75 Wine Trivia Questions to Test Your Wine Knowledge

Wine trivia is a delightful way to explore the world of wine, whether you’re a seasoned sommelier or just enjoy a casual glass. This collection of 75 wine trivia questions will take you through various aspects of wine, from grape varieties and regions to fascinating wine facts and historical anecdotes. Whether you’re hosting a wine-tasting party or just looking for a fun way to test your wine knowledge, this list has something for everyone. So, pour yourself a glass and get ready to dive into the captivating world of wine trivia.

Wine Trivia Questions and Answers

Vino Varietals

What type of French wine is typically made from Pinot Noir grapes?
Answer: Burgundy.

Which grape variety is known as the “king of red grapes”?
Answer: Cabernet Sauvignon.

What is Australia’s most important wine grape?
Answer: Shiraz.

What is the dominant grape in Chianti?
Answer: Sangiovese.

What is the most widely planted grape in the world?
Answer: Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Facts & Figures

How much wine is in a standard bottle?
Answer: 750 milliliters.

How many grapes does it take to make a standard bottle of wine?
Answer: About 200 grapes.

What’s the biggest kind of wine bottle?
Answer: Nebuchadnezzar.

How many gallons of wine does one acre of grapevines produce on average?
Answer: About 800 gallons.

How long after planting is a grapevine ready to produce wine-quality grapes?
Answer: 3-5 years.

Wine Regions

Which country has the largest area of vineyards?
Answer: Spain.

Which U.S. state produces the most wine?
Answer: California.

What is the oldest wine-producing region in the world?
Answer: Georgia.

Which French wine region is known for producing Sauvignon Blanc?
Answer: Loire Valley.

What is the only winemaking region in the world not affected by the phylloxera louse?
Answer: Chile.

Vino Vocab

What does “terroir” refer to in winemaking?
Answer: The environment in which grapes are grown.

What does “non-vintage” (NV) mean?
Answer: A blend of wines from different years.

What is a “vertical tasting”?
Answer: Tasting different vintages of the same wine from the same winery.

What does “appellation” mean in wine terminology?
Answer: The region where the grapes for the wine were grown.

Which species of grape is most commonly used in winemaking?
Answer: Vitis vinifera.

Wine & Food Pairing

Which wine is best paired with dark chocolate?
Answer: Cabernet Sauvignon or Port.

What wine pairs well with spicy food?
Answer: Riesling.

What wine pairs well with a creamy pasta dish?
Answer: Chardonnay.

Which red wine is commonly paired with steak?
Answer: Cabernet Sauvignon.

What is a good wine pairing for sushi?
Answer: Sparkling wine or a light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc.

Fun Wine Facts

How many bubbles are there in a bottle of Champagne?
Answer: About 49 million.

Which wine was used to toast the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Madeira.

What is the oldest winery in the world?
Answer: A winery in Armenia, dating back to 4100 BC.

What wine is known for its blue hue?
Answer: Blue wine (vino azul).

What colors can wine be?
Answer: Red, white, pink (rose), orange, and blue.

Historical Figures & Wine

Which two U.S. presidents attempted to grow grapevines?
Answer: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

What was Jackie Kennedy’s favorite kind of Champagne?
Answer: Veuve Clicquot.

How many bottles of Pol Roger Champagne did Winston Churchill drink in his lifetime?
Answer: About 42,000 bottles.

Which wine was George Washington’s favorite?
Answer: Madeira.

Who is the Greek god of wine?
Answer: Dionysus.

Wine Aging and Storage

What is the ideal storage temperature for wine?
Answer: 55°F (13°C).

Why are wine bottles often stored on their sides?
Answer: To keep the cork moist and prevent air from entering the bottle.

What is the ideal humidity for wine storage?
Answer: Around 70%.

Which part of the wine bottle is most crucial for aging?
Answer: The cork.

How long can a bottle of wine be aged?
Answer: It varies, but some wines can age for decades.

Wine-Making Process

What is the term for the process of removing grape skins during red wine production?
Answer: Racking.

What is “malolactic fermentation”?
Answer: A secondary fermentation that converts malic acid to lactic acid.

At what point in the winemaking process does Champagne get its bubbles?
Answer: During secondary fermentation in the bottle.

What is the traditional method used to produce Champagne called?
Answer: Méthode Champenoise.

What does “crushing” refer to in winemaking?
Answer: Breaking the skins of the grapes to release their juice.

Sparkling Wine Knowledge

How fast can the cork fly out of a Champagne bottle?
Answer: Up to 50 miles per hour.

How many atmospheres of pressure are inside a Champagne bottle?
Answer: About 6 atmospheres.

What type of glass is best for serving Champagne?
Answer: A flute or tulip-shaped glass.

What is the sweetest type of Champagne?
Answer: Doux.

What is the driest type of Champagne?
Answer: Brut Nature.

Wine and Culture

Which country is the largest consumer of wine per capita?
Answer: Vatican City.

In ancient Rome, who was the god of wine?
Answer: Bacchus.

Which wine is traditionally served at the Japanese cherry blossom festivals?
Answer: Sake.

What wine is known as the “wine of kings”?
Answer: Tokaji Aszú.

What is the origin of the wine toast?
Answer: Ancient Romans toasted to honor the gods.

Wine Glassware

What is the best type of glass for red wine?
Answer: A glass with a large bowl.

Why is a Champagne flute tall and narrow?
Answer: To retain carbonation and concentrate the aromas.

What glass is best for white wine?
Answer: A glass with a smaller bowl than a red wine glass.

Which glass shape is recommended for Rosé?
Answer: A short, wide-bowled glass.

How should you hold a wine glass?
Answer: By the stem, to avoid warming the wine with your hand.

Wine Legislation

Which country has strict laws regarding wine classification and labeling?
Answer: France.

What does the term “DOC” mean on Italian wine labels?
Answer: Denominazione di Origine Controllata.

What is “AOC” in French wine labeling?
Answer: Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée.

What does “Reserva” indicate on a Spanish wine label?
Answer: The wine has been aged for a specific period before release.

What does “Old Vine” mean on a wine label?
Answer: Wine made from vines that are typically over 30 years old.

Wine and Health

Which compound in red wine is believed to have heart health benefits?
Answer: Resveratrol.

What is the common name for sulfites in wine?
Answer: Preservatives.

What is a standard serving size of wine?
Answer: 5 ounces.

Which type of wine is said to have the most antioxidants?
Answer: Red wine.

What is a potential health risk associated with excessive wine consumption?
Answer: Liver disease.

Unique Wine Knowledge

What type of wine is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Answer: A light red wine from the Beaujolais region in France.

Which wine has the highest alcohol content?
Answer: Fortified wines like Port or Sherry.

What type of wine is traditionally used in cooking?
Answer: Dry white wine.

What color is a wine bottle used for white wines typically?
Answer: Green or clear.

What is the name for the sediment found at the bottom of a wine bottle?
Answer: Lees or dregs.