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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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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. New Zealand's South Island
Bubblegum
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)

2. Label Integrity Program (LIP)
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
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Plum skin

3. Mosel Valley
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy

4. Viognier
Fruit loops
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
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

5. Merlot
Alluvial & volcanic soils - granite - clay - sand - Cool coastal regions vs. hot inland area - Chardonnay - Riesling - Muscat - Pinot Noir - Shiraz - Bordeaux varietals (sparkling - still - fortified) - Yarra Valley - Rutherglen - Heathco
Only a small percentage of grapes grown may be used for Port production - DOC status for table wines earned in 1982 - Grapes: Touriga Nacional - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca
Plum
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor

6. Northern Rhone Grape Varietals
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
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
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century

7. Anada
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Vintage dated sherries
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Most widely planted grape in the world

8. Portugal DOC Regions
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
Alluvial & volcanic soils - granite - clay - sand - Cool coastal regions vs. hot inland area - Chardonnay - Riesling - Muscat - Pinot Noir - Shiraz - Bordeaux varietals (sparkling - still - fortified) - Yarra Valley - Rutherglen - Heathco

9. Hermitage
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Continental with LeMistral winds

10. Chianti Classico
12 months
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect

11. Austria Major Regions
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.

12. Layon Valley AOCs
Plum skin
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir

13. Primary Tuscan Red Varietals
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals

14. Transfer Method
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam

15. Gigondas
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Semi -sparkling
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer

16. Lazio
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
White wines from Viognier from small single estate

17. GI Quality Categories
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
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)
Bubblegum
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier

18. Trentino

19. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
One of Italy's largest producing regions - Over 250 miles of coastline - flat regions of fertile plains - Montepulciano - Negroamaro - Primitivo - Malvasia Nera - Bombino are primary red grapes - Brindisi - Salice Salentino - San Severo - Man

20. Vintage Solera Madeira
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
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

21. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
New Zealand

22. Primary Hungarian White Varietals
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus

23. Port Styles
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities

24. VOS
Must be made from 100% of stated varietal - Must be aged for a minimum of 20 years in wood and 2 years in bottle before release
Black plum
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
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)

25. Soil in Cote d'Or
Lentils
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

26. Graves & Pessac -Leognan
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Orange Candy
District of villages & vineyards
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre

27. Saumur AOCs
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Dried sour red cherry

28. Vintage Champagne Aging Requirements
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Cava (most in Catalonia)
3 years
Yeast remnant popped out

29. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
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
eanut shell
Fruit character
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil

30. Cabernet Sauvignon
Grass
Black plum
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
A method of fractional blending wherein old wine is periodically refreshed with younger wine (no more than 1/3) to ensure consistency - Wine is taken from a cask in one criadera and blended into a cask fro the next

31. Nebbiolo
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Dried sour red cherry
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit

32. Campania

33. Alsace

34. Nelso

35. Soave
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
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
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

36. Northern Rhone Appellations
Only a small percentage of grapes grown may be used for Port production - DOC status for table wines earned in 1982 - Grapes: Touriga Nacional - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca
Sour red cherry
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
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

37. Charmat Process (Cuve Close)

38. North Central Spain: Primary White Varietals
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Hazelnut
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"

39. Crozes -Hermitage
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao

40. Loire Valley Primary Red Varietals
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot

41. Colheita Madeiras
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC

42. Wachau Wine Classifications
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
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
One of Italy's largest producing regions - Over 250 miles of coastline - flat regions of fertile plains - Montepulciano - Negroamaro - Primitivo - Malvasia Nera - Bombino are primary red grapes - Brindisi - Salice Salentino - San Severo - Man

43. Anbaugebiete
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
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Major Growing Region
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World

44. California Major Regions
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
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)

45. Left Bank Grapes
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)

46. Chablis
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
AOC for whites only - exclusively Chardonnay - limestone ove Kimmeridgian Clay (think crushed oyster shells) - region susceptible to late frost - Grand Cru sites have SW exposure
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Red wines from 100% Syrah

47. Gamay (Beaujolais)
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
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
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
Bubblegum

48. Etna DOC
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
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
Sicily - Full -bodied reds from vineyards on the slopes of Mt. Etna made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio - White grape is Carricante (clone of Garganega)
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier

49. Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

50. Cava Varietals
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
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
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone