(Little tidbits about Wine and Local Paso
Wine Facts)
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In Europe an Estate Wine has a very precise definition. The
grapes must be grown by and the wine made by the proprietor.
It is common in the US for someone to buy grapes and make
wine. It's also more common that people realize to buy
wine in bulk and re-label. In France this would be
called a Negociant. The business value is in the
marketing. So the question is, which of the
following would be considered a Negociant?
| a) | Barton & Gustier |
| b) | Barefoot
Cellars |
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c) |
Louis Jadot |
| d) | All of the
Above |
Answer: d) All of the Above, All would be
considered a Negociant wine. Large, well respected
French wines Louis Jadot and Barton & Gustier are an example
of value that can be derived from good marketing.
Barefoot Cellars in the US maybe the extreme of Negociant.
Barefoot, a well known wine label owns no vineyards or
winery operations. All of their product is purchased
on the open bulk wine market and labeled.
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My wife and I just had a fabulous trip to France. I
learned some interesting facts about the wine industry which
many probably don't know. What wine region has the
highest volume of wine production in the world?
| a) | Bourgogne (Burgundy) |
| b) | United States |
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c) |
Bordeaux |
| d) | Languedoc |
Answer: d) Yes, although most are not familiar with
the Languedoc region of France this small region produces more wine than
any other region of the world including the entire US wine production.
Located along the Mediterranean just South of Spain this region
cultivated some its first grapes in 500 BC.
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A
bit of Real Estate and Wine in this question. A
contract for the sale of a vineyard should reference
"Emblements". What is the most likely meaning of this
inclusion in a sales contract for a vineyard?
| a) | Vineyard Equipment included in
the Sale |
| b) | This is a liability
protection against overstatements of Grape
Production |
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c) |
Specifies if Buyer or
Seller has rights to current crop of Grapes |
| d) | None of the Above |
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Answer: c) Emblements is the legal term for the
productive crop or harvest for a parcel of land. The
term was originally applied to "Sharecroppers" or Tenants
who were given the legal right to harvest crops they had
planted on a landlords property after their contract or
rental had ended. The term has been extended to apply
to any annual crop of the land and any crop that requires
productive work to produce. Since the law can be vague
on the subject, it should be clearly identified
in the sales contract. |
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Zinfandel is often considered
California's grape, but it's origin is Croatia.
Zinfandel has a sister grape which was also traced back to
Croatia. What is Zinfandel's sister grape?
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a) |
Tempranillo |
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b) |
Primitivo |
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c) |
Trebbiano |
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d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: (b) Primitivo and Zinfandel
are very closely related and can both be traced back to a
common ancestral grape variety from Croatia. Actually
Primitivo has many of the same Zinfandel characteristics.
The European Union has declared Zinfandel and Primitivo to
be synonyms. It's possible if you buy a bottle of wine
produced in Europe labeled as Zinfandel, it may
actually be Primitivo. That is not true of US produced
wines. At least not yet.
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El Paso De Robles, The Pass of the Oaks. Most of us
just look around Paso and view the mountain ranges in the
distance not giving much thought to what those peaks are.
To the West is the Santa Lucia Range. To the East is
what mountain range?
| a) | Cholame Hills |
| b) | Tremblor Range |
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c) |
La Panza Range |
| d) | None of the Above |
Answer: b) Tremblor Range, Spanish for Shake is
named so because it is on the Eastern edge of San Andreas
fault. Cholame would be North and La Panza South.
Sauternes wine is a well know dessert wine of the
Bordeaux region of France. The wine is sweet and
distinctly flavored. What is the major contributing
factor to the unique sweetness and flavor of this famous
wine style:
| a) | Frozen Grapes (Ice Wine) |
| b) | Late Harvest Grapes |
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c) |
Moldy Grapes |
| d) | None of the Above |
Answer: c) Yes Sauternes are made from moldy grapes,
more specifically, grapes that have been infected by
Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. Botrytis
causes the grapes to become partially raisined, resulting in
concentrated and distinctively flavored wines.
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Crush is finally in full swing! The cooler
temperatures of the Summer were beginning to be a concern for some,
but the recent record breaking high temperatures have caused the grapes
to ripen quickly. When grapes ripen, the sugar level rises.
The standard for measuring the sugar level in grapes is which of the
following:
| a) | Plato |
| b) | Balling |
| c) | Brix |
| d) | All of the Above |
Answer: d) All of the Above. Brix is most common in
the wine industry and Balling is the oldest, but still used. Each
is the measure of Sucrose in water.
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It's Crush time in Paso Wine Country, almost. Grapes appear to be
a few weeks later this year due to the unseasonal cooler temperatures
we've experienced this summer. Grapes are starting to ripen and
the sugar levels develop. A key time in the life of a grape is
what's known as Veraison. Veraison is a French word which has
gotten acceptance in American viticulture. What does Verasion
mean?
| a) | Sugar |
| b) | Ripe |
| c) | Color Change |
| d) | Raisin Sec |
Answer: c) Color change. After the color change
significant development of sugar has to take place before a grape is
ripe. Verasion is the start of the sugar development rather than
growth. For those curious, Raisin is French for Grape,
so Raisin Sec is French for what we refer to as raisins (Dry Grape).
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Zoning and Land Usage have dramatic effects on Land value.
Those values can shift dramatically with demand of a particular land
usage type and the economy. Land price evaluation is based upon
the term "Highest and Best Use". Assuming you have a parcel in
Paso Robles that is 3 acres in size and each has a location appropriate
for for their usage. Which of the following Land Usages would have
the highest value?
| a) | Agricultural |
| b) | Commercial/Retail |
| c) | Multi-Family (Apartments or
Condos) |
| d) | Single Family Residential |
Answer: a) Agricultural. This is a fairly
subjective question, but I used it to make a point. Five
years ago Multi-Family property was in high demand and priced upwards of
$750,000 per acre or more. Today, with the foreclosure rate we're
seen there is no demand and limited value. More recently than
that, Commercial/Retail property would have had a higher value,
but inventory issue in Commercial/Retail have impacted demand.
Paso has shifted back to it's agricultural roots.
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Real Estate ownership is an interesting subject much of which is based
upon Old English law. Real Estate ownership is about the owning of
"Rights" to property. Ownership rights are conveyed by the use of
a document know as a Deed. There are numerous types deeds used to
convey rights in various situations. Which of the following, in
the strictest sense, is not really a Deed?
| a) | Quitclaim |
| b) | Grant |
| c) | Trustee |
| d) | Warranty |
Answer: a) Quitclaim. A Quitclaim (although often
referred to as a Deed) does not generally transfer "Rights" of Title.
It's general usage, as it's name suggest, is used to give up any
rights to property. Since there is not a "Grant" or
"Warranty" of rights, primarily a release, remise, or quitclaim.
So if someone gives you a Quitclaim Deed to the Brooklyn Bridge, don't
get to excited. It would be perfectly legal and still completely
worthless.
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Last month the recipe was Mint Julep and I mentioned whiskey. Now
whiskey isn't a very local beverage, but I'm sure there is a lot
of interest anyway. There are many different types of Whiskey in
the world but they all share some common components. The following are
the most common types of whiskeys and their primary grain component.
The question is which has the grain component common to all whiskey.
| a) | Scotch, Barley |
| b) | Irish Whiskey, Rye |
| c) | Bourbon, Corn |
| d) | Jack Daniels, Corn |
Answer: A. Scotch, Barley. The term "Single
Malt" Scotch signifies a single batch of "Barley" was malted and
fermented to make that Scotch. Barley Malt is used in almost all
grain recipes for distilled spirits. Other grain malts do not
contain sufficient enzymes to convert the grain starches to sugars that
Barley Malt does so most all whiskey will contain some Barley Malt for
the starch to sugar conversion.
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The original Kentucky Ranch was 4000 acres and was divided up from the
original though the years. The question, what is the minimum
agricultural parcel that is allowed to be created by dividing a property
in San Luis Obispo County (not considering residential subdivision).
| a) | 10 Acres |
| b) | 40 Acres |
| c) | 160 Acres |
| d) | All of the Above |
Answer: D. It depends on the area. Minimum parcel
sizes are established for the specific planning areas of the county
based upon the agricultural viability of that particular areas land and
water resources. For example the minimum agricultural parcel size
in the Adeliada area is 80 acres.
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A focus on Real Estate. Most of us are home owners. So if
someone asked you to prove you own your home what document will prove
your home ownership?
| a) | Grant Deed |
| b) | Trustee Deed |
| c) | Title |
| d) | None |
Answer: D. There is no single document which
proves home ownership. A Grant Deed shows that someone gave to you
their rights of ownership, but doesn't prove they owned those
rights. A Trustee Deed is a security instrument used in
association with a loan. Titles are issued by the State to show
ownership of automobiles, etc, but there is no such document for
Real Property. Title Insurance can be purchased which will
guarantee you payment if your ownership is challenged, but doesn't
in of itself prove you own the property. Home ownership in
California can only be proved by following the chain of ownership grants
back to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. If you own
property in Louisiana it would have to be traced back to the Louisiana
Purchase. That's way we all have Title Insurance.
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March is time to celebrate Zinfandel with the Paso Robles Zinfandel
Festival March 19-21. Zinfandel has a long history in the Paso
Robles area with the first commercial winery producing Zinfandel wine in
1885 (York Mountain). White Zinfandel a few years ago was so
popular that it was considered by many the 3rd most popular wine
varietal. What California winery created and sold the first White
Zinfandel. I'm sure there will not be any at the Zin Festival.
| a) | Berringer |
| b) | Meridian |
| c) | Sutter Home |
| d) | Charles Shawn |
Answer: C. Sutter Home.
White Zinfandel has been produced in California since the
1880's, but previously produced in a dry Rose style.
In the 1970's Sutter was a major producer of traditional
Zinfandel. Common in that process is the draining off
of a portion of the juice before fermentation to create a
richer more flavorful Zin. Often the byproduct excess
juice was fermented also. One time a fermentation got "stuck"
leaving a high residual sugar content wine. White Zinfandel as we
know today (either love or hate) was created.
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Most have heard of the recent financial problems associated with Martin
and Weyrick. York Mountain Winery was owned by Martin and Weyrick
and this week was foreclosed upon. So a fitting question,
What AVA (American
Viticulture Area)
is the York Mountain Winery located?
| a) | Paso Robles |
| b) | Central Coast |
| c) | San Luis Obispo |
| d) | York Mountain |
Answer: b and d, York Mountain AVA is it's own
independent AVA and not associated with the Paso Robles AVA in any way.
San Luis Obispo is not an AVA, but a County designation which is
allowed. Central Coast included all counties from San Francisco to
Santa Barbara. So the correct answer is York Mountain and Central
Coast.
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The Paso Robles area has such an interesting present and past. It
has had some interesting celebrity guests over the years. Red
Skelton is said to have been a guest of the Paso Robles Inn. The
Clifton Apartments on the corner of 1st St. and Spring was a motel years
ago and was the location that a famous celebrity couple spent their
honeymoon. What famous couple spent their honeymoon at the motel
located at 1st and Spring?
| a) | Clark Gable and Carol
Lombard |
| b) | Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn
Monroe |
| c) | Humphy Bogart and Lauren
Bacall |
| d) | None of the Above |
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Answer: b) Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn Monroe spent their
honeymoon in Paso Robles after being married in San Francisco.
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Naming anything is always a challenge. Naming a winery has to be
an even greater challenge. Two wineries have chosen names which
are a bit unusual: Linne Calodo and Calcareous. What do
these names have in common?
| a) | Places: Linne is
located just East of Paso, Calcareous is located in
the limestone hills above the Carrizo Plains |
| b) | Soils: Linne Calodo is
a Paso Robles soil composed of decomposed Calcareous
rock |
| c) | Region: Calodo is a grape
variety common in the Calcareous region of Southern
France |
| d) | None of the Above |
Answer: b) Although Linne is the name of a
community East of Paso, Linne Calodo is a soil breakdown from Calcareous
rocks (limestone) with very good drainage found on steeper westside
slopes. It is considered one of the premium grape producing soil
types of the area.
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Paso Robles like most of California has a long history of raising
grapes. What is the earliest grape varietal to be planted in the
Paso Robles area for the production of wine?
| a) | Listan Prieto |
| b) | Zinfandel |
| c) | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| | d) | None of the Above |
Answer: a) I have to admit this is somewhat a
trick question, but accurate. The first grapes in the Paso
Robles area were planted for the production of wine were at the
Mission San Miguel Arcángel by the Franciscan Monks for the production
of sacrament wine. The grape variety became known as "Mission".
It has recently been established by DNA analysis that Mission is really
Listan Prieto a red version of the grape used to make Sherry.
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"Sur Lie" aging is thought to impart an interesting flavor
characteristic to certain wines, in particular Chardonnay
and Sauvignon Blanc. What is this aging process?
| a) | French Term for Aged in Oak |
| b) | French Term for No Oak aging |
| c) | Yeast Aged |
| d) | None of the Above |
Answer: c) Literally translated "on the Lees"
refers to aging wine without racking the wine away from the
sediment (lees) left during the fermentation process.
Dead yeast cells is the predominate component of the
sediment.
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There is a major revolution taking place in
the wine closure business. Corks or Screw Caps!
Back in the 60's screw caps got a bad name because of cheap
wines line "Boone's Farm". Many serious wine drinkers
refused to accept wine in screw caps. Things are
changing. Many excellent wines are now bottled with
screw caps. What would be the primary reason corks
have been replaced by Screw Caps?
| a) |
Better Aging |
| b) |
More Environmentally Friendly |
| c) |
Cheaper |
| d) |
Less Tainted Wine |
Answer: d) Although many
people believe the use of cork is harmful to the environment
cork is a renewable resource and potentially less harmful
than the use of Screw Caps. Cork is harvested from the
barks of Oak trees and does not harm the tree in the
process. The movement to screw caps is an effort to
reduce the amount of wine taint caused by
2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA). Estimates vary on the
amount of TCA (corked) wine, but estimates have been as high
as 7%. Cork is still the preferred closure for aging
wines.
My thoughts are simple. If it's a wine I expect
to drink within 3 to 5 years a screw cap is fine, but a wine I
expect to age over 5 years cork is preferred.
One last comment, Boone's Farm isn't considered
wine any longer. It's now marketed as a malt beverage. As a
malt beverage it can be sold in more locations with less tax. EJ
Gallo at work again.
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Crush time is quickly approaching in the
Paso Wine Area. So this question will test your California Wine
knowledge. Chardonnay accounts for the highest tonnage of wine
grapes crushed in California. What is the second highest tonnage
White wine grape in California?
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a) |
Sauvignon Blanc |
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b) |
Roussanne |
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c) |
Chenin Blanc |
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d) |
French Colombard |
Answer: (d) French
Colombard, although not produced in Paso Robles to my knowledge
and also not recognized as a popular White Wine by most wine critics
French Colombard had triple the production of the #3 white wine grape,
Sauvignon Blanc. If you have ever drank "box wine" labeled Chablis, or
drank a "wine cooler" you've drank French Colombard wine. |
Most people have left a bottle
of wine open for a period of time. So the question is,
What happens to wine when it is left open for an extended
period of time?
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a) |
Sherry |
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b) |
Vinegar |
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c) |
Just Sour Wine |
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d) |
All of the Above |
Answer: (d) All of the above. Sherry is
an oxidized wine from Spain which is made by allowing wine
to oxidize.
If a particular bacteria is present (Acetobacter),
wine (ethyl alcohol) is converted into acetic acid which is Vinegar.
The word Vinegar is derived from the Old French expression vin aigre
which means Sour Wine.
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What is Mount Diablo Meridian?
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a) |
Local Wine Blend |
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b) |
Survey Baseline |
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c) |
Vineyard on Hwy 46 West |
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d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: (b) Survey Baseline.
Meridians are longitudinal lines of the earth. The
principle Meridian that passes though California is the
Mount Diablo Meridian. The intersection of the Mount
Diablo Meridian and Mount Diablo Base is the reference point
for most surveys in California and all of Nevada.
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A little Real Estate Trivia
which could be encountered locally. Assume you were
purchasing a winery and vineyard and the statement was made
that " emblements"
were not included in the sale. What would this mean?
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a) |
Winery Inventory not
Included |
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b) |
TTB Bond not included |
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c) |
Grape Harvest not
included |
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d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: (c) Grape Harvest not included.
Emblements in Real Estate terminology means harvested crops.
Real Estate law isn't absolutely clear on who would own the
current years crop if not specified in the contract
especially if the sale took place just before harvest time.
That's why it would be best to specify and the established
Real Estate term would be Emblements.
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The Paso hillsides are so
beautiful this time of year. It also reminds us of
years past before Paso was known for it's great wine it was
considered the _________ City?
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a) |
Pistachio |
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b) |
Walnut |
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c) |
Almond |
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d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: (c) Almond. California
is the largest producer of almonds in the world, and 75
years ago Paso Robles had the highest concentration of
almond trees anywhere in the world. Almond production
is still an important product, but much of the production
has moved to the Central Valley. Both Walnuts and
Pistachios are grown locally, but if you think
historically Pistachios are relatively new to the US.
Iran is the largest producer of Pistachios in the world.
Pistachio is a Farsi (Persian) word.
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Zinfandel is often considered
California's grape, but it's origin is Croatia.
Zinfandel has a sister grape which was also traced back to
Croatia. What is Zinfandel's sister grape?
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a) |
Tempranillo |
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b) |
Primitivo |
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c) |
Trebbiano |
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d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: (b) Primitivo and Zinfandel
are very closely related and can both be traced back to a
common ancestral grape variety from Croatia. Actually
Primitivo has many of the same Zinfandel characteristics.
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If you own land in Paso Robles,
which of the following is not in the "Chain of Title" for
your property?
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a) |
Pedro Narvaez |
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b) |
US Government |
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c) |
Petronillo Rios |
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d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: a) This is somewhat a trick
question testing the knowledge of Paso Robles history and
land ownership.
The Mexican Government granted Pedro Narvaez
approximately 25,000 acres which included what is now Paso Robes.
After the war between the US and Mexico was resolved and the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed the US issued Patents
to those who could prove ownership. The original Land Patent for
the Rancho El Paso Robles was issued to Petronillo Rios. "Abstract
of Title" or more commonly "Chain of Title" documents ownership to the
original Land Patent.
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What is a "Claret" wine?
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a) |
Red Wine from Bordeaux |
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b) |
Any Red Wine Blend |
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c) |
A Rose Wine |
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d) |
All of the Above |
Answer: d) All of the Above
The meaning of Claret is very dependent upon time and
location. The word originally referred to a Rose wine exported
from Bordeaux to England derived from the French word for pale,
clairet . Today, it is more specially the
English (British) term for any red wine from Bordeaux and it's usage is
strictly controlled by the European Union. The more common usage
in the US is to refer to any red wine blend made in a Bordeaux style,
but there are no formal restrictions on it's usage in the US. It's
important to note that the word Claret has no formal usage in France
except on wines designated for British export.
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So, maybe this question isn't
local other than the love of good chili. Chili has
become an American favorite. It actually has a fairly
young history for such a popular American dish. What
city is considered the Chili capital of the world, Boasting
the most chili served and most chili restaurants per capita.
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a) |
San Antonio |
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b) |
Albuquerque |
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c) |
Cincinnati |
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d) |
Memphis |
Answer: c) Cincinnati
Unless you're spent time in Cincinnati you probably
would never have know it, but Cincinnati is the Chili Capital of
the World. There are Chili Parlors on almost every street corner.
A very unique style of Chili served is what are known as "ways" A
2 way is chili over spaghetti; a 3 way is chili over spaghetti with
cheese; a 4 way has diced onions added; and the famous 5 way has kidney
beans. The largest Chili Parlor chain is Goldstar with over 100
restaurants. Additional chains include Skyline and Empress (the
original). Each chain has their own slight variations of recipe,
but the style of presentation varies little between them.
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A question of taste. Many
white wines in particular have a characteristic buttery flavor.
What is the source of this buttery flavor?
| |
a) |
Malic Acid |
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b) |
Lactic Acid |
| |
c) |
Milk used as a Fining
Agent |
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d) |
Characteristic of
Chardonnay Grape |
Answer: b) Lactic Acid
Although a common characteristic of many Chardonnay
wines, the buttery flavor is not a natural grape characteristic,
but the taste of Lactic Acid, the same acid found in Milk. Lactic acid
is not a natural component of grapes, but is formed by the
conversion of Malic acid to Lactic acid by secondary fermentation.
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Most of you have seen the movie
"Sideways". In the movie, Miles coveted a special bottle of
Wine. What was the Winery and varietal of that special
wine?
| |
a) |
Sea Smoke - Pinot Noir |
| |
b) |
Silver Oak - Cabernet
Sauvignon |
| |
c) |
Cheval Blanc - Merlot |
| |
d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: C) Cheval Blanc - Merlot
Yes, the very special bottle of wine while Miles
cherished so much was a Cheval Blanc which blends two grape varieties to
form their great wines, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Merlot is
normally the predominate grape in this wine, but varies by vintage.
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What do Paso Robles,
American Idol, and "So, You think you can Dance" have in
common?
| |
a) |
Reality Show, "Cork
Screwed" was based on a Local Paso Winery and
produced by the same producers |
| |
b) |
Villa San-Juliette
located in San Miguel is owned by the producers of
both American Idol and "So, You think you can Dance"
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| |
c) |
Both A and B |
| |
d) |
No Relationship. |
Answer: C) Both A and B
Nigel Lythgoe, Formerly one of the producers of American Idol and
current Judge and Producer for "So, You think you can Dance" in
partnership with Ken Warwick, one of the American Idol producers and
Producer of "America's Got Talent" purchased acreage in San Miguel to
build a winery. Their exploits of this process were video graphed
into a reality TV show, Corkscrewed.
The label for the new winery is Villa San-Juliette.
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What does Black Wine or
Ink Wine refer to?
| |
a) |
Wine Produced in
Cohors region of France |
| |
b) |
Wine
made from Grapes with Red flesh such as Alicante
Bouschet |
| |
c) |
Wine that is left
too long on the skins can take on such a deep color
that it can be used as Ink. Ernest Hemingway
wrote many of his great works using this ink.
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| |
d) |
None of Above |
Answer: A) Wine from the Cahors region of
France.
The wines produced in the Cahors region has a
characteristic of being very deep in color and almost black. They
are almost totally opaque wines are made predominately from the Malbec
grape and must contain at least 70% Malbec.
Cahors has been reported to be one of Ernest
Hemingways' favorite wines. So he may have penned some of his
great work with it, but not in the literal sense.
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What does the term
"Toasted Head" refer to?
| |
a) |
A Rock Band |
| |
b) |
A
brand of Wine |
| |
c) |
Scorched ends of
Wine Barrels |
| |
d) |
All of the Above |
Answer: D) All of the Above
There was a hot band in the LA area known as the
Toasted Heads. RH Phillips has a second wine brand which has
gotten a lot of popularity known as Toasted Head.
As it truly applies to wine, toasted head refers to
the fact that the ends or heads of a wine barrel are toasted.
Winemakers have a lot of choices in barrels to impart that special
flavor. Various types of Oak (Appalachian, American, French,
Hungarian) and the amount of scorching or toasting done to the oak.
One of the choices is if the Heads are toasted or not.
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What is the difference between
Port and Late Harvest wine?
| |
a) |
None, Port is a
late harvest wine from Portugal |
| |
b) |
Port
is a mixture of Brandy and wine. |
| |
c) |
Late Harvest in
another name for Ice Wine, much different than Port. |
| |
d) |
None, They are
both fortified wines |
Answer: B) Port is a mixture of Brandy and
wine. Port is a fortified wine from Portugal.
Fortified wines and Late harvest wines are both very sweet
and contain higher alcohol levels than table wines, but the
sugar levels are obtained by very different methods.
Late Harvest wines have a very high sugar level because the
fruit is allowed to stay on the vine longer and reach very
high sugar levels. Too much sugar to be fully
fermented. Port as a Fortified wine has distilled wine
(Brandy) added to halt the fermentation before all the sugar
has been consumed. Leaving a very sweet wine, high in
alcohol.
If you had picked D you could be correct
by some viewpoints. The US considers wine to be Table
Wine (up to 14% alcohol), sparkling wines , or Fortified
Wine. Although Fortified doesn't have a strict
definition it could be implied that any wine which is
greater than 14% alcohol and not sparkling would be
considered fortified.
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Who was Ignacy Paderewski?
|
|
a) |
Early Paso Robles
Vineyard owner and Vintner. |
|
|
b) |
First
Prime Minster of Independent Poland |
|
|
c) |
World Famous pianist
and composer |
|
|
d) |
All of the Above |
Answer: d) Igancy
Padereski was an early vineyard owner and vintner in Paso
Robles. Padereski had purchased 2000 acres in the
early 1920s in the Adelaide area and planted Petite Syrah
and Zinfandel grapes. His wine was made at the York Mountain
Winery. He had discovered Paso Robles after he had
resigned his position as Independent Poland's first Prime
Minister. Paderski already a famous Pianist resumed
his music career and was touring the world. He fell in
love with Paso Robles and is now considered a native son
after his short residency.
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Paso Robles is quickly becoming
well known as an excellent Rhone wine producing area. Tablas
Creek is a partnership with the famous French Rhone producer
Chateau de Beaucastel. To Americans, Syrah is probably the
most common Rhone wine. In the Northern Rhone Valley of
France Syrah is the predominate red wine grape and Viognier
is the predominate white wine grape. What is the most common
blending grape for Syrah in the Northern Rhone Valley
| |
a) |
Grenache |
| |
b) |
Mourvedre |
| |
c) |
Viognier |
| |
d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: c, d. The primary blending
grape with Syrah in the Northern Rhone Valley is the white
wine grape Viognier. Some regions of Northern Rhone do
not allow any blending so that would make d an acceptable
answer. Grenache and Mouvedre are allowed in Southern
Rhone wines.
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|
Zinfandel is often referred to
as America's Grape due to its long history. Paso Robles
shares that long history of producing Zinfandel grapes. In
the 1920's and 30's Paso Zinfandel grape production expanded
considerably. What year was the first commercial
winery established in Paso Robles producing Zinfandel wine
and who was responsible?
| |
a) |
1918, Dusi |
| |
b) |
1933,Nerelli |
| |
c) |
1885, York |
| |
d) |
1962, Hoffman |
Answer: c, York. Andrew York first
produced Zinfandel wine for sale in San Luis Obispo and as
far away as San Francisco in the mid 1880's. It is the
oldest continuously operating winery in the area. Dusi
is known for significant contribution as a Zinfandel grower
in the area from the 1920's. Nerelli was the first to
bond a winery locally after Prohibition was ended.
Hoffman was an early pioneer in Pinot Noir production in the
1960's and 70's.
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|
Paso Robles produces excellent
red wine, but white wine grapes are the most planted in the
world. What is the most planted wine grape in the
world?
| |
a) |
Chardonnay |
| |
b) |
Airén |
| |
c) |
Colombard |
| |
d) |
Chablis |
Answer : b) Yes,
Airén is the most planted
grape in the world, and if you have never heard of it join
the group. Spain has millions of acres of Airén
planted. Much is used to product cheap white wine but
mainly Brandy. Chardonnay is the most planted white
grape of California, Colombard (French Colombard) is second.
Chablis is a sub-region of France's Burgundy know for it's
Chardonnay.
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|
Since it's New Year's most
everyone think of Champagne for that festive celebration.
Don Perignon is often credited with inventing Sparkling Wine
we now know as Champagne, but an Englishman,
Christopher Merrett actually invented sparkling wine.
What contribution did Dom Perignon actually make to the
development of Champagne.
| |
a) |
First to Use
Black Grapes (Pinot Noir) |
| |
b) |
Invented Wire
Basket for Cork |
| |
c) |
Dom Perignon was a
Marketing Name, He didn't actually exist |
| |
d) |
None of the Above |
Answer; b) Christopher Merrett was
an English physician and scientist who actually invented
Champagne. Dom Perginon, about 30 years later added
his contribution of inventing the Wire Basket and Cork we
are familiar with on Champagne bottles.
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What famous Wild West
Outlaw had roots in Paso Robles?
| |
a) |
Frank & Jesse
James |
| |
b) |
Billy the Kid |
| |
c) |
Doc Holiday |
| |
d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: a) Frank and Jesse James.
Frank and Jesse's Uncle Dury James lived on a ranch on the
Paso Westside. Dury's cabin is still there today about
1/2 mile east of Norman Winery. Frank and Jesse
visited their uncle often. They would hangout
frequently at the Old Paso Inn.
