Whether you like to enjoy a glass of wine (or prefer the whole bottle!) our 45 wine quiz questions and answers are sure to test your knowledge.

Dating back to 6000BC, wine has been part of the human experience for a long long time. Today, it is the second most popular alcoholic drink in the world (beer is the first) – so it is clear it hasn’t lost its appeal!

Depending on the type of wine, the alcohol content can be anywhere between 5-23% and with 5 different wine styles (red wine, white wine, rosé wine, Sparkling wine, and fortified/dessert wine), there is something to suit every palate. It’s no wonder it’s a crowd favourite.

But apart from wine tasting (which is clearly one of the best bits!) how much do you actually know about wine? Do you know your cabernet franc from your pinot blanc? Or where the grapes come from? Where it is made? And which country drinks the most? This ultimate quiz about wine will help you find out.

So if you drink wine (and even if you don’t!) put your skills to the test and solve the following wine trivia questions to be crowned the ultimate oenophile (that’s someone who greatly enjoys wine and knows a lot about it, if you weren’t sure!) – We hope you enjoy it!

The Ultimate Wine Quiz for Beginners

1. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. What colour are the grapes?

2. Which wine varietal has an unknown heritage and is grown almost exclusively in California?

3. What is sparkling wine called in Spain?

4. What name is given to a trained and knowledgeable wine professional (sometimes called a wine steward), normally working in fine dining restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing?

5. In which wine-making country would you find Chianti?

6. What name is given to a wine made from grapes that were all or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year?

7. Name Australia’s number one bottled wine brand and Official Wine Partner for the International Cricket Council.

8. In which country did winemaking originate?

9. Reisling can be sweet or dry? True or False.

10. Which wine is often described as ‘buttery’?

11. What is the name for a wine made primarily or exclusively from one variety of grapes?

12. After the French Revolution, members of Napoleon’s cavalry decided that the normal ritual of opening a bottle of champagne wasn’t as visually impressive as it could be. In response, they popularized a new way of opening bottles. What was it called?

13. Malbec originated in which country?

14. What does it mean when a wine is “corked”?

15. True or False, Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape?

 

Fun Wine Trivia Questions

1. The largest bottle of wine in the world holds 30 litres – what is its name?

2. Which US president’s love of wine began in Virginia, was nurtured in Europe and became a life-long passion; called wine a “necessary of life.”?

3. Daniel Ricciardo, an Italian-Australian racing driver introduced what trend to Formula One in 2016, when he celebrated a podium finish at the German Grand Prix?

4. Tignanello wine inspired the naming of the lifestyle blog (“The Tig”) that was run by which famous figure from 2014-2016?

5. Apparently, some people have a “fear of wine”. What is the fear of wine called?

6. Which green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France most likely gets its name from the French words for “wild” and “white?”

7. Napa Valley winery Cuvaison launched a new series of wines in 2018 with ‘forgotten’ labels designed by which world-famous artist, who once said the original labels were “lousy”?

8. Judged by top wine experts from around the globe, what is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition called?

9. The “five S” steps in tasting wine are: see, swirl, sniff (or smell), sip. Name the fifth one.

10. Why are Rose bushes planted in the vineyards?

11. Which wine goes best with French Fries?

12. Why should wine glasses always be held by the stem and not the bowl?

13. Under California law, a varietal wine must contain at least what percentage of the grape named on the label?

14. Sir Francis Drake once returned from Spain with 2,900 casks of “sack” for the Queen. What is its modern name?

15. When it comes to making wine and spirits, what is ‘the Angels’ share’?

 

Hard Wine Quiz Questions

1. Name the first wine producer to have introduced braille on its labels, starting in 1994 with the Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage wine.

2. This white grape widely grown in Spain and South Africa and best known for its use in the manufacture of sherry. It is also grown in the Douro region of Portugal where it is used for table and fortified wines. Name it.

