Certified Sommelier Exam

Instructions:

• 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. Riesling
High acid
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
hite wines from Viognier
Dried sour red cherry


2. Primary Spanish White Varietals
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
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
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin


3. New Zealand's North Island
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
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
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian


4. Regions of Alsace
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)


5. Languedoc -Roussillon AOCs
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
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
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian


6. Quincy
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
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
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


7. Hermitage
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Collection of vineyards
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier


8. Regions of Southern Portugal
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
Dried sour red cherry
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot


9. Auckland

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10. TTB Estate Bottled Requirements
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
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
90km northeast of Paris
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown


11. Sherry Soil Types
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
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
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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)


12. North Central Spain: Primary White Varietals
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
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
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo


13. Vinho Verde
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
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
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement


14. SA's Primary Red Cultivars
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 -
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot


15. Germany
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
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
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)


16. Saint -Joseph
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Fruit character
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne


17. Cabernet Franc (Loire)
Tartared raspberry
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed


18. Bual & Malmsey
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
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
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit


19. Ribera del Duero
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Single Vineyard
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


20. Apulia

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21. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
hite wines from Viognier
High acid
Lychee


22. South Spain
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
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
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)


23. Red Rioja Quality Levels & Requirements
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
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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
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)


24. New South Wales

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25. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG


26. Disgorging/Degorgement
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Yeast remnant popped out
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas


27. Nebbiolo
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
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)
Dried sour red cherry
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect


28. Navarra
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Lychee
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay


29. Provence
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
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 -
Continental with LeMistral winds
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. Austria Major Regions
Blueberry
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
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
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil


31. Tasmania

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32. Marches
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
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita


33. Washington State Appellations
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 -
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound
Major Growing Region
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values


34. VOS
Most widely planted grape in the world
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
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")
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)


35. Northeast Spain
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed


36. Dao
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
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
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.


37. Condrieu
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
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
hite wines from Viognier
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux


38. Chardonnay's Role in Champagne
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Finesse
Produced by adding distillate to UNfermented must - The distillate is a local brandy - and the must is from similarly local grapes - Pineau des Charentes and Floc de Gascogne


39. Sherry Vinification
Juicyfruit Gum
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot


40. NV Champagne Aging Requirements
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
12 months
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Tartared raspberry


41. Canterbury
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound


42. Cotes de Beaune 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
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Albariza - Barros - Arenas


43. Alsace Noble Varietals

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44. Cabernet Sauvignon
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Black plum
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages


45. 85% Varietal Madeiras
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
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
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve


46. Gigondas Soil
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Alluvial clays
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre


47. Bereich
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
District of villages & vineyards
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 -
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine


48. Prosecco
Alluvial clays
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Grass
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani


49. Portugal Wine Quality Levels
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
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 are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel


50. 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")
Alluvial clays
Fruit character
Major Growing Region