You're sitting in a business dinner with senior company officials and the head of the company says in your direction, "Please order the wine, I like big, bold and rich reds, but not too oaky or tannic." You shrink in your seat, swallow hard and begin to perspire above your top lip. You begin the perusal of the wine list that has more names in it than a country fair raffle for a pop-up camper. In the end, you find a price that works and in essence, attempt to pin the tail on the proverbial donkey; all the while wishing you had actually read a few of those Wine Spectator magazines that come in the mail every month and that you don't end up looking like, well, the anatomical destination for the donkey's tail.

Here is a brief wine quiz to see how much you know about wine. Contrary to the example above, if you score poorly, no one will ever know!

1. Shiraz is the same red variety as: a) Merlot b) Syrah c) Pinot Noir d) White Zinfandel

2. Red Burgundy from France is made with what grape variety?

a) Grenache b) Zinfandel c) Pinot Noir d) Pinot Grigio

3. A dry wine refers to the following:

a) a wine that quenches your thirst b) the absence of sugar c) low acid d) a wine that is kiln dried

4. When we assess a wine by its smell, we refer to this as:

a) the nose b) the smell c) the body d) the odor

5. When a wine is spoiled from the chemical TCA (trichloranisole) it gives off a "moldy", wet cardboard" smell. The term we use for this is:

a) flat b) corked c) bad d) stinking rotten wine

6. The term "Meritage" was created in the U.S. to emulate a famous particular region's wines by using the same varieties and blending styles.

What is the region?

a) Burgundy b) Bordeaux c) Rioja d) Niagara Falls

7. Which of the following wines is not a red wine?

a) Syrah b) Cabernet c) Viognier d) Cabernet Sauvignon

8. Chateauneuf du Pape red wines can legally have as many as how many different varieties in its blend? a) 9 b) 3 c) 13 d) 223

9. Which of the following wines is not a white wine?

a) Grenache Blanc b) Gewurztraminer c) Mourvedre d) Rousanne

10. Choose the set of wines which represent - in order of body -lightest to heaviest

a) Beajolais, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

b) Merlot, Beajolais, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon

c) Beaujolais, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon

d) Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Beaujolais

Bonus Question: Pinotage, one of the flagship wines from South Africa, is a hybrid varietal combining which two varieties?

a) Pinot Noir/Grenache b) Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay

c) Pinot Noir/Cinsault d) MD 20/20 and Boone's Farm

Add your score up from 0-10 and use the following key to determine how "Wine smart" you are. If you get the bonus question give yourself one point.

10-11 points Wine Master!

9 - Expert. Can definitely order the wine in the above scenerio and "wows" from the boss (maybe even a raise or the corner office).

8 - Wine Connoisseur. You know your stuff!

5-7 Good to very good wine knowledge. You can impress your friends!

1-4 Take out an subscription to the Wine Spectactor.

0- Drink beer.