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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. Monterey County
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne

2. Rueda
Grass
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero

3. Ribera del Duero
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound
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
90km northeast of Paris

4. Merlot
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Plum

5. Lombardy
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
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
Major Growing Region

6. Sercial & Verdelho Vinification Styles
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)

7. Rheingau
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983

8. Rainwater
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
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
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

9. Sancerre
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
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Semi -sparkling

10. Northwest Spain: Notable Regions
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Semi -sparkling
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
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero

11. Charmat Process (Cuve Close)

12. Alsace Noble Varietals

13. Rioja DOCa Sub -Zones
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Smoked meats/Bacon fat

14. Soils in Cote Rotie
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
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

15. Gruner Veltliner
Lentils
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County

16. White Port Varietals
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
America's oldest wine industry
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani

17. Vendage Tardive (VT)
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Plum skin
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet

18. Western Australia
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
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
12 months
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)

19. Umbria
District of villages & vineyards
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
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)
Albariza - Barros - Arenas

20. Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

21. Chianti Sub -Zones
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Continental with LeMistral winds
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages

22. Ripasso

23. Colheita
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Structure
Finesse

24. Franken (Franconia)
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
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
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Structure

25. Saint -Joseph
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
90km northeast of Paris

26. Navarra
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
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
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay

27. Anada
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Vintage dated sherries
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Semi -sparkling

28. Regions of Alsace
Semi -sparkling
3 years
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Gradual breakdown of yeasts

29. Loire Valley Primary Red Varietals
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
District of villages & vineyards
Plum
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

30. Einzellage
Single Vineyard
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
New Zealand
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia

31. South Africa's Wine of Origin System (WO)
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated

32. North Central Spain: Notable Regions
3 years
Sour red cherry
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

33. Gigondas
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
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

34. Vintage Port
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
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
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir

35. Germany
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
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
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
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

36. Alsace

37. Primary Spanish Red Varietals
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio

38. Saumur Mousseux
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
'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
Most important DO in Southern Spain
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed

39. Layon Valley AOCs
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted

40. Saint -Peray
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
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

41. Vinho Verde
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
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
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
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect

42. Canterbury
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
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
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch

43. Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)

44. New York State AVAs
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color

45. Grosslage
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Collection of vineyards
Plum skin
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily

46. Marsala DOC
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.

47. New Zealand's North Island Regions
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)

48. Rheinhessen

49. Autolysis
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
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Stewed fruits

50. Santa Barbera County
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)