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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. Sherry Soil Types
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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
Dried sour red cherry

2. Pierce's Disease
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon

3. Palo Cortado
Lychee
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor

4. Margaux
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
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

5. 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
Plum skin
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero

6. New York State AVAs
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Juicyfruit Gum

7. SA's Primary Red Cultivars
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
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel

8. Tokaji
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
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
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
3 years

9. Languedoc -Roussillon

10. Chateau -Grillet
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
hite wines from Viognier

11. VORS
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone

12. Condrieu
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
District of villages & vineyards
hite wines from Viognier
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot

13. Saint -Joseph
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
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
Most widely planted grape in the world
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne

14. Maconnais ACs
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Orange Candy
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Sour red cherry

15. Bereich
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
Lychee
Pinot Noir
District of villages & vineyards

16. Rheingau
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)

17. Primary Greek Red Varietals
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)

18. Vintage Champagne Aging Requirements
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
3 years
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.

19. Tax and Trade Bureau
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

20. SA's Primary White Cultivars
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon

21. Wairarapa
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
Single Vineyard
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

22. Primary Tuscan White Varietals
Most important DO in Southern Spain
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino

23. Alsace
Alluvial clays
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
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
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

24. Vacqueyras
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc

25. Colheita Madeiras
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
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
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

26. Galets
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
NZ's original wine region - Home to Kumeu -Huapai and Waiheke Island - Very warm maritime climate with high humidity - Heavy clay soils (except for Waiheke Island) - Known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir

27. Regions of Southern Portugal
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
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
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)
Lisboa (formerly Estramadura - Atlantic influenced climate) - Tejo (formerly Alentejo - Periquita grape - white wines from chalky soils) - Colares (Ramisco grape - ungrafted vines grown in sand) - Algarve (red and white - 4 DO districts

28. Sancerre
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)

29. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Generic term for sparkling

30. Listrac & Moulis
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
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
Lychee
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths

31. Primary Hungarian White Varietals
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Sour red cherry
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
Single Vineyard

32. Etna DOC
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
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)
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color

33. Cultivars
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
What varietals are called in South Africa
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone

34. Southern Rhone Climate and Vineyards
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor

35. Champagne Regions (North to South)
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

36. Estufagem
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
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
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux

37. Crozes -Hermitage
Vintage dated sherries
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland

38. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
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
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
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)

39. South Australia

40. Anejo
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Major Growing Region
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle

41. Douro
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

42. Sauternes
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
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
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
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot

43. Edelzwicker
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
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
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

44. Chenin Blanc (Loire)
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
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
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley

45. Southern Rhone Varietals (Red)
eanut shell
Lentils
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.

46. Anjou
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
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
12 months
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor

47. Penedes Sub -Districts
Plum
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Gradual breakdown of yeasts

48. Brunello di Montalcino Aging
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Recent prominence due to ancient indigenous varietals - Home of Mount Vesuvius - Primitivo - Aglianico - Falanghina - Fiano - Greco - Fiano d'Avellino DOCG - Greco di Tufo DOCG - Taurasi DOCG
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak

49. Most widely planted grape in Champagne
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Stewed fruits
Pinot Noir

50. Red Rioja Quality Levels & Requirements
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
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
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot