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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. Margaux
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
NZ's original wine region - Home to Kumeu -Huapai and Waiheke Island - Very warm maritime climate with high humidity - Heavy clay soils (except for Waiheke Island) - Known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

2. Beaumes -de -Venise
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier

3. Chenin Blanc (Loire)
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
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Finesse
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)

4. Franken (Franconia)
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
New Zealand
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
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

5. Vouvray
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
What varietals are called in South Africa
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown

6. Crozes -Hermitage
eanut shell
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal

7. North Central Spain: Notable Regions
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
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
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Grass

8. Cultivars
What varietals are called in South Africa
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils

9. Rioja DOCa Sub -Zones
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others

10. Frizzante
Semi -sparkling
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel

11. Appassimento Process
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 -
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes

12. Aged Tawny Port
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")
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
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
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage

13. Cava Varietals
Major Growing Region
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years

14. Anbaugebiete
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Major Growing Region
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell

15. Marlborough

16. Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
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
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil

17. Late Bottled Vintage Port
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
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Cava (most in Catalonia)
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

18. Most widely planted grape in Champagne
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Pinot Noir
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

19. Northern Rhone Climate
Continental with LeMistral winds
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey

20. Noble
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
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
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

21. Musca
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Orange Candy
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage

22. Languedoc -Roussillon Primary White Varietals
Grass
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages

23. Chardonnay
Hazelnut
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983

24. Apulia

25. Nahe
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
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)

26. Maconnais ACs
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils

27. Disgorging/Degorgement
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
Terroir
NZ's original wine region - Home to Kumeu -Huapai and Waiheke Island - Very warm maritime climate with high humidity - Heavy clay soils (except for Waiheke Island) - Known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Yeast remnant popped out

28. Umbria
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
What varietals are called in South Africa

29. Sherry Soil Types
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
Albariza - Barros - Arenas

30. Lazio
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
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

31. Tuscany
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine

32. Soil in Cote d'Or
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa

33. Ahr Valley
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
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
Most important DO in Southern Spain
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser

34. North Coast Super AVAs
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County

35. Left Bank Communes
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
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
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
Gradual breakdown of yeasts

36. Vendage Tardive (VT)
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
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
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

37. Languedoc -Roussillon

38. Grosslage
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Collection of vineyards
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah

39. Vin Santo DOC
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)
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years

40. Soave
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Dehydrated strawberries
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)

41. Malbec (Argentina)
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
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
Blueberry
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly

42. Trentino

43. Auckland

44. South Africa's Wine of Origin System (WO)
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel

45. Tax and Trade Bureau
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas

46. Vinho Verde
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
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
Blueberry
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)

47. Marches
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
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets

48. Cotes de Beaune ACs
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Black plum
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
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira

49. Portugal White Varietals
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
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part

50. Provence
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis