Wine Basics

Question 1

What is wine

Answer 1

A fermented beverage produced from the juice of any fruit, usually grapes

Question 2

Formula for Alcoholic Fermentation

Answer 2

Sugar + Yeast = Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide + Heat

Question 3

What are the fermentable sugars in grapes

Answer 3

Fructose and glucose

Question 4

What is a varietal

Answer 4

A particular subspecies or type of grape

Question 5

What is the type of yeast used for alcoholic fermentation in wine

Answer 5

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Question 6

What is saccharomyces cerevisiae also known as

Answer 6

budding yeast
brewer’s yeast
baker’s yeast

Question 7

Why do wine makers ferment wine in temperature controlled rooms or tanks?

Answer 7

To control how fast the yeast metabolizes sugar

Question 8

What is the species of grape used for wine?

Answer 8

Vitis vinifera

Question 9

Where did vitis vinifera originate?

Answer 9

Mesopotamia (modern-day Iran/Iraq)

Question 10

What are the components of a grape

Answer 10

Out to in
Skin
Juice
Pulp
Seed

Question 11

What is the origin for the pinot blanc grape

Answer 11

Pinot Noir grape that mutated to have no pigment in the skin

Question 12

What is the origin for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape

Answer 12

Cross-pollination of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc

Question 13

What is the origin for the Pinotage grape

Answer 13

Crossed pinot noir and Cinsaut

Question 14

How many different subspecies of Vitis vinifera are there?

Answer 14

Estimates range from 3,500 - 10,000

Question 15

How many grapes are in a bottle of wine

Answer 15

Approximately 2.5 lbs (600-800 wine grapes)

Question 16

What are characteristics of the wine grape

Answer 16

High sugar content
High levels of acidity
large concentrations of tannins
yeast on skin for easy fermentation
biochemically complex

Question 17

Why is high sugar content important for wine grapes

Answer 17

Allows for more ethanol production during fermentation and produces higher alcohol content

Question 18

Why is acidity important for wine grapes

Answer 18

A high level of acid is necessary to balance out the sugar (sweetness)

Question 19

What is the pH level of most wines

Answer 19

2.9 to 3.8

Question 20

What are the primary acids found in wine grapes

Answer 20

tartaric
citric
malic

Question 21

Why are tannins important for wine grapes

Answer 21

They provide astringency (a feeling)
Give structure and add complexity to the wine

Question 22

Where are tannins found in wine grapes

Answer 22

skin
seed
stems

Question 23

What are tannins

Answer 23

long-chain phenols

Question 24

What is yeast on wine grape skin called

Answer 24

Bloom

Question 25

What influences the flavors in wine

Answer 25

Grapes used
Viticulture and terroir
Viniculture

Question 26

What is viticulture

Answer 26

Art and science of growing grapes

Question 27

What is terroir

Answer 27

the impact of the environment (earth, weather)

Question 28

What is viniculture

Answer 28

Art and science of making wine

Question 29

What insect almost caused the wine grape extinction?

Answer 29

Phylloxera

Question 30

Who developed rootstock that could withstand phylloxera?

Answer 30

Thomas Munson

Question 31

What is the judgement of Paris

Answer 31

A blind tasting of American vs French wines

Question 32

What was the winning Chardonnay from the Judgement of Paris

Answer 32

1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

Question 33

What was the winning Cabernet Sauvignon from the Judgement of Paris

Answer 33

1973 Stags Leap Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon