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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. Umbria
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
3 years
Juicyfruit Gum

2. Pfalz
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
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
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

3. Australia Primary Red Varietals
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
New Zealand
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Tartared raspberry

4. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
Fruit character
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
America's oldest wine industry

5. Soils in Cote Rotie
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Only a small percentage of grapes grown may be used for Port production - DOC status for table wines earned in 1982 - Grapes: Touriga Nacional - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca
Fruit character
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua

6. Rheingau
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Collection of vineyards
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)

7. Merlot
Plum
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara

8. Campania

9. Soave
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
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
eanut shell
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor

10. Southern Rhone Varietals (White)
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
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
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit

11. Emilia Romagna
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak

12. Champagne Grapes
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
'Re -passed' - Traditional winemaking technique in the Veneto - Young Valp put into tanks or barrels containing lees or dried fruits from previous Amarone fermentation - Causes secondary fermentation - increasing alcohol content - and adding Amaron
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier

13. Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
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
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils

14. Loire Valley Primary Red Varietals
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
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

15. Gisborne
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine

16. Penedes Sub -Districts
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils

17. Reuilly
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Sweet pear

18. Ripasso

19. Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux)

20. Lazio
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
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
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone

21. Vinsobres
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
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

22. Navarra
Collection of vineyards
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)
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay

23. Edelzwicker
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
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
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
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

24. Cava Varietals
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Grass
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay

25. Alsace

26. Viognier
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Fruit loops

27. Syrah/Shiraz
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)

28. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)

29. Almacenistas
Tartared raspberry
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)

30. Einzellage
Stewed fruits
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Single Vineyard
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

31. Veneto
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero

32. Australian Wine Producing States
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
High acid
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona

33. Vin Santo DOC
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Only a small percentage of grapes grown may be used for Port production - DOC status for table wines earned in 1982 - Grapes: Touriga Nacional - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years

34. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
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 -
Only a small percentage of grapes grown may be used for Port production - DOC status for table wines earned in 1982 - Grapes: Touriga Nacional - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
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

35. Appassimento Process
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
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
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
High acid

36. Paso Robles

37. Layon Valley Wines
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Yeast remnant popped out
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine

38. Languedoc -Roussillon AOCs
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian

39. Left Bank Grapes
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
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
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)

40. Red Rioja Quality Levels & Requirements
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
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
District of villages & vineyards
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.

41. Anjou
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
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir

42. Australia Primary White Varietals
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
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

43. Alsace
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes

44. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Sour red cherry
Plum

45. Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

46. Primary Greek Red Varietals
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Gradual breakdown of yeasts

47. Sonoma County
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
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
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
Pinot Noir

48. Transfer Method
Dehydrated strawberries
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
90km northeast of Paris
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle

49. Vouvray
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Sour red cherry
Lentils

50. Gamay (Beaujolais)
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Bubblegum
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine