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Certified Sommelier Exam

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Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
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1. Touraine AOCs
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle

2. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Fruit character
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Terroir

3. Appassimento Process
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine

4. Syrah/Shiraz
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara

5. Riesling
High acid
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
What varietals are called in South Africa
New Zealand

6. Mosel Valley
Hazelnut
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah

7. Edelzwicker
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)
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
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

8. Chenin Blanc (Loire)
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Bordered by the Vosges Mountains on the west and Germany's Rhein river to the east - 51 Grand Cru vineyards - Purity of fruit and terroir - New oak rarely used - Wines labeled by varietal - not by terroir - Concentrated - full -bodied dry white win
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)

9. Pauillac
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Considered the epitome of "claret" - Wines balance power and finesse - 3 First Growths: Latour - Lafite Rothschild - Mouton Rothschild Saint - Julien - Smallest commune - but 11 classified growths - Styles combine elegance and sturdiness -
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)

10. Primary Greek Red Varietals
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Most widely planted grape in the world
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Albariza - Barros - Arenas

11. New York State AVAs
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Aloxe Corton (red Grand Cru is Corton - white Grand Cru is Corton Charlemagne) - Beaune (Premier Cru only) - Pommard (Premier Cru only) - Volnay (Premier Cru only) - Puligny -Motrachet (4 Grand Cru*) - Chassagne -Montrachet (4 Grand Cru*) *2 overlap
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

12. Navarra
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
What varietals are called in South Africa
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay

13. Vin de Liqueur
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Produced by adding distillate to UNfermented must - The distillate is a local brandy - and the must is from similarly local grapes - Pineau des Charentes and Floc de Gascogne
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values

14. New Zealand's North Island
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
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
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

15. Cotes -du -Rhone Villages
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc

16. Languedoc -Roussillon

17. Tavel
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac

18. Champagne Location
90km northeast of Paris
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs

19. GI Quality Categories
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
roduce of Australia: most general; no vontage - variety allowed on label - South -Eastern Australia Super Zone - State of Origin - Zones (e.g. Barossa is a zone in S. Australia) - Regions (e.g. Barossa is divided into Barossa Valley and Eden Valley)
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Considered the epitome of "claret" - Wines balance power and finesse - 3 First Growths: Latour - Lafite Rothschild - Mouton Rothschild Saint - Julien - Smallest commune - but 11 classified growths - Styles combine elegance and sturdiness -

20. Cremant de la Loire
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny

21. Vintage Champagne Aging Requirements
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
3 years
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect

22. Tax and Trade Bureau
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Fino: lightest; fortified to 15.5% - Manzanilla: a delicate style of Fino aged only in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda - Amontillado: a Fino that has been left in cask for additional aging and develops a rich - nutty flaor; usually dry -
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

23. Tawny Port
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
Aged in wood - ready to drink on release - Sees oxygen in the barrel and - thus - loses its color - Aged Tawny Port (with indication of age)

24. Marsala DOC
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Larger area than Napa Valley with a great range of micro -climates - Maritime influence an important factor - Notables include Dry Creek - Rockpile - Alexander Valley - Los Carneros - Russian River
Blueberry
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.

25. Primary Tuscan White Varietals
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Blueberry
Juicyfruit Gum
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit

26. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
Terroir
Lychee

27. Quincy
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
3 years
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet

28. Vendage Tardive (VT)
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Bourgogne Aligote Bouzeron (Aligote) - Rully (AC & Premier Cru) - Mercurey (AC & Premier Cru) - Givry (AC & Premier Cru) - Montagny AC (white only) - Premier Cru if more than 11.5% alcohol
Plum skin

29. Lirac
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
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
Red wines are predominantly Grenache

30. Champagne Dryness/Sweetness Levels
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
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
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN

31. Australian Wine Producing States
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils

32. Sauternes
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
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
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak

33. Saumur AOCs
Most widely planted grape in the world
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino

34. Soils in St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Fino: lightest; fortified to 15.5% - Manzanilla: a delicate style of Fino aged only in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda - Amontillado: a Fino that has been left in cask for additional aging and develops a rich - nutty flaor; usually dry -
Known as the "Garden of France" - France's longest river (625 miles) - Agricultural center of France - Maritime Climate to West/Coastal - Continental Climate to East/Inland

35. Apulia

36. North Coast Super AVAs
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
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes

37. North Central Spain: Notable Regions
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

38. Airen
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
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
Most widely planted grape in the world
Grass

39. Washington State Appellations
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)

40. Northern Rhone Appellations
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
Produced by adding distillate to UNfermented must - The distillate is a local brandy - and the must is from similarly local grapes - Pineau des Charentes and Floc de Gascogne
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

41. Gisborne
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
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

42. Niederosterreich
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
America's oldest wine industry
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

43. Bairrada
Clay -based soils with chalk - Sparkling wines from Maria Gomez and Bical - Red wines must contain a minimum of 50% Baga grape (normally 80%) - Predominant white grape is Maria Gomez
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Black plum
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino

44. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache

45. Estufagem
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
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Tafelwein: table wine - Landwein: regional wine - Qualitatswein bestimmter Anbaugbiete (QbA): quality wine from one of the 13 major regions - Qualitatswein mit Pradikat (QmP): quality wine determined by the degree of ripeness at harvest; only classif

46. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Terraced vineyards on granite slopes - 90% red; 10% white - 12 approved grape varieties - By law - 20% minimum of red wines must be from Touriga Nacional - Predominant white grapes are Arinto and Encruzado
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Black plum
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder

47. NV Champagne Aging Requirements
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
12 months
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc

48. Wairarapa
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa

49. Vacqueyras
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc

50. Chateauneuf -de -Pape
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Hazelnut
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets