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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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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. Pauillac
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Sweet pear
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 -
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect

2. German Wine Classifications
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Dehydrated strawberries
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
Orange Candy

3. Beaujolais Cru ACs
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
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

4. Tavel
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault

5. Cote Rotie
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Most important DO in Southern Spain

6. Provence
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
America's oldest wine industry
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

7. Anejo
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
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
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel

8. Soil in Cote d'Or
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
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
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market

9. Southern Rhone Appellations
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts

10. Gruner Veltliner
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
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 -
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Lentils

11. Beaujolais ACs
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
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
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Terroir

12. Listrac & Moulis
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
Sweet pear
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths

13. TTB Label Laws I

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14. New Zealand's South Island
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
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

15. Fino vs. Oloroso Sherry
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
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

16. Pinot Noir
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
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit

17. 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
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)

18. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Sweet pear

19. Soils in Cote Rotie
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
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)
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils

20. Notable Anbaugebiete
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
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil

21. Sherry Vinification
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
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
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages

22. Veneto
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
hite wines from Viognier
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa

23. Lirac
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua

24. Regions of Alsace
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)

25. Palo Cortado
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa

26. Cotes de Nuits Appellations
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
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot

27. Cotes de Beaune ACs
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
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
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

28. South Africa
eanut shell
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World

29. Champagne Dryness/Sweetness Levels
3 years
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)

30. Left Bank Communes
Plum
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Tartared raspberry
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes

31. Australia
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
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
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro

32. Estufagem
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Semi -sparkling
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
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero

33. Chablis Grand Crus
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
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
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Dehydrated strawberries

34. Niederosterreich
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache

35. Edna Valley
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
Juicyfruit Gum
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed

36. Syrah/Shiraz
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
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)
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown

37. North Coast Super AVAs
District of villages & vineyards
Bourgogne Aligote Bouzeron (Aligote) - Rully (AC & Premier Cru) - Mercurey (AC & Premier Cru) - Givry (AC & Premier Cru) - Montagny AC (white only) - Premier Cru if more than 11.5% alcohol
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal

38. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

39. North Central Spain: 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
What varietals are called in South Africa
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
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)

40. Wairarapa
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Continental with LeMistral winds
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache

41. South African Wine Regions
District of villages & vineyards
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)
Lentils
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 -

42. Chardonnay's Role in Champagne
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Finesse
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

43. Friuli Venezia Giulia
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
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
Stewed fruits
Terroir

44. Pipe
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Lisboa (formerly Estramadura - Atlantic influenced climate) - Tejo (formerly Alentejo - Periquita grape - white wines from chalky soils) - Colares (Ramisco grape - ungrafted vines grown in sand) - Algarve (red and white - 4 DO districts
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah

45. Chateauneuf -de -Pape
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")
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)

46. Alsace
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
hite wines from Viognier
90km northeast of Paris
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed

47. Vintage Champagne Aging Requirements
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
3 years
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

48. Northern Rhone Climate
Bubblegum
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
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Continental with LeMistral winds

49. 2009 or 2008 in Cotes -du -Rhone?
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Most important DO in Southern Spain
3 years

50. Chablis
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
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
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
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

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