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:
1. In serving/consuming champagne, which of the following is considered rude?
- Making a “pop” sound when opening the bottle in a restaurant
- Pouring the champagne using two hands
- Pouring less than a full glass
- Putting the empty bottle upside down in the ice bucket
According to Juhlin, Putting the empty bottle upside down in the ice bucket is considered insulting to the producer. I would have also accepted Making a “pop” since I have been told time and again this is rude by many in Champagne.
2. Which of the following is not true?
- The traditional champagne flute was originally designed to capture any sediment in the bottom of the glass.
- The champagne goblet, which is said to have been designed after the bust of Marie Antoinette, is also known as the “Hollywood glass”.
- The best glass for tasting vintage champagne is a crystal flute.
- The flute is the best glass to capture the bubbles.
The best glass for tasting vintage champagne is a “regular” glass (e.g., a Bordeaux stem) since it better allows the aromas to escape (and your nose to get in).
3. Of the following, which is not a key element in sabrage?
- Removing all the foil from the bottle.
- Removing the cage (le muselet) and the capsule (la plaque du muselet).
- Finding the seam of the bottle.
- Having the bottle adequately chilled.
- Striking the bottle with a short, slightly downward stroke.
All of the choices are key elements in sabering a bottle with the exception of the last option. You actually want a long stroke and that runs up the bottle.
4. True or False: The inside of champagne glasses work best if they are perfectly smooth.
False. Bubbles form on the imperfections of the glass—a perfectly smooth glass would not produce any bubbles!
5. True or False: Dom Pérignon is always a vintage champagne.
True.
Extra Credit–where did I consume this bottle (that is a tough one!)? And where is the wine from? This is a bottle of sparkling Vouvray (an inexpensive alternative to champagne) and the photo was taken in the coastal town of Dinard in Normandy.
Even though she missed on a couple of questions, this week’s winner is Danielle Spandau–a delightful woman whom I met a few weeks ago.
On to this week’s quiz:
I have been re-reading Richard Juhlin’s book, 4000 Champagnes, to help prepare for my trip to Champagne in a couple of weeks as a Tour Guide with Blue Marble Travel. Juhlin’s book is an absolutely fantastic resource for Champagne, but it is also loaded with great information about wine in general (the new version of the book 8000 Champagnes is due out in November, so if you were looking to get me a gift….). Here are a few more questions I derived from the book:
1. Which of the following was not considered a vintage year in Champagne?
- 1964
- 1976
- 1984
- 1996
- 2002
2. What is the AOC designation for a still red wine from Champagne?
3. Which of the following is not made in Champagne?
- A still white wine
- A still rosé wine
- A fortified wine
- A distilled wine
4. Which of the following is not a Grand Cru village?
- Louvois
- Puisieulx
- Beaumont-sur-Vesle
- Tauxières
- Oiry
5. Bonus question. Where did I take this photo of my good friend Ted Slack and my brother (the insufferable Michigan fan)?
the drunken cyclist 
Fun stuff! – In fact, I really only got one answer right, but I digress.
I have to disagree with the best glass for tasting though….I don’t think champagne tastes as good in a “regular” wine glass. I can also tell you that my Mother (who is Champenoise) is always appalled when champagne is served this way. Something about the carbonation and that type of glass doesn’t work for me. Too much goes up the nose and I find I am often annoyed when this is offered for champagne. I would rather have the “old school” (Marie Antoinette) glass to enjoy the aromas.
LikeLike
We will have to do a taste off one of these days! I feel the wider and deeper glass does a better job focusing the aromas. Sure, you might sacrifice some sparkle, but not much….
LikeLike
I hope that someday you will change the theme for your weekly wine quizzes again. I liked them much more when they did not just focus on Champagne…
LikeLike
I will! Sorry they have been so Champagne centric recently, but it is the best wine in the world (small bias)!
LikeLike
Wissembourg. See you in Champagne. Btw, my husband played saxophone in the Michigan marching band but lucky for all of us, he will not be packing his tenor for mousse head.
LikeLike
Great guess (but no, very close though). Certainly looking forward to the trip (although the news about your husband is rather unfortunate…)!
LikeLike