In vino veritas

A WINE QUIZ TO keep you occupied in those quiet moments over Christmas. The prize, donated by mail-order specialist Wines Direct from Mullingar (winesdirect.ie), is a 12-bottle wooden gift case for the overall winner and a six- and a three-bottle wooden gift case for the runners-up.

1. Up to 13 different grape varieties may be used to make Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Name seven.

2. How much Champagne is contained in a Salmanazar?

A. Six Litres

B. Nine Litres

C. Twelve Litres

3. What is a Palo Cortado?

4. Where would you find the Polish Hill vineyard?

5. What country is famous for producing wine from the Grüner Veltliner grape variety?

6. How many litres of wine does a full Bordeaux barrique contain?

7. What Dubliner makes wine in the Domaine of the Angels?

8. Into whose winery did Bernardo O’Higgins lead 120 rebels?

9. Which of the following is not a grape variety?

A.Šipon

B.Bacchus

C.Calvi

10. What is the primary grape variety used to make Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?

11. Where in the world would you find the Rutherford Bench?

12. Who said: “My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne”?

13. What is Phylloxera Vastatrix?

A. A deadly aphid that attacks vines.

B. An ancient Roman wine

C. A strain of yeast used in sparkling wine.

14. Name the odd one out: Lafite-Rothschild, Latour, Pétrus, Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux.

15. What is the minimum time a Rioja Gran Reserva must remain in oak barrels before being bottled?

A.One year

B.Two years

C.Five years

16. By what other name(s) does the Malbec grape variety go by?

17. Which is the bigger producer – Bordeaux or New Zealand?

18. What two grape varieties were crossed to create Pinotage?

19. What colour is a Vinho Verde?

A. white

B. red

C. either red or white

20. Where would you find the Bernkasteler Doctor vineyard?

A. The Mosel

B. The Rheingau

C. The Nahe

21. Which Nobel prize winner is credited with saying: “If penicillin can cure those that are ill, Spanish sherry can bring the dead back to life”?

22. What is a lagar?

A. A golden-coloured, top-fermented beer.

B. A trough used to tread grapes by foot.

C. A defensive circle of wagons used by the South African voortrekkers.

23. What is Cannonau, and where would you expect to find it growing?

24. What is Petite Champagne?

A. A sub-region of Champagne

B. A lesser quality of Champagne

C. A sub-region of Cognac

25. Where is Frankland River?

A. Australia

B. New Zealand

C. South Africa