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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. Menetou Salon
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
Sweet pear
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
2. Madeira Grapes (Driest to Sweetest)
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
3. Late Bottled Vintage Port
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
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
4. Napa County AVAs
5. Wairarapa
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
6. Sercial & Verdelho Vinification Styles
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
7. New Zealand's North Island Regions
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Bubblegum
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
8. Santa Barbera County
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
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
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
9. Nahe
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
10. Gisborne
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
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
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
11. Vouvray
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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
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
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
12. Vin Doux Naturel
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
13. Soave
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Lychee
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
14. Ahr Valley
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
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
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
15. Alsace
16. Etna DOC
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
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)
3 years
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
17. Carricante
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
Lychee
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
18. Chateau -Grillet
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Plum skin
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
19. Dao
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
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
20. Sherry Vinification
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
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)
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
21. Rioja DOCa Sub -Zones
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Structure
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
22. Victoria
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 -
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
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
23. Bual & Malmsey
Fruit character
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
24. Pfalz
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
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
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
25. South Africa's Wine of Origin System (WO)
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
26. Port Styles
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
27. Cannonau
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
28. Sonoma County
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
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
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
29. Aged Tawny Port
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
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")
30. Riesling
High acid
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
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
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
31. Highest average bottle price of any country
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
New Zealand
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")
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
32. North Central Spain: Primary Red Varietals
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Hazelnut
90km northeast of Paris
33. Chablis
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)
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
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
34. Most widely planted grape in Champagne
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
Pinot Noir
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
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
35. Tokaji
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Stewed fruits
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
36. Biologically -aged Sherry Styles & Descriptions
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
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
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 -
37. Apulia
38. Airen
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Most widely planted grape in the world
39. New York State
40. Regions of Southern Portugal
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
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Tartared raspberry
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
41. Cote Challonaise ACs
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
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
42. Monterey County
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
43. Bereich
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
District of villages & vineyards
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
44. Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Sweet pear
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
Fruit character
45. Mosel Valley
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Vintage dated sherries
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
46. Vintage Madeira
Juicyfruit Gum
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
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
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
47. Penedes
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Dehydrated strawberries
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
48. Ruby Port & Styles
49. Appellations shared between WA and OR
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
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
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
50. Quincy
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills