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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. Lombardy
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Lychee
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG

2. Dao
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
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
Most important DO in Southern Spain

3. Carricante
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
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
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua

4. Umbria
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
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

5. White Port Varietals
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Cranberry
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown

6. Sicily

7. Pauillac
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
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 -
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging

8. Northern Rhone Climate
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Continental with LeMistral winds
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)

9. Southern Rhone Varietals (Red)
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
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

10. Oxidative Sherry Styles & Descriptions
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
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

11. Northeast Spain
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Red wines from 100% Syrah

12. Notable Anbaugebiete
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted

13. Chablis
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
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
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
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated

14. Chardonnay
Hazelnut
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
America's oldest wine industry

15. Saint -Peray
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Blueberry

16. Aged Tawny Port
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
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
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")
12 months

17. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
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
3 years
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay

18. Pinot Noir's Role in Champagne
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
Structure
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
'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

19. Pierce's Disease
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging

20. New York State AVAs
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Alluvial clays
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines

21. Beaujolais Cru ACs
Vintage dated sherries
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres

22. Apulia

23. Spanish Wine Classifications
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
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
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
Plum

24. Willamette Valley Subregion AVAs
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)

25. Chateauneuf -de -Pape
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino

26. Germany
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
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
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
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

27. Chateauneuf -de -Pape Soils
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
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"

28. South Africa's Wine of Origin System (WO)
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Hazelnut
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.

29. Palo Cortado
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
Fruit character
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio

30. New York State

31. Wairarapa
Stewed fruits
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
12 months
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache

32. Chenin Blanc (Loire)
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet

33. Touraine AOCs
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
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
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine

34. Nahe
Cranberry
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Wine pumped into tanks with liqueur de tirage - Fermentation complete in 4 -5 days - Best for certain varietals (e.g. Moscato d'Asti - Prosecco - Sekt)
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia

35. South Australia

36. TTB Estate Bottled Requirements
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Alluvial clays
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas

37. Lazio
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
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

38. Cava Varietals
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
90km northeast of Paris
Most important DO in Southern Spain
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay

39. Viognier
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
Semi -sparkling
Fruit loops

40. Rias Biaxas
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
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes

41. Rheinhessen

42. AVA
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
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
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils

43. Champagne Regions (North to South)
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed

44. Washington State Appellations
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound
'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
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)

45. Biologically -aged Sherry Styles & Descriptions
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
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
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
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 -

46. Rheingau
America's oldest wine industry
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)
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)

47. Sancerre
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
Continental with LeMistral winds
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)
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)

48. New Zealand's North Island Regions
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa

49. Grosslage
Yeast remnant popped out
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Collection of vineyards
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache

50. North Coast Super AVAs
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Wine pumped into tanks with liqueur de tirage - Fermentation complete in 4 -5 days - Best for certain varietals (e.g. Moscato d'Asti - Prosecco - Sekt)