

Answer 1

Hungarian red wine produced in Eger or Szekszárd mainly from Kékfrankos (Blaufrankisch) plus Cab, Merlot, and Kékoporto (Portugieser)

Question 2

Schilcher

Answer 2

rosé specialty of Weststeiermark DAC produced from the Blauer Wildbacher grape

Question 3

Carthagène

Answer 3

traditional mistele of Languedoc

Question 4

Cotnari

Answer 4

once famous sweet wine produced in Moldovia in Romania that once rivaled Tokaji produced principally from Grasa de Cotnari

Now is a DOC in Romania for red, white, and rosé still wines from a wide variety of grapes.

Question 5

Doble Pasta and 5 DO that produce it

Answer 5

Dark full-bodied Spanish wine produced by running off a proportion of fermenting must after two days and adding more crushed grapes. The ratio of skin to pulp is effectively doubled, producing wines with a deep, dark color and very high levels of tannin.

Traditoinally made in Yecla, Jumilla, Utiel-Requena, Manchuela and Alicante

Question 6

Dôle

Answer 6

Pinot Noir and Gamay blend traditionally produced in Valais in which Pinot Noir must comprise most of the blend.

Question 7

Torcolato

Answer 7

passito specialty wine of Breganze DOC produced from Vespaiola

Question 8

Commandaria

Answer 8

dark sweet wine specialty of Cyprus that evidence suggests is the oldest wine in the world still made today.

Produced from Mavro (red) and Xynisteri (white)

Question 9

Edelzwicker

Answer 9

Alsatian blend that does not need to be vintage-dated or even be a blend at all.

Usually mostly Chasselas and Pinot Blanc dominant but can be a blend of all Alsatian grapes. Can sometimes have oak influence as it is common practice to produce Edelzwicker in the youngest barrels on site to season them.

Question 10

Falernian/Falernum

Answer 10

Most famous and highly prized wine of Italy in the Roman Era produced from the southern slopes of Monte Massico in Northern Campania produced in both dry and sweet styles. Said to be so strong in alcohol that it could be set alight.

Modern day Falerno del Massico is said to be the contemporary revival of this wine and it is produced in blended red, white, and all-Primitivo versions.

Question 11

Federweisser

Answer 11

synonymous with Austrian Sturm in Germany

In Switzerland it refers to white wines made from black grapes.

Question 12

Floc de Gascogne

Answer 12

Armagnac’s answer to Cognac’s Pineau des Charentes

Sweet red and white vin de liqueur commonly consumed as an aperitif

Question 13

Fondillón

Answer 13

Strong rancio wine from Alicante DO made from Monastrell and matured like oloroso Sherry

Question 14

Jerepigo

Answer 14

South African mistelle or unfermented dessert wines created by adding alcohol before fermentation to grape juice commonly from Muscadel grapes.

Question 15

Vino abafado

Answer 15

Essentially refers to Port-style wines produced outside of the Douro Valley in Portugal. Wines are partially fermented before being fortified with aguardiente, or grape spirit.

Question 16

Gwaha-ju

Answer 16

Fortified rice wine from Korea that is fortified with Soju and commonly has additives of ginseng and ginger.

Question 17

Jeropiga

Answer 17

Portuguese for mistelle, or Vin de Liqueur

Question 18

Liebfraumilch

Answer 18

Sweet white wine from Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Nahe, and rarely the Rheingau from Silvaner, Muller-Thurgau, and Kerner. Bastion of the poor image of quality in Germany post WWII

Question 19

Manzanilla Pasada

Answer 19

Sanlúcar equivalent of Fino Amontillado.

Question 20

Marc

Answer 20

Brandy produced from grape pommace

Question 21

Masdeu

Answer 21

Strong red wine made in Roussillon from an estate of the same name and consumed as a cheaper alternative to Port during the mid 19th century where it found particular success in London at that time.

Question 22

Massandra Collection

Answer 22

Widely considered to be one of the most valuable wine collections of wine in the world. Located at the historic winery in Crimea (previously Ukraine, now Russia) of the same name.

Question 23

Massic

Answer 23

Historic wine produced during the Roman Empire on the slopes of Monte Massico near the zone that produces Falernian

Question 24

Mateus

Answer 24

Famous Portuguese wine brand largely associated with a medium-sweet sparkling rosé style that became famous post WWII and hit its peak in the late 1970s. Originally produced in the Douro Valley at the Palace of Mateus near Vila Real. Now most is produced in Bairrada

Question 25

Mead

Answer 25

Fermented beverage made from honey. Called Hydromel in France and Honigwein or Met in Germany

Question 26

Meritage

Answer 26

Term coined in 1981 for American wines made in the image of Bordeaux blends. Must be made from at least two red or white Bordeaux grapes. Term was coined to distinguish blends from single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc.

Question 27

Sifone

Answer 27

Italian for mistelle; also known as mistella

Question 28

Clarete

Answer 28

historic Spanish term for a wine somewhere between a rosado (rosé) and a light red. Etymologically but not oenologically related to claret.

Question 29

What specialty wine is produced in the Troodos foothills?

Answer 29

Commandaria

Question 30

For how long must Commandaria be aged?

Answer 30

Minimum 2 years in wood

Question 31

Is fortification of Commandaria mandatory?

Answer 31

No, but it is common practice.