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Test your basic knowledge |
Certified Sommelier Exam
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Subject
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certifications
Instructions:
Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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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. Languedoc -Roussillon AOCs
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
2. Soils in Cote Rotie
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
3. Emilia Romagna
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
4. Montlouis
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
12 months
5. Crozes -Hermitage
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
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 -
6. Northern Rhone Appellations
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
Lychee
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
7. Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
8. Cava Varietals
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Yeast remnant popped out
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
9. South Africa
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
10. Wachau Wine Classifications
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
11. Sicily
12. Cannonau
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
13. Chablis
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
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
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
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
14. Right Bank Grapes (Bordeaux)
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
15. DO Pagos Estates
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
16. Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
17. Colheita
Lentils
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
18. Cotes de Beaune ACs
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
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
19. Nelso
20. Bereich
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
District of villages & vineyards
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
21. Germany
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
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Pinot Noir
22. Beaumes -de -Venise
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Bubblegum
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
23. Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Sour red cherry
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Sweet pear
24. Penedes Sub -Districts
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
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
'Re -passed' - Traditional winemaking technique in the Veneto - Young Valp put into tanks or barrels containing lees or dried fruits from previous Amarone fermentation - Causes secondary fermentation - increasing alcohol content - and adding Amaron
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
25. GI Quality Categories
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
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)
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
26. German Wine Classifications
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
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
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)
27. Gigondas
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
hite wines from Viognier
28. Advantages to Transfer Method
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
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
hite wines from Viognier
29. Chateau -Grillet
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
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
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
30. Saumur Mousseux
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
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
31. Vin Doux Naturel
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
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 -
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
32. Vacqueyras
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
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
33. 2009 or 2008 in Cotes -du -Rhone?
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
34. Niederosterreich
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
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
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
35. Grosslage
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Collection of vineyards
36. Aged Tawny Port
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
True tawnies matured entirely in cask - After 6 years in cask - wines take on a smooth - creamy character - fruitcake spices - Age declarations: 10yr - 20yr - 30yr - 40yr (based on how old it "feels")
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Fruit character
37. Lombardy
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
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
Terroir
38. Willamette Valley Subregion AVAs
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
Wine pumped into tanks with liqueur de tirage - Fermentation complete in 4 -5 days - Best for certain varietals (e.g. Moscato d'Asti - Prosecco - Sekt)
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
39. Northern Rhone Climate
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Continental with LeMistral winds
40. Pinot Grigio (Italy)
eanut shell
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)
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
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
41. Cote Challonaise ACs
Grass
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
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
42. New York State
43. Grapes in Valpolicella and Amarone
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
44. NV Champagne Aging Requirements
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
12 months
Finesse
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
45. Primary Spanish White Varietals
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
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
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
46. Layon Valley Wines
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Plum skin
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
47. Friuli Venezia Giulia
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
48. Marsala DOC
hite wines from Viognier
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
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
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
49. Savennieres
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
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
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
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
50. Saumur Champigny