Certified Sommelier Exam

Instructions:

• Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
• If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
• 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. Portugal Red Varietals
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
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
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
Lentils


2. Central Otago
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)
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Fruit character
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre


3. Chateau -Grillet
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
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


4. South Spain
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja


5. Merlot
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Volcanic soils - red basalt - low fertility - Cool maritime climate - high humidity - windy (East facing slopes) - Chardonnay - Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Pinot Noir - sparkling wines - Hobart - Launceston - Piper's River - Coal River
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Plum


6. Anejo
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
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel


7. Edna Valley
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
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
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir


8. Tawny Port
Blueberry
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
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)


9. Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Sweet pear


10. Albarino (Rias Baixas)
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Juicyfruit Gum
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres


11. Cotes -du -Rhone
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
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
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties


12. GI Quality Categories
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)
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Single Vineyard
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC


13. Tavel
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths


14. Languedoc -Roussillon

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15. Cotes de Beaune ACs
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
Cranberry
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
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


16. Most widely planted grape in Champagne
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Pinot Noir
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
3 years


17. New York State

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18. Alsace
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
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
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown


19. Saumur AOCs
Marsannay - Fixin - Gevrey -Chambertin (8 Grand Crus) - Morey St. Denis (5 Grand Crus) - Chambolle -Musigny (2 Grand Crus) - Vougeot (1 Grand Cru) - Flagey Echezeaux (2 Grand Crus) - Vosnee -Romanee (6 Grand Crus) - Nuits St. Georges (Premier Cru onl
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
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
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny


20. Cava Varietals
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas


21. Single Quinta Port
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values


22. Loire Valley Major Regions
'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
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards


23. Australia Primary White Varietals
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 from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
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


24. Transfer Method
Fruit character
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault
Tartared raspberry
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam


25. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
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
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)
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay


26. White Port Varietals
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB


27. New Zealand's North Island Regions
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated


28. Rias Biaxas
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Collection of vineyards
Stewed fruits


29. Chablis Grand Crus
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
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Alluvial clays
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)


30. Carricante
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
'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


31. Zinfandel
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Plum skin


32. Anbaugebiete
Most widely planted grape in the world
Single Vineyard
Major Growing Region
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World


33. Sherry Vinification
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
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


34. Late Bottled Vintage Port
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
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
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
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


35. Oxidative Sherry Styles & Descriptions
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
Sour red cherry
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny


36. Nebbiolo
Dried sour red cherry
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
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


37. Paso Robles

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38. Sherry Soil Types
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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)
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier


39. Lazio
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Generic term for sparkling
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)


40. Vouvray
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Dehydrated strawberries
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)


41. Syrah/Shiraz
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")
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
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)
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily


42. Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Structure


43. Vacqueyras
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc


44. SA's Primary White Cultivars
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)


45. Napa County AVAs

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46. Auckland

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47. Chianti Sub -Zones
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
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate


48. Red Port Varietals
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
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
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes


49. Cornas
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Red wines from 100% Syrah
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet


50. South Africa's Wine of Origin System (WO)
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated