SOMM Wine Regions and Geography 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Chablis, producing unoaked Chardonnay, is the northernmost subregion of which French wine region?
- Champagne
- Alsace
- Burgundy (Correct answer)
- Jura
Correct answer: Burgundy
Chablis is the northernmost appellation of Burgundy, known for lean, mineral-driven Chardonnay wines aged without oak.
Question 2: Which New Zealand wine region is internationally acclaimed for its Sauvignon Blanc?
- Hawke's Bay
- Martinborough
- Marlborough (Correct answer)
- Central Otago
Correct answer: Marlborough
Marlborough, at the northern tip of the South Island, produces the world's benchmark style of zesty, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc.
Question 3: The Douro Valley in Portugal is the production zone for which famous fortified wine?
- Madeira
- Sherry
- Port (Correct answer)
- Marsala
Correct answer: Port
Port wine is produced in the Douro Valley, where the harvested grapes are fortified with grape spirit to halt fermentation.
Question 4: Napa Valley is located north of which major Californian city?
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- San Francisco (Correct answer)
- Sacramento
Correct answer: San Francisco
Napa Valley lies approximately 30 miles north of San Francisco, making it easily accessible from the Bay Area.
Question 5: Rioja wine region in Spain is divided into three sub-zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and which third zone?
- Rioja Baja
- Rioja Oriental (Correct answer)
- Rioja Sur
- Rioja Central
Correct answer: Rioja Oriental
Rioja is divided into Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental (formerly called Rioja Baja), each with distinct climatic influences.
Question 6: Mendoza, Argentina's most important wine region, sits in the shadow of which mountain range?
- Andes (Correct answer)
- Sierra Madre
- Appalachians
- Rockies
Correct answer: Andes
Mendoza's vineyards benefit from high altitude and a dry climate shaped by the Andes mountains, which block Pacific moisture.
SOMM Wine Regions and Geography 2
Chablis, producing unoaked Chardonnay, is the northernmost subregion of which French wine region?