Test your basic knowledge |

Certified Sommelier Exam

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Burgundy (Climate)
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Most widely planted grape in the world
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Driest region in NZ - 2nd in size to Marlborough - Sandy alluvial soils over gravel - limestone - Sunny climate - warmest in NZ - Known for Chardonnay - CS - and Syrah

2. Loire Valley Primary Red Varietals
Plum
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
hite wines from Viognier

3. Central Vineyards AOCs
Anjou AOC - Dry wines from Chenin Blanc - Tiny appellation with low yields - Best wines have great aging potential - Clos de la Coulee de Serrant - Chateau de la Roche aux Moines
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
The heating process causes maderization of the wine - caramelizing sugars and promoting oxidation - Estufa do Sol - finest wines are cask aged in lodges exposed to the sun for many years - Estufa - a vat or tank heated by hot water to approximatel
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly

4. Highest average bottle price of any country
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
New Zealand
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit

5. Washington State
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
hite wines from Viognier
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts

6. Aguardente
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache

7. Vintage Champagne Aging Requirements
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
3 years
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

8. Primary Greek White Varietals
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
Sweet pear

9. Northern Rhone Grape Varietals
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)

10. Portugal Wine Quality Levels
Vinho de Mesa: table wines - Vinho Regional (VR); similar to VdP - IPR: similar to VDQS or IGT - Denominacao de Origem Controlada (DOC) - Garrafeira: reserve wines
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Alto Adige - Northernmost region in Italy with steep alpine valleys - Home of Tocai (now known as Friulano) - Lagrein - and Schiava - Key Regions: Valle d'Isarco - Santa Maddalena - Trentino - and Trento

11. Gruner Veltliner
Lentils
Finesse
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement

12. Chianti Sub -Zones
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto

13. Trentino

14. Sherry Soil Types
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
1/4 annual production of France - 60% Whites - Extreme northern latitudes - Primary Whites: Riesling - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Scheurebe - Weissburgunder - Grauburgunder - Primary Reds: Spatburgunder - Dornfelder - Portugieser
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"

15. Cote Rotie
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills

16. California Major Regions
North Coast Super AVA - Sierras - Central Coast (Santa Cruz to Santa Barbera) - Central Valley (south to Clarksburg and Lodi) - Southern Valleys ( Santa Ynez to San Diego)
Just under half of production is rose - Whites from Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and Roses (both AOCs) from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Collection of vineyards

17. Champagne Regions (North to South)
Red - white - and rose wines produced in the Minho province (9 sub -districts) - Bottled young to undergo malolactic fermentation in the bottle (thus - have a prickle or bubble to it) - Best whites are from Alvarinho or Loureiro
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Grass
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

18. Western Australia
Vineyards established in 1829 - Gravels and sands over clay - Warm maritime climate - ocean breezes - Chardonnay - Riesling Bordeaux grapes - Shiraz - Margaret River (AUS first appellation system in 1978 - known for elegance and finesse) - Great
Soils: Mostly alluvial mountain runoff with sandstone - some limestone - schist - clay - and chalk - Climate: Cool (South) to warm (North) maritime - windy from West (must plant East of mountain ranges) - high rainfall and humidity
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse

19. TTB Estate Bottled Requirements
Plum
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Major Growing Region
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

20. Saumur Champigny

21. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
Collection of vineyards
Sour red cherry
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja

22. Ribera del Duero
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
West of Rioja on the River Duero - Red wines from Tempranillo (Tinto del Pais) and Bordeaux varietals - Wines are richer and fuller than Rioja wines with good aging potential
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets

23. 85% Varietal Madeiras
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Accounts for less than 3% of all port - Most expensive - BUT easiest to produce (2 years wood aging) - Produced from top quintas - Vintages must be declared and approved by IVP
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

24. Appellations shared between WA and OR
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)

25. Austria Major Regions
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot

26. Syrah/Shiraz
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Just under half of production is rose - Whites from Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and Roses (both AOCs) from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland

27. Wachau Wine Classifications
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Collection of vineyards
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays

28. 2009 or 2008 in Cotes -du -Rhone?
Orange Candy
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
Fruit loops
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona

