In looking at new ways to help wine 101ers learn about wine I remembered that in the weeks I was studying for my WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) test I asked the other students to my home for some group study meetings. During one of those sessions one woman had found a really cool website that had a multiple choice quiz. As you answered the questions correctly you would get harder and harder questions. It really did help my education.
This isn’t it, but it does have questions that get gradually harder: http://www.wine-pages.com/resources/quizzes.html
Berry Brothers, a store in London has one also. The first 10 questions start easy and can be exchanged for 10 harder ones, and looks closer to what we studied with: http://www.bbr.com/quiz
Then I decided, what the heck, I’ll do my own for you peeps to learn a little with:
Our Beginners Test
1. What is the average alcohol percentage for wine?
a. Under 5%.
b. Over 15%
c. While both domestic and European wines hover between 13% to 15% alcohol content, some wines are a percentage below or above.
2. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes are widely grown in which area of France:
a. Bordeaux
b. Champagne
c. Rhone Valley
3. True or False: Champagne from Champagne, France, is the same as what we call Sparkling wine made anywhere else.
4. The color of red wine comes primarily from what?
a. The entire grape, red or white.
b. The length of the skin contact in the winemaking process.
c. Food coloring.
5. Finish this sentence, “Burgundy and Chablis wines…”
a. “…were common names for red and white blended wines in the United States about five decades ago.
b. “…are still popular wine names in France.”
c. “…are primarily made from Pinot Noir (Burgundy) and Chardonnay (Chablis) grapes.
d. all of the above.
6. True or False: An Australian Shiraz and a United States grown Syrah are the same grape but grown in different countries.
7. What is the most famous wine grape growing region outside of United States’ Napa Valley?
a. Bordeaux
b. Burgundy
c. Australia
d. South Africa
e. Chile
f. New Zealand
g. None of the above
8. Of the wine regions listed above, which region is the most known for making Champagne?
a. Bordeaux
b. Burgundy
c. Australia
d. South Africa
e. Chile
f. New Zealand
g. None of the above
9. Finish this sentence, “If a wine doesn’t taste good it could be due to…”
a. You ordered a wine that you’ve never had before, and you don’t like it.
b. TCA cork taint, where the cork is faulty and the wine has a wet cardboard mildew smell.
c. You now regret the that price you paid.
d. All of the above.
10. When can you send wine back that you’ve already sampled?
a. You don’t like it.
b. Cork taint.
c. You didn’t see the price.
Bonus question
11. How often to you read Eve’s Wine 101?
a. Every damn day.
b. All of the above.
c. What she said ^^.
Answers: 1: c, 2: a, 3: False, 4: b, 5: d, 6: True, 7: a, 8: g, 9: d, 10: b, 11: a, b and c!
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
