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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. Northern Rhone Appellations
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
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)
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray

2. New York State AVAs
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
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

3. Vinsobres
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier

4. North Central Spain: Primary Red Varietals
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
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

5. Chablis Grand Crus
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Tartared raspberry
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja

6. DO Pagos Estates
'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
Aged in wood - ready to drink on release - Sees oxygen in the barrel and - thus - loses its color - Aged Tawny Port (with indication of age)
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)

7. Chianti Classico
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc

8. Tax and Trade Bureau
Juicyfruit Gum
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
Glassy -winged sharpshooter

9. Central Vineyards AOCs
Most widely planted grape in the world
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly

10. Quincy
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
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
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe

11. Noble
hite wines from Viognier
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal

12. Portugal Red Varietals
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
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

13. Santa Barbera County
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Orange Candy
Stewed fruits
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC

14. Western Australia
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
Tartared raspberry
Semi -sparkling

15. Tavel
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
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault
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
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres

16. Niederosterreich
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Vintage dated sherries
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell

17. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
Lychee
Black plum
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Fruit loops

18. Gamay (Beaujolais)
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Bubblegum
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Plum

19. Champagne Grapes
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
3 years
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier

20. Burgundy (Climate)
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Dehydrated strawberries
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)

21. Rainwater
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Sour red cherry
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out

22. Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy 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
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)

23. Edna Valley
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
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
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
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

24. Ripasso

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25. Wachau Wine Classifications
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
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
High acid

26. 2009 or 2008 in Cotes -du -Rhone?
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
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

27. Basis for Burgundy AOC
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Terroir
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)

28. Madeira Grapes (Driest to Sweetest)
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)
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland

29. Cannonau
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
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
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

30. Languedoc -Roussillon Primary White Varietals
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)
New Zealand
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac

31. Vintage Madeira
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
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
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs

32. Maconnais ACs
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
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
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB

33. Portugal White Varietals
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
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 -

34. New Zealand's North Island Regions
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe

35. Anejo
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Structure
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years

36. Almacenistas
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities

37. Saint -Peray
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne

38. Gisborne
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Grass
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
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux

39. Loire Valley

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40. Chardonnay's Role in Champagne
Finesse
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)
Single Vineyard
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily

41. Single Quinta Port
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)
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)

42. Label Integrity Program (LIP)
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Lentils

43. Liqueur d'Expedition
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Semi -sparkling
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties

44. Chenin Blanc (Loire)
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)

45. North Coast Super AVAs
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Grass
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
hite wines from Viognier

46. Highest average bottle price of any country
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)
New Zealand
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World

47. Navarra
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"

48. Portugal Wine Quality Levels
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
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.

49. Left Bank Grapes
New Zealand
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier

50. New South Wales

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