Quiz answers
1. Many of the descriptions, the shape, colour and design of the label are merely advertising, created by the supplier to attract you to purchase their wine.
2. A standard bottle of wine will contain 75cl of liquid. In most countries, and by law in the EU, alcohol is measured by volume. This strength will also normally be specified on the label.
3. Simply to order wine from a specific region is no guarantee of consistency. With more than 1,000 Beaujolais producers, all with different standards, knowing one producer from another is important.
4. The cellar should be free of draughts, although not airless, slightly damp and on the dark side. Given these conditions the wine should arrive at the table as intended.
5. (b). This is similar to the temperature normally considered ideal for drinking white wine. Wine will develop more quickly, and eventually decay, the warmer the cellar is maintained.
6. Normally, dessert and sparkling wines are served at about 4ºC. The effect of over-chilling is to reduce the taste. A cheap, inferior white should be as cold as possible.
7. (b). Although most living rooms are warmer, which may be appreciated by older reds, Beaujolais Nouveau and other non-cru wines may need to be slightly chilled to 11-14ºC.
9. (a). A corked wine is one where the cork has been attacked by penicillin mould. The longer a bottle in this condition is open, a sure indicator will be the strong smell of mouldy, stale mushrooms.
10. No, the distance between the two areas is substantial. But even within the same region, vintages can vary, ie, the conditions that produce a good Sauternes may not produce a good claret.
11. "Brut" indicates a Champagne that has been slightly sweetened, but it does taste dry. A true, bone-dry bubbly will be described as "brut zéro" or "brut sauvage" - too dry for most palates.
12. The two terms describe the way wine flows down the glass, after being swirled. It is a sign of the rich glycerine content found in ripe grapes. But ripe grapes can make bad wine.
14. Chianti is produced in the Tuscany region, which includes the cities of Florence and Pisa. Barolo comes from the Piedmont region, which includes the cities of Turin and Asti.
