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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. Pfalz
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Yeast remnant popped out
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years

2. Prosecco
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.

3. Spanish Wine Classifications
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Vino de Mesa (VdM) - Vino de la Tierra (VdIT): 60% from region - Denominacion de Origen (DO) - Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa - DOC - DOQ): Rioja and Priorat in 1988; Ridera del Duero pending - DO Pagos: single estates only
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache

4. Grapes in Valpolicella and Amarone
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
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

5. Friuli Venezia Giulia
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Plum skin
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

6. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
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)
Sour red cherry
Fruit character
12 months

7. Port
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
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
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths

8. Saint -Peray
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray

9. Vintage Solera Madeira
Fruit loops
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Stewed fruits

10. Malbec (Argentina)
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Blueberry
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays

11. Soils in Cote Rotie
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
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)
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines

12. Cotes -du -Rhone
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Juicyfruit Gum
Terroir

13. Ribera del Duero
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
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

14. Label Integrity Program (LIP)
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
3 years
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin

15. Margaux
Sweet pear
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)

16. Marlborough

17. Champagne Location
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
90km northeast of Paris

18. Advantages to Transfer Method
Plum
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
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
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes

19. Colheita
Most widely planted grape in the world
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
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

20. Ruby Port & Styles

21. Mendocino County
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Cooler coastal climate with an active sparkling wine industry- Warm interior with old vine Zinfandel - Petite Sirah - Carigange - etc. - Notables include Anderson Valley (Alsatian varietals) - Guenoc - Redwood Valley - Yorkville - Potter Valle
Generic term for sparkling

22. Pinot Grigio (Italy)
eanut shell
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
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse

23. 85% Varietal Madeiras
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
New Zealand
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura

24. Cabernet Franc (Loire)
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
Tartared raspberry
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
Continental with LeMistral winds

25. Priorat DOCa
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

26. Autolysis
Tartared raspberry
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

27. Regions of Alsace
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
Red wines from 100% Syrah

28. Cultivars
90km northeast of Paris
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)
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
What varietals are called in South Africa

29. Einzellage
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
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
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
Single Vineyard

30. Campania

31. Lirac
Tartared raspberry
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Marsannay - Fixin - Gevrey -Chambertin (8 Grand Crus) - Morey St. Denis (5 Grand Crus) - Chambolle -Musigny (2 Grand Crus) - Vougeot (1 Grand Cru) - Flagey Echezeaux (2 Grand Crus) - Vosnee -Romanee (6 Grand Crus) - Nuits St. Georges (Premier Cru onl
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo

32. Left Bank Communes
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
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
NZ's most important and fastest growing wine region - Alluvial gravel - Protected from Westerly winds by South Alps and Easterlies by Southern tip of North Island - Awatere Valley and Wairau Valley
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

33. Tuscany
eanut shell
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
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Dehydrated strawberries

34. 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
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Sour red cherry

35. 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
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
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 -
Sour red cherry

36. Southern Rhone Varietals (Red)
Stewed fruits
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao

37. Basis for Burgundy AOC
Terroir
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita

38. Chateau -Grillet
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja

39. Gigondas
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 -
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache

40. Cotes de Beaune ACs
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
eanut shell
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

41. Sherry Classifications
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
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
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
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage

42. Saumur Champigny

43. Fino vs. Oloroso Sherry
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)

44. Primary Tuscan White Varietals
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia

45. 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
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
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
hite wines from Viognier

46. 2009 or 2008 in Cotes -du -Rhone?
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Dehydrated strawberries
2009 Great 2008 Not so great

47. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau

48. GI Quality Categories
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Juicyfruit Gum
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)
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills

49. Rueda
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
America's oldest wine industry
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
hite wines from Viognier

50. Languedoc -Roussillon