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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. Pouilly Fume
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Structure
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc

2. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
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")
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine

3. Southern Rhone Varietals (White)
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
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

4. Edelzwicker
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Lychee

5. Soil in Cote d'Or
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
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
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache

6. NV Champagne Aging Requirements
12 months
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)

7. Chinon
hite wines from Viognier
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache

8. Chateauneuf -de -Pape Soils
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
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

9. Provence
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis

10. South Australia

11. Nahe
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Cranberry
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer

12. Syrah/Shiraz
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
Collection of vineyards
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"

13. Burgundy (Climate)
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Structure
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)

14. Lombardy
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak

15. Portugal White Varietals
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
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
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
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro

16. Anjou
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
Dried sour red cherry
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

17. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
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
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages

18. Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Black plum
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas

19. Airen
North Coast Super AVA - Sierras - Central Coast (Santa Cruz to Santa Barbera) - Central Valley (south to Clarksburg and Lodi) - Southern Valleys ( Santa Ynez to San Diego)
Most widely planted grape in the world
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge

20. Cava Varietals
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit

21. Colheita
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
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay

22. Cotes de Beaune ACs
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
Dried sour red cherry
Fruit loops
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

23. Margaux
Grass
90km northeast of Paris
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World

24. Schist
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)

25. Lazio
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Stewed fruits
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
90km northeast of Paris

26. VORS
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
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers

27. Cote Rotie
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey

28. Southern Rhone Varietals (Red)
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Most widely planted grape in the world

29. Solera system
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
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
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
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC

30. Vendage Tardive (VT)
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
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
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

31. Cote Challonaise ACs
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
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago

32. Sardinia
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Fruit loops
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages

33. Cotes -du -Rhone Villages
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Fruit loops
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
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

34. Vintage Madeira
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
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
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel

35. Sauternes
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
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
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)

36. Rioja DOCa Sub -Zones
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Semi -sparkling
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja

37. Condrieu
hite wines from Viognier
Finesse
Generic term for sparkling
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch

38. Penedes Sub -Districts
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

39. Emilia Romagna
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils

40. Anejo
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
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
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac

41. Marsala DOC
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Plum skin
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
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

42. VOS
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)

43. Menetou Salon
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah

44. Soave
Yeast remnant popped out
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor

45. Cremant de la Loire
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
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
Semi -sparkling
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others

46. Single Quinta Port
Single Vineyard
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
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
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values

47. Priorat DOCa
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Hazelnut
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

48. Fino vs. Oloroso Sherry
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache

49. South Africa
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
District of villages & vineyards
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
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

50. GI Quality Categories
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
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)