Virginia Winery Quiz: Questions and Answers

Several weeks ago we posted a quiz to test readers' knowledge of Virginia wine and vineyards.........for those who may have missed it, we'll repost the questions below, without answers, and then post answers under the quiz:

1. Virginia is currently #5 in wine production in the United States. Which state is NOT ranked between 1 and 4?
A. Oregon
B. New York
C. Texas
D. Washington

2. Which Virginia wine pioneer does not have a tasting room open to the public?
A. Chris Pearmund
B. Doug Fabbioli
C. Gabriele Rausse
D. Dennis Horton

3. Which of the following varietals is not commonly found in Virginia?
A. Norton
B. Riesling
C. Viognier
D. Cabernet Franc

4. Which of the following is not a designated Virginia AVA (American Viticultural Area)?
A. Shenandoah Valley
B. Eastern Shore
C. Middleburg
D. Tidewater

5. Who was the "Founding Father" of Virginia (and American) wine?
A. George Mason
B. George Washington
C. Thomas Jefferson
D. James Madison

6. Winemaking in Virginia is primarily modeled after winemaking in:
A. California
B. Australia
C. France
D. Argentina

7. The Monticello AVA, probably the most famous AVA in the state, falls in all of these counties except:
A. Greene
B. Nelson
C. Madison
D. Orange

8. The oldest winery in the state:
A. Barboursville
B. Mountain Cove
C. Breaux
D. Naked Mountain

9. The year the oldest winery in the state started growing grapes:
A. 1967
B. 1973
C. 1980
D. 1955

10. The largest wine festival in the state is held here:
A. Richmond
B. Centreville
C. Mt. Vernon
D. Virginia Beach

11. Which of the following celebrities/moguls does not own a winery in the state?
A. Robert Duvall
B. Donald Trump
C. Dave Matthews
D. Jack Kent Cooke

12. Which winery is not located in Loudoun County?
A. Sharp Rock
B. 8 Chains North
C. Sunset Hills
D. North Gate

13. Mead, which is becoming quite popular in the U.S., is a wine-like beverage made from:
A. Dandelions
B. Beer
C. Peaches
D. Honey

14. Which winery in the state has a famous (or infamous, depending on your opinion) "no one under 21 and no dogs" rule?
A. Linden
B. Chateau O'Brien
C. Prince Michel
D. Bluemont

15. The only winery (so far) located in Prince William County:
A. Sunset Hills
B. Paradise Springs
C. The Winery at La Grange
D. Potomac Point

16. The highest tasting room in the state:
A. Virginia Mountain
B. Naked Mountain
C. Stone Mountain
D. Afton Mountain

17. The northernmost winery in the state:
A. Valerie Hill
B. Hiddencroft
C. Tarara
D. Breaux

18. This winery produces wine made from nearly every fruit (and the occasional vegetable), except grapes:
A. Wisteria
B. Peaks of Otter
C. Ox-Eye
D. Fincastle

19. Which winery is not located in the Northern Neck?
A. Ingleside
B. Hartwood
C. Oak Crest
D. Dog and Oyster

20. Which winery is not especially known for sustainable practices?
A. Blenheim
B. North Gate
C. Trump
D. Cooper

And now....the answers.....................

1. Virginia is currently #5 in wine production in the United States. Which state is NOT ranked between 1 and 4?
A. Oregon
B. New York
C. Texas
D. Washington

Texas is in the Top Ten, usually at #7 or 8, under Missouri and New Jersey.

2. Which Virginia wine pioneer does not have a tasting room open to the public?
A. Chris Pearmund
B. Doug Fabbioli
C. Gabriele Rausse
D. Dennis Horton
Mr. Rausse, former mentor to many of today's winemakers, grows grapes on the Monticello property and has his own line of wine, available at some wine stores and several state-wide festivals. But alas, he doesn't have a public tasting room.

3. Which of the following varietals is not commonly found in Virginia?
A. Norton
B. Riesling
C. Viognier
D. Cabernet Franc
Although some higher altitude wineries in VA offer a Riesling, this grape prefers cooler climates/shorter growing seasons.

4. Which of the following is not a designated Virginia AVA (American Viticultural Area)?
A. Shenandoah Valley
B. Eastern Shore
C. Middleburg
D. Tidewater
Tidewater, home to one of the largest urban areas in the state, is not currently an AVA.

5. Who was the "Founding Father" of Virginia (and American) wine?
A. George Mason
B. George Washington
C. Thomas Jefferson
D. James Madison
C'mon, everyone knows this by now!

6. Winemaking in Virginia is primarily modeled after winemaking in:
A. California
B. Australia
C. France
D. Argentina
Virginia follows the "Old World" style of relatively lower alcohol content and relatively less "zesty" than many New World wines.

7. The Monticello AVA, probably the most famous AVA in the state, falls in all of these counties except:
A. Greene
B. Nelson
C. Madison
D. Orange
Madison County borders the AVA but is not technically located in this AVA.

8. The oldest vineyard/winery in the state:
A. Barboursville
B. Mountain Cove
C. Breaux
D. Naked Mountain
Tasting room opened in 1974, two years before Barboursville planted their vines.

9. The year the oldest winery in the state started growing grapes:
A. 1967
B. 1973
C. 1980
D. 1955

10. The largest wine festival in the state is held here:
A. Richmond
B. Centreville
C. Mt. Vernon
D. Virginia Beach
Centreville/Bull Run's Spring and Fall Festivals, although more well-known, can't hold a handle to the number of wineries at the Richmond Wine Expo held in late February, which offers a nearly week-long agenda of sessions and workshops in addition to its two day wine expo on Saturday and Sunday.

11. Which of the following celebrities/moguls does not own a winery in the state?
A. Robert Duvall
B. Donald Trump
C. Dave Matthews
D. Jack Kent Cooke
Maybe someday this one-time restaurant owner and intensely private Virginia resident will plant some vines. He would love the smell of ripening grapes in the morning.

12. Which winery is not located in Loudoun County?
A. Sharp Rock
B. 8 Chains North
C. Sunset Hills
D. North Gate
Sharp Rock is located in the aforementioned Madison County.

13. Mead, which is becoming quite popular in the U.S., is a wine-like beverage made from:
A. Dandelions
B. Beer
C. Peaches
D. Honey
Try Virginia mead at Black Snake Meadery near Floyd, VA, and Hill Top Berry Farm Vineyard near Wintergreen Resort.

14. Which winery in the state has a famous (or infamous, depending on your opinion) "no one under 21 and no dogs" rule?
A. Linden
B. Chateau O'Brien
C. Prince Michel
D. Bluemont
Love him or hate him, Howard O'Brien makes some great wine.

15. The only winery (so far) located in Prince William County:
A. Sunset Hills
B. Paradise Springs
C. The Winery at La Grange
D. Potomac Point
Located near Haymarket.

16. The highest tasting room in the state:
A. Virginia Mountain
B. Naked Mountain
C. Stone Mountain
D. Afton Mountain
"Taste the altitude," at 1700 feet!

17. The northernmost winery in the state:
A. Valerie Hill
B. Hiddencroft
C. Tarara
D. Breaux
The Maryland border is about a three minute drive from the main highway near Lovettsville.

18. This winery produces wine made from nearly every fruit (and the occasional vegetable), except grapes:
A. Wisteria
B. Peaks of Otter
C. Ox-Eye
D. Fincastle
Give the pumpkin pie wine a try.

19. Which winery is not located in the Northern Neck?
A. Ingleside
B. Hartwood
C. Oak Crest
D. Dog and Oyster
Hartwood is northwest of Fredericksburg, not geographically the Northern Neck.

20. Which winery is not especially known for sustainable practices?
A. Blenheim
B. North Gate
C. Trump
D. Cooper
He's Fired.