3. As a general rule, what temperature would you want to serve full-bodied red wines at?

4. Which wine traditionally have the keys of St. Peter embossed on the bottle?

5. In which country does the phrase “drinking to one’s health” originate?

6. Since the 12th century, the English have been drinking Bordeaux wines. What is the British term used unofficially in reference to red Bordeaux Wine?

7. Name this American crime documentary about wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan debuted at film festivals in October 2016 and on Netflix the following month

8. How many litres of wine does a Nebuchadnezzar contain?

9. We all know about the origins of cocaine in Coca-Cola but in 1863 cocaine also crossed over into the world of wine. What was debuted on the European market as a cure for illness, contained a charming mixture of red Bordeaux and ground-up coca leaves?

10. How old should an oak tree be to be used as a barrel for aging wine?

11. A fortified wine that hails from the island of ——– in Portugal. Ranging from sweet to dry, it’s primarily made with a handful of grape varieties, including Tinta Negra Mole, Sercial, Verdelho and Bual. Name the Island.

12. What is an amphora?

13. To sweeten their wines and other foods, the Romans would boil down grapes into a variety of syrups, all of which had one thing in common. What was it?

14. Why are Rose bushes planted in the vineyards?

15. Who is the Patron Saint of winemakers?

 

Multiple Choice Wine Trivia Questions

1. At what temperature should Champagne be served?
A. Between 3 -5 degrees Celsius.
B. Between 7 -12 degrees Celsius.
C. Between 4 -6 degrees Celsius.
D. Between 1 -3 degrees Celsius.

2. Cabernet Sauvignon and which other grapes makes up most wines of Bordeaux?
A. Muscat.
B. Pinot noir.
C. Shiraj.
D. Merlot.

3. Who is the patron saint of Winemakers?
A. Saint Vincent.
B. Gabriel.
C. Saint Christopher.
D. Sir Thomas More.

4. Which country is the biggest wine producer?
A. USA.
B. Portugal.
C. France.
D. Italy.

5. The southern Rhône’s most famous red wine is:
A. Hermitage
B. Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
C. Condrieu.
D. Côte-Rôtie.

6. Alder Yarrow -a San Francisco tech-consultant and wine geek – runs perhaps one of the Web’s most popular and comprehensive wine blogs. Name it.
A. Vinography.com
B. WineAnorak.com
C. DrVino.com
D. WineTerroirs.com

7. “Mistletoe and Wine” is a Christmas song and chart-topping single by which famous singer in 1988?
A. Elton John.
B. Sir Paul McCartney.
C. Eric Clapton.
D. Sir Cliff Richard.

8. National Wine Day is on what date each year?
A. August 15th.
B. Feb 14th.
C. May 25th.
D. May 3rd.

9. What does the phrase “Blanc de Blancs” written on the Champagne label signify?
A.  Absolutely nothing.
B. It is the producer’s premium blend.
C. It was made exclusively from white grapes.
D.  It was filtered using egg whites.

10. Which country has the largest area of vineyards?
A. France.
B. Italy.
C. Spain.
D. Germany.

11. How many pounds of grapes are needed to make 1 bottle of wine?
A. 10lb
B. 6lb
C. 2.5lb
D. 0.75lb

13. Also known as Baccus, who is the ancient Greek god of the grape harvest and winemaking?
A. Dionysus
B. Hephaestus
C. Demeter
D. Ares

14. How much was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold?
A. $1.1 million
B. $558,000
C. $276,000
D. $710,000

15. Which country consumes the most wine per year by volume?
A. France
B. Italy
C. USA
D. Australia

 

Wine Quiz Questions and Answers for Beginners

1. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. What colour are the grapes?
Red.

2. Which wine varietal has an unknown heritage and is grown almost exclusively in California?
Zinfandel

3. What is sparkling wine called in Spain?
Cava

4. Also known as wine steward, what name is given to a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing?
A sommelier.

5. In which wine-making country would you find Chianti?
Italy

6.What name is given to a wine made from grapes that were all or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year?
A vintage wine.
(A non-vintage wine (often seen on a wine list as NV), which is usually a blend from the produce of two or more years.)

7. Name Australia’s number one bottled wine brand and Official Wine Partner for the International Cricket Council?
Jacob’s Creek.

8. In which country did winemaking originate?
Georgia

9. Reisling can be sweet or dry? True or False.
True

10. Which wine is often described as ‘buttery’?
Chardonnay

11. What is the name for a wine made primarily or exclusively from one variety of grapes?
A varietal wine.

12. After the French Revolution, members of Napoleon’s cavalry decided that the normal ritual of opening a bottle of champagne wasn’t as visually impressive as it could be. In response, they popularized a new way of opening bottles. What was it called?
Sabrage (where the bottle is opened with the swift swipe of a sword)

13. Malbec originated in which country?
Argentina

14. What does it mean when a wine is “corked”?
It has gone bad due to a fault with the cork

15. True or False, Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape?
True

 

 

Fun Wine Trivia Questions and Answers

1. The largest bottle of wine in the world holds 30 litres – what is it’s name?
Melchizedek

2. Which US president’s love of wine began in Virginia, was nurtured in Europe and became a life-long passion; called wine a “necessary of life.”?
Thomas Jefferson.

3. Daniel Ricciardo, an Italian-Australian racing driver introduced what trend to Formula One in 2016, when he celebrated a podium finish at the German Grand Prix?
Drinking champagne from a shoe – aka doing a shoey.

4. Tignanello wine inspired the naming of the lifestyle blog (“The Tig”) that was run by which famous figure from 2014-2016?
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (born Meghan Markle)

5. Apparently, some people have a “fear of wine”. What is the fear of wine called?
Oenophobia

6. Which green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France most likely gets its name from the French words for “wild” and “white?”
Sauvignon blanc.

7. Napa Valley winery Cuvaison launched a new series of wines in 2018 with ‘forgotten’ labels designed by which world-famous artist, who once said the original labels were “lousy”?
Andy Warhol.

8. Judged by top wine experts from around the globe, what is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition called?
Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

9. The “five S” steps in tasting wine are: see, swirl, sniff (or smell), sip. Name the fifth one.
Savor (or summarize)

10. In which country was the corkscrew invented?
England 

11. Which wine goes best with French Fries?
Champagne

12. Wine glasses should always be held by the stem and not the bowl. Why?
Because the heat of the hand will raise the temperature of the wine.

13. Under California law, a varietal wine must contain at least what percentage of the grape named on the label?
75%

14. Sir Francis Drake once returned from Spain with 2,900 casks of “sack” for the Queen. What is its modern name?
Sherry

15. When it comes to making wine and spirits, what is ‘the Angels’ share’?
The Angel’s share is the small amount of wine that evaporates from oak barrels during maturation. 
(Medieval winemakers assumed that angels watched over the wines and that they took their share.)

 

Hard Wine Quiz Questions and Answers

1. Name the first wine producer to have introduced braille on its labels, starting in 1994 with the Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage wine.
Chapoutier or Maison M. Chapoutier.

2. This white grape widely grown in Spain and South Africa and best known for its use in the manufacture of sherry. It is also grown in the Douro region of Portugal where it is used for table and fortified wines. Name it.
Palomino Fino.

3. As a general rule, what temperature would you want to serve full-bodied red wines at?
14-18ºC

4. Which wine traditionally have the keys of St. Peter embossed on the bottle?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape

5. In which country does the phrase “drinking to one’s health” originate?
Ancient Greece
(In ancient Greece, the host of dinner would take the first sip of wine to assure that the wine served to guests wasn’t poisoned and where the term originated)

6. Since the 12th century, the English have been drinking Bordeaux wines. What is the British term used unofficially in reference to red Bordeaux Wine?
Claret.
(From the French ‘caliret’, meaning dark rosé)

7. Name this American crime documentary about wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan debuted at film festivals in October 2016 and on Netflix the following month.
Sour Grapes

8. How many liters of wine does a Nebuchadnezzar contain?
15

9. We all know about the origins of cocaine in Coca-Cola but in 1863 cocaine also crossed over into the world of wine. What was debuted on the European market as a cure for illness, contained a charming mixture of red Bordeaux and ground-up coca leaves?
Vin Mariani.

