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Certified Sommelier Exam

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
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1. Palo Cortado
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit

2. Spumante
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
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
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)
Generic term for sparkling

3. Prosecco
Tartared raspberry
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Grass
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe

4. Ahr Valley
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)
Semi -sparkling
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto

5. Oregon AVAs
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
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

6. Sercial & Verdelho Vinification Styles
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Vintage dated sherries

7. Etna DOC
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
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)
Cranberry
12 months

8. North Central Spain: Primary Red Varietals
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
Grass
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
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

9. Edelzwicker
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Cranberry
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
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine

10. Oxidative Sherry Styles & Descriptions
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
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
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes

11. Washington State Appellations
Grass
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

12. Niederosterreich
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
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
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal

13. Rias Biaxas
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Stewed fruits
Sour red cherry

14. Southern Rhone Climate and Vineyards
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
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
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey

15. Vintage Champagne Aging Requirements
Hazelnut
3 years
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
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

16. Label Integrity Program (LIP)
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
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
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin

17. South Africa
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Glassy -winged sharpshooter

18. Chardonnay
Most important DO in Southern Spain
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Hazelnut

19. Galets
Generic term for sparkling
Cranberry
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir

20. 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
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Dried sour red cherry
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement

21. Anada
Vintage dated sherries
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Plum

22. Estufagem
Fruit loops
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
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

23. Apulia

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24. Pinot Noir
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
Dehydrated strawberries
Cranberry
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills

25. Montlouis
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray

26. New Zealand's South Island Regions
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Plum skin
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN

27. Grapes in Valpolicella and Amarone
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Single Vineyard
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre

28. Alsace Noble Varietals

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29. Primary Spanish Red Varietals
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
eanut shell
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Fruit character

30. Einzellage
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
New Zealand
Single Vineyard
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)

31. Beaujolais ACs
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals

32. Emilia Romagna
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers

33. Liqueur d'Expedition
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out

34. 85% Varietal Madeiras
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
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
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes

35. Albarino (Rias Baixas)
Juicyfruit Gum
eanut shell
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse

36. Chianti Classico
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion

37. Cotes -du -Rhone
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
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone

38. Crozes -Hermitage
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
2009 Great 2008 Not so great

39. Languedoc -Roussillon AOCs
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

40. Hawkes Bay
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
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
Generic term for sparkling

41. Sancerre
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Hazelnut
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)

42. Colheita Madeiras
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
America's oldest wine industry

43. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Fruit character
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect

44. Regions of Alsace
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona

45. Champagne Dryness/Sweetness Levels
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux

46. Bairrada
Plum skin
What varietals are called in South Africa
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
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

47. Sherry Soil Types
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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
Lychee
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre

48. Central Otago
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines

49. Priorat DOCa
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Finesse
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly

50. Napa County AVAs

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