1. What is the etymology of the word champagne?
a. countryside
b. grain field
c. battlefield
2. What do champagne growers fear most?
a. a spring frost
b. solar eclipses
c. el Niño
3. Which of these French kings could not have drunk sparkling champagne?
a. Louis XV
b. Charles X
c. Henri IV
4. At what temperature must Champagne be served?
a. between 3°C and 6°C (35°F to 43°F)
b. between 7°C and 12°C (44°F to 54°F)
c. between 13°C and 16°C (55°F to 61°F)
5. Ruinart, the oldest champagne maker, was founded in:
a. 1629
b. 1729
c. 1829
6. Where do champagne bubbles come from:
a. second fermentation in the bottle
b. injecting CO2 into the wine before bottling
c. regularly shaking the bottles during the aging process
7. What is blanc de noirs champagne?
a. pink champagne
b. another name for kir royal (Champagne and blackcurrant liqueur cocktail)
c. champagne made exclusively from black grapes
8. Champagne has a naturally acid taste. The following French wine descriptors refer to acidity. Only one is considered pejorative. Which one?
a. frais (“fresh”)
b. nerveux (“petulant”)
c. vert ( “green”)
d. vif ( “lively”)
e. tranchant (“sharp”)
9. On average, how many bottles of champagne are produced per year?
a. 90 million
b. 180 million
c. 300 million
10. Legend has it that the shape of the traditional French champagne glass comes from a cast of:
a. the skull of Louis, Dauphin of France
b. Louis XVI’s knee
c. Madame de Pompadour’s breast
11. In French, the fine stream of bubbles that form around the surface of a champagne glass are called:
a. le cordon
b. la chaine
c. la ficelle
12. What grape variety is most planted in Champagne country?
a. Meunier
b. Chardonnay
c. Pinot noir
13. In the Champagne region, 85% of the vines belong to:
a. champagne makers
b. cooperatives
c. wine growers
14. The French term œil de perdrix (literally “partridge eye”) refers to what color champagne?
a. pinkish
b. dark amber (old champagne)
c. very pale
© Pictures: front page istock
