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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. 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
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay

2. 85% Varietal Madeiras
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)

3. Cotes -du -Rhone
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
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Plum skin

4. AVA
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
hite wines from Viognier
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.

5. Sauvignon Blanc
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Grass

6. Priorat DOCa
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
90km northeast of Paris
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet

7. New York State

8. Tempranillo (Rioja Riserva/Gran Riserva)
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Stewed fruits
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc

9. Marsala DOC
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
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
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 -

10. Tokaji
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
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
Volcanic soils - red basalt - low fertility - Cool maritime climate - high humidity - windy (East facing slopes) - Chardonnay - Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Pinot Noir - sparkling wines - Hobart - Launceston - Piper's River - Coal River
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.

11. South African Wine Regions
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Alluvial clays

12. Most widely planted grape in Champagne
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
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Pinot Noir

13. Pipe
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
90km northeast of Paris
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
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

14. Grosslage
Collection of vineyards
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Produces 55% of Australia's wine - Limestone - clays - loams - Cool southern coastal climates vs. warm northern inland (cool evenings in hilly areas due to altitude) - Barossa Valley - Eden Valley (wetter - rocky soils - hilly) - McLaren Vale

15. Port Styles
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
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
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
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)

16. Nelso

17. Viognier
Fruit loops
Volcanic soils - red basalt - low fertility - Cool maritime climate - high humidity - windy (East facing slopes) - Chardonnay - Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Pinot Noir - sparkling wines - Hobart - Launceston - Piper's River - Coal River
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Orange Candy

18. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay

19. Sherry Classifications
Lychee
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas

20. Chardonnay
Hazelnut
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
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay

21. Late Bottled Vintage Port
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
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
Generic term for sparkling
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau

22. Vin Santo DOC
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
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
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone

23. Santa Barbera County
Sour red cherry
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot

24. Margaux
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Fruit character
Black plum
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac

25. Northern Rhone Appellations
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
Single Vineyard
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

26. Southern Rhone Varietals (White)
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Single Vineyard
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily

27. Marches
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero

28. Sauternes
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
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
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne

29. Anbaugebiete
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
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
Major Growing Region
Smoked meats/Bacon fat

30. Ripasso

31. Advantages to Transfer Method
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
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
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal

32. Austria Major Regions
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
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
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
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.

33. Bairrada
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
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
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted

34. Single Quinta Port
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
Dried sour red cherry
Red wines from 100% Syrah
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values

35. Cotes -du -Rhone Villages
Structure
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache

36. Ribera del Duero
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
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
Black plum
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

37. Australia
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)

38. Campania

39. Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages

40. Chinon
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin

41. South Australia

42. Vinho Verde
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
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
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.

43. Chablis Grand Crus
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
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache

44. Left Bank Grapes
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
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
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.

45. Nahe
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin

46. North Coast Super AVAs
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel

47. Southern Rhone Climate and Vineyards
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine

48. Tasmania

49. Portugal Red Varietals
Vintage dated sherries
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
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
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray

50. Noble
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault
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