It is Wednesday again and it is time for another installment of Wine Trivia Wednesday. Before we get to this week’s quiz, we need to get to the answers from last week. The last few weeks, the focus has been on Champagne. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, this summer I will be heading to the region to lead a bike trip as a Tour Guide with Blue Marble Travel (be sure to go check them out, it is a fun company). I am very excited about the trip–even excited to drink Belgian beers.
- Approximately how many bubbles are there in a bottle of Champagne? There are a lot of opinions on this one, but the most common answer seems to be 49 million bubbles.
- We all know that Chardonnay and Pinot Noir figure prominently in the production of Champagne. Name the other five legally allowed grapes. Thanks to Vinoinlove for pointing out that I originally phrased the question incorrectly. Many know that 99% of Champagne is made from a combination of three varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. There are, however, four other “legal” varieties that are allowed (although very little exists): Arbanne, Petite Meslier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris. There is a great write-up HERE about some of the producers using these “forgotten” grapes.
- True or False: In order to slice off the top of the bottle of Champagne, you need a somewhat large, imposing sword-like knife (i.e., a “saber”). False. As you can see in this video (which now has almost 20,000 hits!):
Thus there were two winners last week: the aforementioned Vinoinlove and our good friend (and number one commenter) Talk-a-Vino. Honorable mention to both the foodandwinehedonist and aFrankAngle for both making Carl Sagan references in their otherwise uninspired answers (if you guys want the award for irony/sarcasm/humor you really need to step it up).
On to this week’s quiz. Yet another Champagne centered quiz, since, well, it’s Champagne!
- Who was the first king of France and what is his connection to Champagne?
- Champagne is one of the few wine regions in the world where, for the production of rosé wines, this is allowed.
- Champagnes are classified by the amount of sugar that is added back into the wine during the “dosage” step of the sparkling wine process. [Basically, once the dead yeast cells are removed, a bit of wine is added back into the bottle to both bring the level of the liquid back up as well as to introduce a bit more sugar if desired]. Put the following in order of sweetness from least to most sweet:
- brut
- brut nature
- brut sauvage
- demi-sec
- doux
- extra-brut
- extra-sec
- sec
Have fun with the quiz–answers next week!
the drunken cyclist 
I’m incapable of answering these questions without Google, but as usual, I appreciate the learning opportunity : )
1. Hugh Capet was first king of France who was crowned in Rerims in Champagne region, with local wines being served during the ceremony. This started the tradition for many hundreds of years ahead for the ceremony to take place in Reims, which I’m sure helped to improve local winemaking.
2. I’m assuming you are talking about lending, where still red wine is added to the white wine, instead of maceration with the skin.
3. Here we go (was not an easy exercise):
Brut Nature = Brut Sauvage (0 added sugar)
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra-sec
Sec
Demi-sec
Doux
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Google is your friend….
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yep, for sure : )
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I was just helping my son study for a test on the Merovingians, Carolingians and Capetians! What a swirling mess that is!! And believe me, I NEEDED some Champagne after that study session!!
1. I think you could make an argument that Clovis I was the first King of France, or at least the Franks . . . uniting all the Frankish tribes under one ruler. Clovis converted to Catholicism, and was baptized in Reims, the capital of Champagne. Anyway, Reims has been *THE* spot for French coronations ever since. And naturally, the after-parties featured rivers of Champagne. Or something like that.
2. The blending of red and white wines . . .
3. Brut Nature / Sauvage
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Sec
Sec
Demi Sec
Doux
Happy Wednesday! Salud!!
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Studying Medieval History! NICE! I used to teach that many years ago–ahh the memories!
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I pass. 😉
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😉
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