Wine Quiz – Oak Wine Barrels

How well do you know Oak Wine Barrels ?

The world of wine is vibrant, constantly changing and ever so interesting. Everyday wine enthusiasts can learn & share their new experiences with good food & friends. So the following ‘Wine Quiz’ is a little bit of fun and learning for all - and for those a little more competitive a personal test of your wine knowledge.

● So you think you know how oak wine barrels affect wine?
● Or - You think you know different styles of oak wine barrels?

Take this short Oak Wine Barrel Quiz & find out.

1 / 12

What is it about oak that no other wood type possesses - which has proven time and again to be the most compatibility with wine?

It is respected for being water tight, yet slightly porous to breath.

Natural or with toasting - it can add complementary aromas and flavours.

In it's youth and while oak ages, it can add textural characteristics to enhance a wine.

All of the Above.

2 / 12

Why originally and still to this day are oak wine barrels made in a double arched (curved) shape?

Because the wine made the wood bulge out.

Because the first barrel maker thought it looked nice.

Made for easy rolling on and off ships and moving around the cellar.

The wood cut from the first oak trees used for making barrels bent in the sun.

3 / 12

What are the long individual pieces of wood that make up the sides of an oak wine barrel called?

Stands

Staves

Sticks

Straws

4 / 12

Naturally and with minimal toasting of the wood, oak can give which of the following additional notes to wine?

Cloves

Cinnamon

Vanilla

All of the Above.

5 / 12

When making oak wine barrels in France - typically the wood is sourced from 5 main government owned and regulated forests. 2 of these include ‘Alliers’ and ‘Limousin’, which of the following forests is the 'odd' one out?

Landes

Nevers

Tronçais

Vosges

6 / 12

The slow evaporation and 'lost wine' during aging in oak barrels, which helps to intensify the flavour compounds in wine - is called what?

The Angel’s Share

The Cellar-Hands Share

The Stock-Holders Share

The Winemakers Share

7 / 12

The most commonly used oak wine barrels are the ‘Bordeaux’ style, which hold a volume of 225 litres. This is equivalent to which of the following?

15 cases or 180 bottles.

20 cases or 240 bottles.

25 cases or 300 bottles.

30 cases or 360 bottles.

8 / 12

Barrels contribute the most aroma, colour and texture to wine in their first year of use. And these characters diminish to virtually nothing on ‘average’ in how many years of use?

4-5 years.

6-7 years.

8-9 years.

9-10 years.

9 / 12

What is the name given to someone who specialises in making oak wine barrels?

Chippy

Clever

Colin

Cooper

10 / 12

Winemakers can order oak barrels to have a certain degree of toasting (by flame) on the inside surface. The main levels of toasting are: Light, Medium, Medium Plus and Heavy. If you see a barrel in a winery and notice the letters MT - what does this mean?

Marmalade Toast

Moderate Toast

Mild Toast

Medium Toast

11 / 12

The traditional method of making oak wine barrels in France, they hand-split the oak staves and make every piece by hand - how many barrels can an experienced cooper make in one day?

One barrel by hand.

Two barrels by hand.

Three barrels by hand.

Four barrels by hand.

12 / 12

While wine is ageing in oak barrels in the cellar, the winemaker will regularly take samples to taste its development. What is the name of the ‘tool’ used to take wine samples from an oak barrel?

Wine Pump

Wine Sieve

Wine Thief

Wine Vacuum

Your score is

The average score is 61%