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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. Southern Rhone Varietals (White)
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
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
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay

2. South Africa
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Generic term for sparkling
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona

3. Nebbiolo
Dried sour red cherry
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray

4. Hermitage
Lentils
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
3 years
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World

5. Napa County AVAs

6. Maconnais ACs
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse

7. Beaujolais ACs
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla

8. Sherry Vinification
Stewed fruits
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit

9. Cannonau
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
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
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache

10. Chardonnay
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
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
Hazelnut
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir

11. Riesling
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Bordered by the Vosges Mountains on the west and Germany's Rhein river to the east - 51 Grand Cru vineyards - Purity of fruit and terroir - New oak rarely used - Wines labeled by varietal - not by terroir - Concentrated - full -bodied dry white win
High acid

12. Tuscany
Sweet pear
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
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

13. Chinon
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
hite wines from Viognier
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

14. Beaujolais Cru ACs
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
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
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)

15. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
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)
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)

16. Primary Hungarian White Varietals
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
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus

17. Vin Santo DOC
Lychee
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils

18. Tempranillo (Rioja Riserva/Gran Riserva)
Stewed fruits
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
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Semi -sparkling

19. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
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
Lychee
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
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

20. Vintage Solera Madeira
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed

21. Pinot Noir
Cranberry
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
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
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)

22. Listrac & Moulis
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
What varietals are called in South Africa
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli

23. Alsace
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine

24. TTB Estate Bottled Requirements
Most important DO in Southern Spain
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
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

25. Appassimento Process
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Most important DO in Southern Spain
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines

26. Left Bank Grapes
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
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
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)

27. Cultivars
What varietals are called in South Africa
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
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 -
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion

28. New Zealand's South Island Regions
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis

29. Soave
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Continental with LeMistral winds
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)

30. Western Australia
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
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

31. Spumante
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Generic term for sparkling

32. SA's Primary Red Cultivars
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN

33. Medoc First Growths
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages

34. Syrah/Shiraz
Tartared raspberry
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
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

35. Etna DOC
Collection of vineyards
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
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)

36. Languedoc -Roussillon Primary White Varietals
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
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
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac

37. Margaux
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
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)
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac

38. Viognier
Fruit loops
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio

39. Southern Rhone Appellations
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Dried sour red cherry
Generic term for sparkling
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres

40. South Africa's Wine of Origin System (WO)
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County

41. Red Port Varietals
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel

42. Central Vineyards AOCs
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
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
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
Cava (most in Catalonia)

43. Cornas
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
Red wines from 100% Syrah
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
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

44. North Central Spain: Primary Red Varietals
Plum
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Major Growing Region

45. VORS
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)

46. Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

47. Burgundy (Climate)
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
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

48. Pipe
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
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

49. Willamette Valley Subregion AVAs
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills

50. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
hite wines from Viognier
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Fruit character