I Heard It Through the Grapevine Quiz

Answer: viticulture

Viticulture, sometimes called viniculture, is the science and study of grapes and grapevines. The name is derived from the Latin word for the grapevine, Vitis. The science of viticulture is also concerned with the production and marketing of grapes. It is a serious business where the production of wine is concerned and includes identifying pests and diseases, ensuring the vines have optimum growing conditions and much more. Someone who works in this field is called a viticulturist.

Olericulture is the science/study of vegetables, arboriculture refers to trees and fruiticulture to fruit.

Answer: with dessert

Sauternes is a sweet French dessert wine which comes from the Graves section of Bordeaux, which has a maritime climate. As with some other wines, its distinctive flavour is due to a fungus called Botrytis Cinerea or 'Noble Rot' which acts upon the grapes. To enhance the flavour of the wine it is vital they are harvested at exactly the right stage in their development, which is quite a labour-intensive process, hence the higher cost.

Answer: Penfolds Grange

Penfolds Wine is from Australia, which is one of the top ten wine-producing countries in the world. It is a premium-quality wine and as such is expensive and highly collectable. Waimarie comes from New Zealand and Rioja from Spain. Mateus wines are produced in Portugal.

Answer: amphorae

Amphorae (singular amphora) were vase-shaped containers used for the storing and transportation of wine. There have been several remains unearthed in archaeological digs from ancient Grecian and Roman times, many of which are displayed at archaeological sites and in museums. They were generally ceramic, with narrow necks and a wider main body tapering to a pointed bottom, which made upright storage and transportation easier. Other commodities such as spices, pickles etc. were also transported and stored in amphorae.

The ancient Greek and Roman cultures were skilled in winemaking. Dionysus was the Greco-Roman god of wine and intoxication, Dionysus being his Greek name, and Bacchus his Roman counterpart. The ancient Greco-Roman feast of Bacchanalia was named after him, which was a feast of wine, wild partying and general overindulgence.

Answer: Claret

Château Mouton Rothschild is one of the most famous clarets in the world. It comes from the French village of Pauillac, in the Médoc region near Bordeaux. The large estate has been owned by the Rothschild family since 1868. Certain vintages of Château Mouton Rothschild are highly collectable and can fetch big prices at auctions.

Answer: Port

Stilton cheese can be either blue or white. It is an English cheese which can only be made in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, as the cheese has a protected geographical status. The cheese is named after the village of Stilton, where it is believed to have originated. Curiously, Stilton used to be in the historic county of Huntingdonshire, but due to boundary changes in 1974 is now part of Cambridgeshire, so Stilton cheese can no longer be made in Stilton!

Answer: Champagne

The name champagne can only be used for wines which come from the area of Champagne in northeast France. The area has enjoyed the reputation of producing fine wines since the Middle Ages. Moët & Chandon, Lanson, Charles Heidsieck and Mercier are other very famous Champagne houses. The best Champagnes do not come cheap - many are regarded as having good investment potential and can fetch many thousands of pounds at auctions.

New ships are often launched by breaking a bottle of Champagne at their naming ceremony - it is said to be bad luck if the bottle fails to break.

Answer: Japan

Not all wine is made from grapes! There are many wines made from apples, elderberries and other fruits and vegetables, even lettuce. Saké goes through a different production process from other wines in that it is brewed rather than fermented, so it can be argued that it is not a true 'wine' as such, but it is generally referred to as such. Nowadays saké is produced in many other countries including the USA and Australia.

Answer: Frascati

The town of Frascati, in the province of Rome, is well known for its spectacular villas and attractive architecture as well as its thriving wine producing industry, which has been active in the area since Roman times. Only about 12 miles from Rome itself, it is a peaceful town and an interesting place to visit. The ruined city of Tusculum is nearby.

Riesling is a German wine, Rioja comes from Spain and Beaujolais is French.

Answer: in your cups

There are many expressions that can be used to describe drunkenness, some more polite than others! 'Three sheets to the wind' and 'half seas over' are a couple of nautical terms, and there are many others. The polite version 'in your cups' is of unknown origin but believed to have been in use since the 18th century.