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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. Oxidative Sherry Styles & Descriptions
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
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

2. Charmat Process (Cuve Close)

3. Ahr Valley
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet

4. Saumur AOCs
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
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
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

5. Sardinia
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
What varietals are called in South Africa
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 -

6. Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
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
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Sweet pear

7. Pipe
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
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)

8. Sonoma County
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
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
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
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

9. Grapes in Valpolicella and Amarone
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
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
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua

10. Bual & Malmsey
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero
Hazelnut
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. Anjou
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
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
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
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey

12. Condrieu
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
hite wines from Viognier
Pinot Noir

13. Fino vs. Oloroso Sherry
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet

14. New Zealand's South Island Regions
Generic term for sparkling
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne

15. Languedoc -Roussillon Primary Red Varietals
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
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Structure
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc

16. Gisborne
Lentils
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault

17. Touraine AOCs
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
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
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil

18. Central Vineyards AOCs
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly

19. Basis for Burgundy AOC
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Terroir
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)

20. Most widely planted grape in Champagne
Generic term for sparkling
Pinot Noir
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

21. New South Wales

22. Australia Primary White Varietals
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier

23. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
Sour red cherry
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)
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
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve

24. Savennieres
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
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
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto

25. Pfalz
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis

26. Victoria
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
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Stewed fruits
Glassy -winged sharpshooter

27. Soil in Cote d'Or
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
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)

28. Veneto
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
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona

29. Medoc First Growths
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)

30. Languedoc -Roussillon AOCs
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
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
Dried sour red cherry
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian

31. Advantages to Transfer Method
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
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)
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes

32. Ribera del Duero
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
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone

33. White Port Varietals
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers

34. Quincy
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)

35. Northern Rhone Grape Varietals
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
Plum
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
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah

36. Notable Anbaugebiete
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
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 -
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
eanut shell

37. Disgorging/Degorgement
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
Plum
Yeast remnant popped out
Renowned botrytis dessert wine from Hungary that has been produced for centuries - Technically a dry still wine sweetened with botrytized grapes (Aszu) - Sweetness levels measured in 3 -6 puttonyos - Eszencia is 100% botrytised grapes

38. Vin de Liqueur
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
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)
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
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino

39. Cannonau
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault

40. Chateauneuf -de -Pape
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
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

41. Lazio
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Structure
Pinot Noir

42. Chateauneuf -de -Pape Soils
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
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
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils

43. Anbaugebiete
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Major Growing Region
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
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

44. Franken (Franconia)
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

45. Appellations shared between WA and OR
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
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
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
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge

46. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Plum
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port

47. Late Bottled Vintage Port
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
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
America's oldest wine industry
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)

48. Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

49. Wairarapa
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
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

50. Colheita
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging