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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. Marsala DOC
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Sour red cherry
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit

2. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Dried sour red cherry

3. Appellations shared between WA and OR
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
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
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 -

4. Vendage Tardive (VT)
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
2009 Great 2008 Not so great

5. Anjou
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
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
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

6. Rainwater
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
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
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century

7. Cultivars
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
What varietals are called in South Africa

8. Port Styles
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio

9. Vintage Port
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
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
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Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

10. Southern Rhone Varietals (White)
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
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

11. Niederosterreich
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 -
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Howell Mountain - Chiles Valley - Napa Valley - Atlas Peak - Stag's Leap District - Oak Knoll - Wild Horse Valley - Los Carneros - Yountville - Mount Veeder - Oakville - Rutherford - Spring Mountain District - Diamond Mountain District

12. Southern Rhone Climate and Vineyards
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
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor

13. Bereich
Howell Mountain - Chiles Valley - Napa Valley - Atlas Peak - Stag's Leap District - Oak Knoll - Wild Horse Valley - Los Carneros - Yountville - Mount Veeder - Oakville - Rutherford - Spring Mountain District - Diamond Mountain District
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
District of villages & vineyards
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto

14. Northwest Spain: Notable Regions
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
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 -
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

15. Produces more sparkling wine than any other country
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

16. Saumur AOCs
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
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

17. Cote Rotie
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
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
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
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18. Red Port Varietals
Collection of vineyards
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
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century

19. 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
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Smoked meats/Bacon fat

20. Alsace

21. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
Fruit character
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
Lentils
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.

22. Tasmania

23. Monterey County
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Grass
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB

24. Beaujolais ACs
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
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
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
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

25. North Central Spain: Primary White Varietals
Most widely planted grape in the world
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
Cranberry
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo

26. Provence
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
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

27. Northern Rhone Climate
Cranberry
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
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
Continental with LeMistral winds

28. Prosecco
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Juicyfruit Gum
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 Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed

29. Sicily

30. Wairarapa
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
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)

31. Riesling
High acid
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah

32. New Zealand's South Island
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
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
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

33. Cannonau
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
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
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out

34. Medoc First Growths
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
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

35. Austria Major Regions
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
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values

36. Pays Nantais
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
New Zealand
Major Growing Region
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

37. Beaumes -de -Venise
12 months
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Most important DO in Southern Spain
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

38. Bairrada
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
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
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
Blueberry

39. South Australia

40. Germany
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
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
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne

41. Gisborne
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
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

42. New Zealand's North Island Regions
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
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey

43. Mendocino County
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
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
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Structure

44. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua

45. Schist
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal

46. Cornas
Red wines from 100% Syrah
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet

47. Cotes de Beaune ACs
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
What varietals are called in South Africa
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

48. Madeira Grapes (Driest to Sweetest)
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Dried sour red cherry
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey

49. New Zealand's North Island
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
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
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin

50. Nahe
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Dehydrated strawberries