Pinot Noir

Question 1

Pinot Noir is a ____-skinned grape.

Answer 1

thin

Question 2

Pinot Noir requires a ____ to _________ climate to produce good-quality grapes.

Answer 2

cool to moderate

Question 3

Which of the following interactions with oak is common for Pinot Noir?

a) small, new barrels
b) small, old barrels
c) large, new barrels
d) large, old barrels

Answer 3

d) large, old barrels

Question 4

In Burgundy, top-quality (premier/grand cru) expressions are often located on slopes facing which direction?

Answer 4

south and/or southeast

Question 5

The northern half of the Côte d’Or is called ____________________.

Answer 5

Côte de Nuits

Question 6

The southern half of the Côte d’Or is called ____________________.

Answer 6

Côte de Beaune

Question 7

Name the two most famous villages for Pinot Noir in the Côte de Nuits.

Answer 7

Gevrey-Chambertin AOC, Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC

Question 8

Name the two most famous villages for Pinot Noir in the Côte de Beaune.

Answer 8

Beaune AOC, Pommard AOC

Question 9

Which of the following conditions causes Carneros (Northern California) to be suitable for growing Pinot Noir?

a) excessive rainfall
b) morning fogs from San Pablo Bay
c) sea breeze from Monterrey Bay
c) dense, clay soil

Answer 9

b) morning fogs from San Pablo bay

Question 10

Which of the following conditions make western parts of Sonoma and Santa Barbara County ideal for growing Pinot Noir?

a) sea breeze from Pacific Ocean
b) high altitude
c) excessive cloud-cover
d) fog from the Morro Bay

Answer 10

a) sea breeze from Pacific Ocean

Question 11

Which of the following regions is more likely to express pronounced flavors (vanilla) from oak?

a) Bourgogne Villages
b) Sonoma, California, USA

Answer 11

b) Sonoma, California, USA

Question 12

Which two factors make Oregon an ideal growing region for Pinot Noir?

a) high elevation
b) northerly latitude
c) Pacific Ocean breezes
d) sandy soil

Answer 12

b) northerly latitude

c) Pacific Ocean breezes

Question 13

Which country + region in South America is most well known for its plantings of Pinot Noir?

Answer 13

Casablanca Valley, Chile

Question 14

Which South African wine region (cooled properly by southerly sea breezes) is most suited to grow proper expressions of Pinot Noir?

Answer 14

Walker Bay

Question 15

Which two Australian wine regions are most likely to produce well-made Pinot Noir?

a) Mornington Peninsula
b) Barossa Valley
c) Yarra Valley
d) Clare Valley

Answer 15

a) Mornington Peninsula

c) Yarra Valley

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a common region for growing Pinot Noir in New Zealand?

a) Martinborough
b) Marlborough
c) Central Otago
d) Hunter Valley

Answer 16

d) Hunter Valley

Question 17

While some high quality Pinot Noir wines can be aged, most expressions are meant to be drunk young. Which of the following budget-friendly regions may require bottle age to reach their full potential?

a) South Africa
b) Chile
c) New Zealand
d) Oregon, USA

Answer 17

c) New Zealand

Question 18

What happens when Pinot Noir is planted and grown in regions too warm for ideal growth?

Answer 18

flabby wines with high alcohol that lack identifiable Pinot Noir characteristics