Are You a Wine Geek? Take the Challenge

Test your Wine Knowledge with this Quiz

Quizzes are a fun way to engage your guests at a gettogether. And, if they love wine, then this will give them a chance to show off their knowledge.

If you’re doing this at a party, you can either give people noisemakers (so they can ‘ring in’ when they know the answer) or give everyone a notepad so they can jot down their answers which you can tally at the end. As the host, you’ll want to have the answer key handy.

If you’re doing this on your own and want to see how you rate on the wine-geek scale, then jot down your answers before referring to the answer key which you’ll find a link to at the bottom of the quiz.

Of course, this best to do with a glass (or two) of wine. We recommend pairing party quizzes with something bubbly like See Ya Later Brut, Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut, or Inniskillin Sparkling Tempranillo.

Good luck!

1. Where do tannins in wine come from?

1. The seeds, stems, skins, and oak
2. The seeds, stems, and skins
3. A powder added to the wine
4. All of the above

2. Why would a winemaker interrupt fermentation?

1. To create bubbles
2. To make the wine dry
3. To make the wine sweet
4. To make it in the Verde style

3. What is Noble Rot

1. Mold that makes the grape poisonous
2. Mold that causes the grape to shrivel
3. Mold that causes the grape to ferment on the vine
4. A punk band

4. Why can’t you call Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut a Champagne?

1. It’s not made in the Champagne style
2. The grapes aren’t grown in the Champagne style
3. The grapes are not heated before fermentation
4. The grapes are not grown in the right region

5. What are you describing when you talk about ‘the finish’ when wine tasting?

1. The aftertaste of the wine
2. The last glass poured from the bottle
3. How the wine coats the mouth
4. When a wine triggers the taste buds

6. Canada has amazing ice wines - the best in the world according to the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2018. Another region well known for ice wine is Austria. What do they call it there?

1. Zweiwein
2. Auswein
3. Eiswein
4. Süsswein

7. What should you avoid when tasting wine?

1. Loud music & poor lighting
2. Perfume & air fresheners
3. Brushing your teeth
4. All of the above

8. Which Great Estates Okanagan winery won Canadian Wine Producer of the Year at the 2018 International Wine and Spirits Competition?

1. Inniskillin Okanagan Winery
2. Nk’Mip Cellars
3. Black Sage Vineyard
4. See Ya Later Ranch

9. Which of these wines cannot go in a traditional red Meritage?

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Gamay Noir, Petit Verdot, Gros Verdot, St. Macaire, or Carmenère.

10. How many small glasses (125 ml) of wine can you get from a standard bottle of wine?

1. 6
2. 5
3. 7
4. 4

11. Why do we decant wine?

1. To get rid of sediment in aged wines
2. To air the wine out
3. To help a young wine open up
4. All of the above

12. Why should you use a varietal specific glass when enjoying wine?

1. To ensure the wine hits the right part of your palate
2. So you know what type of wine is being served
3. The design is specific to how the variety needs to be swirled
4. All of the above

13. What wine would pair well with blue cheese?

1. Zinfandel
2. Port
3. Cabernet Franc
4. All of the above

14. What temperature should wine be cellared at?

1. 5 - 10° C
2. 10 - 15° C
3. 15 - 20°
4. None of the above

15. Where is the Great Estates Wine Experience Centre located?

1. At Sumac Winery
2. Vancouver
3. Osoyoos
4. Penticton

16. What’s the difference between aging wine in a French oak barrel versus an American oak barrel?

1. French imparts more vanilla or coconut notes
2. American imparts more vanilla or coconut notes
3. American imparts a more subtle flavour  influence
4. There’s no difference

17. What colour are the grapes used to make Zinfandel?

1. Pink
2. Red
3. Black
4. Green and red

18. Gewurztraminer is a popular wine in Germany. What is the German origin of the word?

1. Mountain wine made in the Tramin German Alps
2. Floral wine of mine
3. My favourite wine
4. Spice wine using grapes out of the Tramin region of Italy

19. Where is the first officially recognized sub appellation in BC?

1. Golden Mile Bench
2. Naramata Bench
3. Fraser Valley
4. Okanagan Falls

20. What does terroir refer to in wine tasting?

1. The healthy minerals in wine
2. How the land and climate affect the taste of the wine
3. The feeling you get when you realize you are out of wine
4. When wine tastes like dirt

That’s the end of the quiz. How well did you do? Find out using the ANSWER KEY.

Award one point for each correct answer.

In the case of a tie, use these bonus points to determine the true Wine Geek Champion.

• 1 bonus point if you belong to a wine club
• 2 bonus points if you’ve ever broken up with someone because they didn’t think wine was worth all of the fuss.
• 3 bonus points if you’ve got wine in your ‘cellar’ that’s been there for over a year.
• 5 bonus points if you’ve ever tasted the earth at a winery to get a sense of the terroir.
• 10 bonus points if you have a wine-related tattoo.