The Auswine Forum

Following a very long absence, I thought I would make an attempt at relaunching the Friday Quiz - whenever I’m around.

So, to get back into the swing of things - 2 questions:

1. What has been yielding approx 1 tonne per harvest for approx 186 years and what is its nick-name?
2. It has often been said that the Champagne glass was moulded from the breast of Marie Antoinette, but in fact hers was merely a new model, from whose breast was the first champagne glass reportedly moulded from?

I’ll be back in an hour to declare the weekly winner. Good luck.

Do not know the first but the second answer I think was Josephine.
MM.

Sorry Mike, not Josephine.

Ok, a hint on the second question, you'll have to go back a couple of centuries before Marie Antoinette.

And a hint on the first question - harvest doesn't occur every year.

Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry II ?

Cork?

To be more precise, the "Whistler" cork tree in Portugal

Simon,

Q1. No, not Diane de Poitiers.
Q2. You're on the right track:

I should have said "what is my nick-name" not "what is its nick-name".
Another clue, I am over 200 years old.

Correct Simon.

The largest cork tree in the world is 'The Whistler Tree', in the Alentejo region of Portugal which on average yields approx 1 tonne of raw cork per harvest – enough cork for 100,000 wine bottles. The Whistler Tree is named for the large number of birds that live in its enormous canopy. Over 212 years old, it has been producing cork every nine years since 1820.

Correct Roo,

Goes back to Greek mythology. 'The Greeks believed that wine drinking was a sensual experience, and it was only fitting that the most beautiful woman take part in shaping the chalice. It was centuries later that Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, decided it was time to create a new champagne glass, which changed the shape of the glass entirely, since Marie Antoinette was somewhat better endowed than Helen of Troy.'

Well done Roo and Simon.
See you all next Friday for another riveting Quiz.

Quizmaster