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Exploring Cabernet Sauvignon: A Comprehensive Quiz

This quiz examines knowledge on Cabernet Sauvignon, covering its blends, climatic influences, and regional practices. Test your understanding of this iconic grape variety!

1 [11] Other Tuscan wine regions followed suit, blending Cabernet Sauvignon with ________ and even making varietal versions of the grape.

2 Premium examples are often blended with Malbec and produce full, tannic wines with ________ and tobacco notes.

3 Throughout Bordeaux there is a legal maximum permitted yield of 50 ________ (hl) per hectare (ha).

4 Dishes that include oak-influenced flavors and aromas normally found in Cabernet Sauvignon—such as ________, brown sugar, nutmeg and vanilla—can also pair well.

5 Even within the American oak family, the location of the oak source will also play a role with oak from the state of Oregon having more pronounced influence on Cabernet Sauvignon than oak from ________, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

6 [3] Overall the grape lags far behind ________ in New Zealand's red wine grape plantings.

7 In Bordeaux, the soil aspect of ________ was historically an important consideration in determining which of the major Bordeaux grape varieties were planted.

8 ________ and proteins reduce the perception of tannins on the palate.

9 [5] Compared to its Cabernet parent, Malian appears to lack ________ in the subepidermal cells but retains them in the epidermis, whereas Shalistin has no anthocyanins in either layer.

10 As ________ has increased the number of warm vintage years, the possibility of creating varietal Cabernet in Bordeaux has also increased, making the decision to blend based more on ideology and tradition.

💡 Interesting Facts

  • the name recognition for international varieties of grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay is so high that many consumers believe they are either wine regions or brand names themselves.
  • the origins of Cabernet Sauvignon were likely an accidental crossing of Cabernet franc and Sauvignon blanc.
  • the well known white wine region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia also makes red wine from grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pignolo.
  • that winemakers in the Carmignano region of Tuscany have been blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese since the 18th century, long before the emergence of "Super Tuscans".
  • after placing fifth in the original Judgment of Paris wine tasting, the 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon made by Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards won the 2006 rematch.
  • PlumpJack Winery was the first winery in the Napa Valley to use screwcaps as a wine closures on Cabernet Sauvignon wines sold for over USD$100 per bottle.
  • Quilceda Creek Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon is the first American wine from outside California to earn perfect 100-point score reviews from wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. in The Wine Advocate.
  • Vietnamese winemakers are trying to cultivate grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon on land that till recently was still covered with landmines from the Vietnam War.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Red Mountain AVA were used to create the first US wine outside of California to receive consecutive perfect scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.