10. How old should an oak tree be to be used as a barrel for aging wine?
40 years old

11. A fortified wine that hails from the island of ——– in Portugal. Ranging from sweet to dry, it’s primarily made with a handful of grape varieties, including Tinta Negra Mole, Sercial, Verdelho and Bual. Name the Island.
Madeira.

12. What is an amphora?
A clay storage jar used to store wine in Ancient Greece and Rome

13. To sweeten their wines and other foods, the Romans would boil down grapes into a variety of syrups, all of which had one thing in common. What?
Lead (which they used as a sweetener. Some historians credit lead poisoning for the fall of the Roman Empire!)

14. Why are Rose bushes planted in the vineyards?
To alert the winemaker to the presence of disease or pests.

15. Who is the Patron Saint of winemakers?
St Vincent

 

Multiple Choice Wine Trivia Questions and Answers

1. At what temperature should Champagne be served?
A. Between 3 -5 degrees Celsius.
B. Between 7 -12 degrees Celsius.
C. Between 4 -6 degrees Celsius.
D. Between 1 -3 degrees Celsius.

2. Cabernet Sauvignon and which other grapes makes up most wines of Bordeaux?
A. Muscat.
B. Pinot noir.
C. Shiraj.
D. Merlot.

3. Who is the patron saint of Winemakers?
A. Saint Vincent.
B. Gabriel.
C. Saint Christopher.
D. Sir Thomas More.

4. Which country is the biggest wine producer?
A. USA.
B. Portugal.
C. France.
D. Italy.

5. The southern Rhône’s most famous red wine is:
A. Hermitage
B. Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
C. Condrieu.
D. Côte-Rôtie.

6. Alder Yarrow -a San Francisco tech-consultant and wine geek – runs perhaps one of the Web’s most popular and comprehensive wine blogs. Name it.
A. Vinography.com
B. WineAnorak.com
C. DrVino.com
D. WineTerroirs.com

7. “Mistletoe and Wine” is a Christmas song and chart-topping single by which famous singer in 1988?
A.Elton John.
B. Sir Paul McCartney.
C. Eric Clapton.
D. Sir Cliff Richard.

8. National Wine Day is on what date each year?
A. August 15th.
B. Feb 14th.
C. May 25th.
D. May 3rd.

9. What does the phrase “Blanc de Blancs” written on the Champagne label signify?
A.  Absolutely nothing.
B. It is the producer’s premium blend.
C. It was made exclusively from white grapes.
D.  It was filtered using egg whites.

10. Which country has the largest area of vineyards?
A. France.
B. Italy.
C. Spain.
D. Germany.

11. How many pounds of grapes are needed to make 1 bottle of wine?
A. 10lb
B. 6lb
C. 2.5lb 
D. 0.75lb

13. Also known as Baccus, who is the ancient Greek god of the grape harvest and winemaking?
A. Dionysus
B. Hephaestus
C. Demeter
D. Ares

14. How much was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold?
A. $1.1 million
B. $558,000 (it was a 1945 Romanee-Conti sold in 2018)
C. $276,000
D. $710,000

15. Which country is the lead consumer of wine per year by volume?
A. France
B. Italy
C. USA
D. Australia

And that’s a wrap on our ultimate wine quiz! How many did you get right? If it’s more than 30 we definitely think you deserve a celebratory glass of wine!
+ if you enjoyed this quiz, please share it on social media with your wine-loving friends.