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A very common term on wine
labels is the simple expression "Table Wine". In
Europe this expression would mean wine which was not of
sufficient quality to receive the appellation or even
regional designation. In the US there is a legal
definition for "Table Wine". What is the meaning of Table
Wine on a US Wine Label?
| |
a) |
Same as Europe,
Poorer quality Wine |
| |
b) |
Still, Non
Fortified Wines |
| |
c) |
Non-Vintage Wine |
| |
d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: B. Wine in the US falls into
one of 3 categories, Table Wine: Wine less than 14%
alcohol; Fortified Wine: Wines greater than 14%
alcohol; and Sparkling Wine: In-Bottle Fermentation Wines.
Table Wine has no designation of Quality, only alcohol
content.
|
|
Last month we learned that the
dimple in the bottom of a wine bottle is known as either a
Punt or a Kick. So, What is the purpose of the Punt?
| |
a) |
No Modern Purpose,
A Tradition from when bottles were hand blown |
| |
b) |
A place for
settlement to accumulate with red wine |
| |
c) |
Bottle Strength
|
| |
d) |
All of the Above |
Answer: Either A. or D There is no clear
consensus on why the Punt still exist in bottles.
Modern glass bottle making processes do not require it as
hand blown techniques did. When bottles were blown by
hand it also was thought that it was more sturdy. This
has also lead to the strength hypothesis. Some
strongly believe it's to hold the settlement of red wines,
but then again it's common on sparkling wine bottles.
It's also theorized that it allows sparkling wine bottles to
stack easier for riddling, why is it on red wine
bottles. It has become somewhat a symbol of wine
quality. Red Wine produces in particular will order
bottles with the most pronounced Punt for their premium
wines.
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Football season is quickly
approaching so this question is very appropriate.
Remember, it's wine related. What is a Punt and a Kick?
| |
a) |
Wine Labels
sponsored by the NFL and Napa Growers to encourage
wine consumption |
| |
b) |
Punt is another
name for Must and Kick is another name for Lees |
| |
c) |
Dimple in Bottom
of Wine Bottle |
| |
d) |
None of the Above. |
Answer: c. Dimple in Bottom
of Wine Bottles. The Dimple in the bottom if Wine
Bottles is called a Punt and also has been referred to as a
Kick or Kick-up. Next month will explore it's purpose.
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Every one has their favorite
wine, so what is the most widely planted grape variety is the world and
what is it's origin?
| |
a) |
Cabernet
Sauvignon, France |
| |
b) |
Grenache, Spain |
| |
c) |
Shiraz, Australia
|
| |
d) |
Chianti, Italy |
|
Answer: b. Grenache is considered the most widely
planted wine grape variety in the world. Although most common for
it's Rhone France usage, it's origin is Spain where it is heavily
planted. Cabernet Sauvignon of France is one of the most widely
planted. Shiraz of Australia is the Syrah grape of France.
And, Chianti is not a grape variety, but a region of Italy where
Sangiovese is the predominate grape. |
|
We're all familiar with the
Standard wine bottle of 750 ml. Which of the following is also a
wine bottle size?
| |
a) |
Magnum |
| |
b) |
Jeroboam |
| |
c) |
Methuselah
|
| |
d) |
Nebuchadnezzar |
| |
e) |
All of the Above |
Answer: e. All of the Above.
The Wine bottle definitions are as follows:
| Split |
1/4 Bottle |
187 ml |
| Half |
1/2 Bottle |
375 ml |
| Bottle (Standard) |
1 Bottle |
750 ml |
| Magnum |
2 Bottles |
1.5 l |
| Jeroboam |
4 Bottles |
3 l |
| Methuselah |
8 Bottles |
6 |
| Salmanazar |
12 Bottle |
9 l |
| Balthazar |
16 Bottles |
12 l |
| Nabuchadnezzar |
20 Bottles |
15 l |
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|
What
famous couple spent their honeymoon in Paso Robles?
| |
a) |
Clark Gable and
Carole Lombard |
| |
b) |
Marilyn Monroe and
Joe DiMaggio |
| |
c) |
Humphy Bogart and
Lauren Bacall |
| |
d) |
None of the Above |
Answer: B. Marilyn Monroe and Joe
DiMaggio. Yes, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio spent
the first night of their honeymoon in the Clifton motel on
the south side of Paso. Joe and Marilyn were married
in San Francisco in January of 1954 and were in route to
Palm Springs. Matter of fact, although no longer a
motel, the building is still on the corner of 1st and
Spring.
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|
What is Chai?
| |
a) |
Tea, Indian Tea, or
Spiced Tea |
| |
b) |
Hebrew for Living |
| |
c) |
Wine Barrel Storage
Room |
| |
d) |
All of the Above |
|
Answer: D. All of the Above The word Chai has
a lot of different meanings based upon the area of the world. In
Asia, Chai means Tea. It is more commonly used to describe spiced
tea or in India, a sweet, spiced tea and milk drink. In Hebrew it
means living. In the wine industry, the French usage for Barrel
Storage room.