29. Champagne Location
Finesse
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
90km northeast of Paris

30. North Coast Super AVAs
Vino Joven: no aging requirements - Vino de Crianza: one year in barrels - one year further aging - Reserva: one year in barrels - two years further aging - Gran Reserva: two years in barrels - three years further aging
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah

31. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Accounts for less than 3% of all port - Most expensive - BUT easiest to produce (2 years wood aging) - Produced from top quintas - Vintages must be declared and approved by IVP
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

32. Sardinia
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Produced in non -declared vintages - Fruit sourced from top quintas - Aged 4 -6 years in casks - Vintage and bottling years must be declared on label - Some are age -worthy
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out

33. Languedoc -Roussillon

34. Rainwater
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Renowned botrytis dessert wine from Hungary that has been produced for centuries - Technically a dry still wine sweetened with botrytized grapes (Aszu) - Sweetness levels measured in 3 -6 puttonyos - Eszencia is 100% botrytised grapes

35. New Zealand's South Island Regions
Lentils
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted

36. Provence
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
NZ's most important and fastest growing wine region - Alluvial gravel - Protected from Westerly winds by South Alps and Easterlies by Southern tip of North Island - Awatere Valley and Wairau Valley
Accounts for less than 3% of all port - Most expensive - BUT easiest to produce (2 years wood aging) - Produced from top quintas - Vintages must be declared and approved by IVP
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes

37. Schist
Howell Mountain - Chiles Valley - Napa Valley - Atlas Peak - Stag's Leap District - Oak Knoll - Wild Horse Valley - Los Carneros - Yountville - Mount Veeder - Oakville - Rutherford - Spring Mountain District - Diamond Mountain District
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone

38. Languedoc -Roussillon AOCs
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne

39. Notable Anbaugebiete
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
Vineyards established in 1829 - Gravels and sands over clay - Warm maritime climate - ocean breezes - Chardonnay - Riesling Bordeaux grapes - Shiraz - Margaret River (AUS first appellation system in 1978 - known for elegance and finesse) - Great
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

40. Soil in Cote d'Or
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
Plum skin
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny

41. Niederosterreich
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Vino Joven: no aging requirements - Vino de Crianza: one year in barrels - one year further aging - Reserva: one year in barrels - two years further aging - Gran Reserva: two years in barrels - three years further aging

42. Gigondas
Vineyards established in 1829 - Gravels and sands over clay - Warm maritime climate - ocean breezes - Chardonnay - Riesling Bordeaux grapes - Shiraz - Margaret River (AUS first appellation system in 1978 - known for elegance and finesse) - Great
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Sits in GravesWorld famous botrytis dessert wines - Semillon - Sauvignon Blanc - Muscadelle - Dry wines labeled as Graves Blanc or Bordeaux Blanc Saint - Estephe - Northernmost commune of the Haut - Medoc - Wines are rustic

43. Vinsobres
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux

44. Chenin Blanc (Loire)
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Aged in glass - may be ready to drink on release OR aged further in bottle - Sees less oxygen than Tawny - so it doesn't lose its color - Vintage Port - LBV Port (4 -6 years) - Single Quinta Port - Reserve Port
75% minimum varietal composition (except OR) - 95% from year stated on bottle (85% if appellation is state or county) - 85% from stated AVA (except super AVA) - Every wine must be labeled with a brand name with the bottler's name and location
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)

45. Advantages to Transfer Method
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Established in the late 1870's - Alluvial soild - red clay - sand - and clay - Hot & humid with cyclonic rains possible - Semillon - Chardonnay - Riesling - Shiraz - Hunter Valley (predominantly white - established by Penfolds in the 1960's)
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes

46. South Australia

47. Single Quinta Port
Great oyster wines made from Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne - Maritime climate - Muscadet de Sevre et Maine AOC - Muscadet Sur Lie (must be used in conjunction with one of the appellations - Sur lie bottling: wines matured on lees for 6 -9 months follo
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Fruit loops

48. Oxidative Sherry Styles & Descriptions
Palo Cortado: only partially oxidative - develops limited flor - Oloroso: rich style fortified to 18% and usually long -aged; start dry but almost all are sweetened and sold as Cream Sherries
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years

49. Franken (Franconia)
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Palo Cortado: only partially oxidative - develops limited flor - Oloroso: rich style fortified to 18% and usually long -aged; start dry but almost all are sweetened and sold as Cream Sherries

50. Transfer Method
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed