Inside Bordeaux New Year Quiz: Answers

QUESTIONS
Which wine was turned into the world’s most expensive Sangria in 2024 – how much was it on sale for, and where was it served?
Petrus, €120,000 in Cannes ( île de Sainte-Marguerite )

To celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame, which wine was chosen for the sacramental wine served during the opening service?
Régis and Anne-Reine Anouil’s Loire white, Domaine de la Bénisson-Dieu.

Which was the last estate to be classified in 1855, and why?
Ch Cantemerle, because the owner Catherine de Villeneuve refused to take no for an answer from the courtiers of the Place de Bordeaux; who had begun distributing her successful chateau in 1854, after decades of her selling direct.

The British Government released the biennial report of their wine cellar at the end of 2024, reporting on purchases and consumption from April 2022 to March 2024. The majority of wines consumed (64%) were from Great Britain, but Bordeaux features highly. Of the list of Bordeaux, which classified Bordeaux, and in which vintage, was opened most frequently?
Château Rauzan Ségla 1994 (50 bottles)

During the Paris Olympics in summer 2024, which Bordeaux chateaux did the Olympic Flame pass through?
Château Cheval Blanc in St Emilion (and the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux)

Staying on the Olympics, which Bordeaux wine grower is also an Olympic cyclist?
Thomas Boudat of Château de Viaut in Mourens, Entre deux Mers

Which famous Paris restaurant was victim of a major robbery of its wines in January 2024? How much wine was stolen in euros?
La Tour d’Argent, €1.5million

Which Virginian winery was bought by a prestigious French wine group this year? Which other estates do they own?
RdV, bought by Eutopia Estates (Montrose, Tronquoy, Domaine Rebourseau, Clos Rougeard, Distillerie de la Métairie Cognac)

Bordeaux has been busy uprooting vines over 2024 to balance issues of supply and demand. At the end of 2024, what is the approximate footprint of the whole Bordeaux vineyard area?
105,000
100,000
120,000 

Who was very cavalier about his wine choice when court side in 2024? Three points for athlete, team and wine.
Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers and Opus One

2024 marked the 100 year anniversary of which famous Belgian family at what estate? What was the name of the first family member to buy the property?
Thienpont – 100 years at Vieux Chateau Certan. Georges Thienpont.

Who bought Burgundy powerhouse William Fèvre in January 2024, and who from?
DBR (Lafite) from Artemis Domaines (Pinault)

Which UK wine companies have received the royal warrants at the end of 2024? And which English sparkling wine?
Justerini & Brooks, Lea & Sandeman, Walker & Wodehouse, Berry Bros & Rudd and Corney & Barrow
Camel Valley

How many bottles of wine are estimated to have been on the Titanic?
10,000
1,500
3,000

‘Hey man, I’m drinking wine, eating cheese and catching some rays’.
Who said this, and in which film? Film and actor name required, with bonus point for character name.
Donald Sutherland, Kelly’s Heroes, Oddball

What song was released by Dev the Somm in 2024? Which song is it based on?
Wine, Wine, Wine
Jay Z, Girls Girls Girls

Which of the Left Banks First Growths are renovating their cellars at the moment? Bonus points for architects…
Lafite and Bernard Quirot, in association with Atelier EGR
Château Haut Brion and Annabelle Selldorf

Damian Barton of Léoville, Langoa and Mauvesin Barton has this year had a baby, cousin to his sister Melanie’s baby born in 2023. The new arrivals represent which generation of the Barton family in Bordeaux? Bonus point for the first Barton to arrive in the region, and in which year?
11th generation
1725 Thomas Barton

FC Girondins de Bordeaux, the local football team, fell into which league in 2024?
Championnat National 2

In the Disney+ tv series Rivals, what Champagne features in the title sequence?
Veuve Clicquot

When Oz Clarke was on Desert island Discs in 1999, which book did he choose to take with him when he was cast away?
Elizabeth David French Provincial Cookery

St Emilion celebrated 25 years on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. Which other vineyards in France are on the UNESCO list?
Burgundy climats, plus the Champagne-making historic process (slopes, houses and cellars of Champagne) – the Citadel de Blaye is also included, although not the vineyard region surrounding it. Similarly the Loire Valley is recognised for its châteaux and landscape – but not specifically for its vineyards, although there are many vineyards within the classified area.

Which Bordeaux wine was served at the  Académie des César awards ceremony in February 2024 – the French version of the Oscars?
Château la Garde

In May 2024 French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state dinner at the Elysée Palace. Which wines were served?
Served at the official state banquet were Château Lafite Rothschild 2007 along with Moët et Chandon Rosé and Brut Impérial and Cognac Hennessy XO and Cognac Martell Cordon-Bleu XO, Champagne Perrier-Joüet Belle Epoque, Edouard Delaunay Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2020.

The other wines tasted, such as Gerard Bertrand, were served at separate lunches.

Which English sparkling winery, which officially opened in September 2024, is owned by a French Champagne house? And which French poet is it named after, and why?
Domaine Evermont, owned by Tattinger. Named after  Charles de Saint-Evremond, a French poet and literary critic credited for his efforts in introducing and popularising Champagne in England in the 17th century.

Which celebrity added a 0% sparkling white wine to her range in 2024?
Kyle Minogue.
I am also awarding a point if you put the Delavigne sisters, Della Vite Zero.

Which wine book was awarded the prestigious OIV President’s Award in October 2024, an award which has never been bestowed on a book in the 100 years since the OIV was founded?
Andrew Caillard’s Australian Ark 

Which new AVA saw the light of day in Napa in October 2024?
Crystal Springs AVA

Which major Italian region celebrated a 30 year anniversary in September 2024?
30 years of the Bolgheri and Bolgheri Sassicaia Denomination of Origin Control (DOC).

Château Palmer has a new restaurant, who is the chef?
Jean-Denis Le Bras 

 

And the winner is… Charlie Montgomery of Wiltshire, UK, many congratulations… it was a photo finish!