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|
A rather common designation on
American wine labels is the word "Reserve". What does
this mean?
| |
a) |
Same as Estate |
| |
b) |
Only the top 10% of
Estate Grapes are used |
| |
c) |
"Reserve" this wine
for special occasions |
| |
d) |
Nothing |
Answer: D. Nothing. Although
in Europe the word Reserve has very strict legal definition,
in the US it can mean anything. Some wineries use it
to designate their best wines, Some to designate more
oak, and some slap the word on their worse junk
wine.
|
|
White Zinfandel is referred to as the 3rd largest varietal
produced in the US. Most know it's not a different
grape, but the question is; what Napa winery created
the wine style we know as White Zinfandel today?
| |
a) |
Berringer |
| |
b) |
Meridian |
| |
c) |
Sutter Home |
| |
d) |
Charles Shaw
|
Answer: C. Sutter Home.
White Zinfandel has been produced in California since the
1880's, but previously produced in a dry Rose style.
In the 1970's Sutter was a major producer of traditional
Zinfandel. Common in that process is the draining off
of a portion of the juice before fermentation to create a
richer more flavorful Zin. Often the byproduct excess
juice was fermented also. One time a fermentation got
"stuck" leaving a high residual sugar content wine.
White Zinfandel as we know today (either love or hate) was
created.
|
The Champagne glass have undergone dramatic
changes in shape over the years. The Champagne flute is most
common today, but the historical champagne glass was a much wider,
shallower glass. The shape is said to be molded from the breasts
of a famous lady:
| |
a |
Queen Elizabeth |
| |
b |
Marie Antoinette |
| |
c |
Helen of Troy |
| |
d |
Cleopatra |
Answer: b or c, The original
Champagne glass was said to have been molded from the breasts of the
beautiful Helen of Troy. Later in historical time, Marie
Antoinette ordered that the champagne glass be remolded in the shape of
her own breasts. Larger.
|
Paso Robles produces some
excellent Zinfandel. Now the question I'm sure
all have been wanting to know. What is the origin of
the Zinfandel grape?
a) Italy
b) Croatia
c) Spain
d) Crete Answer:
(b) Croatia. Zinfandel was at one time thought to be indigenous to
California due to it's extensive plantings here. DNA analysis has
linked Zin to the primitivo grape Italy's Puglia region. Most
recent DNA analysis has determined that Zinfandel is a DNA match of the
Crljenak Kastelanski grape from Croatia. Primitivo is now
considered a clone of the Zinfandel/Crljenak Kastelanski grape.
I'm not aware of any Primitivo grown in the Paso area, but Mosby in
Santa Barbara County produces an excellent Primitivo from San Luis
Obispo fruit.
|
The Paso Robles Region is well know for both
it's Bordeaux and Rhone wines. Bordeaux varietals account
for 60% of the Paso grape acreage. Which of the following is
NOT a Bordeaux varietal:
a) Malbec
b) Petit Verdot
c) Chardonnay
d) Sauvignon Blanc
Answer: (c) There are 8 grape varietals allowed to be used in
Bordeaux wine. Those are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet
Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Sauvigonon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle.
Chardonnay is a Burgundy grape
variety.
|
Wine Glass = 6 oz
Bottle = 4 Glasses
Case = 12 bottles = 2.4 gallons
Barrel = 25 cases = 60 gallons
one ton of grapes yields 140 to 160 gallons
one acre of land yields 4 to 6 tons of grapes
So next time you look at a vineyard think that each acre of grapes will become 45,000
glasses of wine.
|
What is the state grape varietal of
California?
- Zinfandel
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Merlot
- Non of the Above
Answer: Non of the Above. California does not have a state
grape varietal. There was legislation recently proposed to make
Zinfandel the State Grape of California, but this was not approved.
|
Who is the owner of the largest winery in
Paso Robles Wine Country?
- Fosters
- Jim Bean
- Delicato
- J Lohr Answer: Fosters.
Meridian is the largest winery operation in the Paso Area with 800,000
cases per year. Meridian is owned by Beringer-Blass who is then
owned by Fosters. Delicato buys a lot of fruit from the Paso area,
but I'm not aware of any winery ownership. Delicato has annual
production of 1.6M cases. Jim Bean is the owner
of Wildhorse. J Lohr is growing quickly and currently producing 740,000
cases per year. So if you answered J Lohr you may be
correct soon. Case production based upon information from Paso
Wine. Delicato production from Wine Business Monthly.
|
What AVA (American Virticultural Area) is
York Mountain Winery Located?
- Paso Robles
- San Luis Obispo
- York Mountain
- Central Coast Answer:
There are two correct answers, York Mountain and Central Coast. Most
people think of York Mountain as a Paso Robles wine,
technically, York Mountain is a separate AVA (one of the smallest).
The are two wineries located in the York Mountain AVA (York Mountain and
Stephens). San Luis Obispo is
not an AVA, wines can be identified by AVA, County, or State of grape
source. Central Coast AVA includes all counties from San Francisco Bay
to Santa Barbara.
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