Wine 101 Quiz

The longer wine is allowed to stay in contact with these elements, the more "tannic" quality the wines will have.

Oak barrel aging can also contribute tannins from the wood.

Often the flavor ar the finish can bifferent from the initial taste of the wine. Some complexities and nuances are only perceptible during the finish. Usually the more complex the wine, the longer this aftertaste will be.

This term is occasionally seen on U.S. wine bottles. It is not meant to be a statement of quality.

If the cork is allowed to dry out, it may shrink and lose its tight seal. This can result in air getting in the bottle causing the wine to spoil.

The "Legs" of a wine can be an indicator of the wine's alcohol content.

Generally speaking, wines with "great legs" (i.e., slow drip, thick or long) are full bodied and have relatively high alcohol contents.

"Tears" is sometimes used as a synonym fo "legs".

This is the recommended ideal for cool wine storage (not serving).

Storing at too cold of a temperature will dull the wine's flavor. Storing at too warm of a temperature will prematurely age the wine and is may deteriorate before it ever reaches its peak.

These are natural results of the fermentation process that all wines go through. In most wines the carbon dioxide is allowed to escape from the bottle prior to corking. For sparkling wines, like Champagne, it is trapped thereby creating the bubbles.

Varietal refers to the specific grape type or variety.

The other choices are wine names based on regions.

This is the minimum amount in all U.S. states that produce wine. The exact percentage can vary and is determined by individual states, but it is never less than 75%.

So a U.S. "Chardonnay" must contain at least 75% Chardonnay grapes.

While sherries are made in other countries, the Sherries usually regarded to be the best come from Andalusia region in the south of Spain.

The name Sherry comes from the town name of Jerez de la Frontera. The word "Jerez" became "Sherry".

Fume Blanc can be another term for Sauvignon Blanc. The "Fume" comes from the "smoky" look of the fog that sets on certain vineyards.

However, occasionally U.S. wines that say Fume Blanc (instead of Sauvignon Blanc) may have an oaked style that imparts a smoky quality to the wine.

While holding the wine in the mouth, it should be rolled around to fully coat the taste buds. This helps to better appreciate the wine.

The length of the finish cannot be determined until after the wine is swallowed.

The grape varietal used to make Red Burgundy is Pinot Nor. Burgundy wines are named for the region in France from which they come.

This can resemble an ashtray but is actually a shallow cup used for evaluating wine. Many restaurant sommeliers will have a tastevin on a chain around their neck.

Wines made from grapes picked at different harvest times, even from the same vineyard, will have different sweetness levels and styles.

While white wine ordinarily should be served at a colder temperature than red wine, ALL opened wine should be stored in the refrigerator to slow down the wine's deterioration.

Red wines should come back up to a cool room temperature before serving.

"White" Zinfandels are made from red grapes but the wine is allowed to stay in contact with its skins for only a brief time so very little color is imparted. Zinfandels with deep red color have had extensive contact with the grape shins.

Muscatel is not a grape but is a cheap sweet fortified wine with high alcohol.

Muscat Canelli ad Moscatel are two varieties of grapes in the Muscat family of grapes used for making generally sweet white wines.

This region near Rome got its name from a 12th Century servany to a German bishop. The servant was to determine if the wine in the area was good. He jubilantly proclaimed "Est! Est! Est!" meaning "It is! It is! It is!".

This area generally produces simple white wines.