Well, it is Wednesday again, and time for the Weekly Wine Quiz. Last week, the Quiz was comprised of a few general wine knowledge questions, which we need to address first.

1. Generally speaking, about how many tastes can one detect through the taste buds on the tongue?

a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 7

C. 5. As pointed out by Julian of VinoInLove, there might be a sixth taste (fat), but the accepted five are: Sweet, sour, salt, bitter, and umami. 

2. Approximately how many aromas can the average nose distinguish?

a. 500  
b. 1,000  
c. 5,000  
d. 10,000

D. 10,000. It surprised the heck out of me, too….

3. How many acres of Merlot were planted in California in 1960?

a. 2
b. 20
c. 200
d. 2,000

A. 2. Perhaps another surprise (it was for me), and I have to say that I wish it would have declined since then, but it hasn’t.

4. After new vines are planted, about how many years does it take for the vines to produce fruit that is suitable for the production of high quality wine?

a. 2-3 years
b. 4-5 years
c. 6-7 years
d. 8 years

B. 4-5 years. The key to this question was “high quality wine.” It takes at least three years for a vine to produce suitable wines, but at least 4-5 to produce high quality wines.

Bonus Question: Who is this?

That means we do not have anyone who got all the questions correct, but I will proclaim the winner VinoInLove, who also provided additional information! Kudos as well to Jeff from FoodWineClick and Linda of From Vinho Verde to Barolo with Love.

On to this week’s quiz. Once again, instead of focusing on one wine region, the quiz this week is a hodgepodge of wine trivia. So in no particular order:

1. What methods can winemakers use to minimize the fungus Brettanomyces?

a. Ferment the wine at higher temperatures. 
b. Maintain as close to a sterile environment as possible. 
c. Allow some residual sugar to remain in the wine. 
d. All of the above.

2. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie started producing their Miraval Rosé in 2012. How long did it take for the entire production of 6,000 bottles to sell out when offered online?

a. 5 minutes. 
b. 5 hours. 
c. 5 Days. 
d. 5 weeks.
e. It did not sell out.

3. Which insects are believed to be crucial in the transmission of yeasts to grape clusters that are critical in the wine making process?

a. Ants. 
b. Bees. 
c. Butterflies.
d. Wasps. 
e. All of the above.

4. True or false: There is a positive correlation between the height of a person and their ability to identify aromas in wine (i.e., taller wine drinkers are generally better tasters).

Bonus Question: Who is this?

Good luck answers next week!