Certified Sommelier Exam

Instructions:

• Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
• If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
• Match each statement with the correct term.
• Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

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. Colheita
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
3 years
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging


2. Autolysis
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
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Gradual breakdown of yeasts


3. Sherry Vinification
Terroir
Fruit character
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
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


4. Champagne Grapes
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Most widely planted grape in the world


5. Prosecco
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated


6. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
3 years
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Bubblegum


7. Layon Valley AOCs
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
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
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser


8. Umbria
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown


9. Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
District of villages & vineyards


10. White Port Varietals
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua


11. Malbec (Argentina)
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
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Blueberry
Finesse


12. South Spain
Black plum
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
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


13. Sardinia
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
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
America's oldest wine industry
NZ's original wine region - Home to Kumeu -Huapai and Waiheke Island - Very warm maritime climate with high humidity - Heavy clay soils (except for Waiheke Island) - Known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot


14. Champagne Location
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero
90km northeast of Paris
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


15. Champagne Dryness/Sweetness Levels
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Black plum
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)


16. Bereich
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
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
District of villages & vineyards


17. Transfer Method
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
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
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
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam


18. Oregon AVAs
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Single Vineyard
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)


19. New Zealand's South Island
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
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)
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)


20. Vintage Solera Madeira
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes


21. Alsace Noble Varietals

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22. Apulia

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23. Tokaji
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
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
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Grass


24. Sonoma County
Grass
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
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier


25. Lazio
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
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
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone


26. Rueda
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
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
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


27. Appellations shared between WA and OR
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Single Vineyard
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier


28. Champagne Regions (North to South)
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
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
Dried sour red cherry
Cranberry


29. Saumur Champigny

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30. Crozes -Hermitage
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Sour red cherry
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet


31. Campania

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32. Veneto
New Zealand
From Lake Garda in the west to the Adriatc - Venice and Verona
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
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


33. Colheita Madeiras
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage


34. Gisborne
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
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
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
Most widely planted grape in the world


35. Santa Barbera County
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
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


36. Tavel
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
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
Rose from Grenache and Cinsault


37. Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
Sour red cherry
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser


38. North Central Spain: Primary Red Varietals
District of villages & vineyards
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
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


39. Highest average bottle price of any country
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
New Zealand
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre


40. Vin Santo DOC
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
What varietals are called in South Africa


41. Pipe
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out


42. Central Otago
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)


43. Australian Wine Producing States
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot


44. 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")
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Most important DO in Southern Spain
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache


45. Edelzwicker
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement


46. Airen
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Most widely planted grape in the world
Cava (most in Catalonia)


47. Paso Robles

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48. Pierce's Disease
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Terroir
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Albariza - Barros - Arenas


49. Ripasso

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50. Vintage Port
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
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
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
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