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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. North Coast Super AVAs
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Single Vineyard

2. Basis for Burgundy AOC
Terroir
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Orange Candy

3. Highest average bottle price of any country
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound
New Zealand
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
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"

4. Margaux
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne

5. Tasmania

6. Alsace
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Plum skin
Stewed fruits
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine

7. Champagne Grapes
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)

8. Anada
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
Vintage dated sherries
Red wines from 100% Syrah
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio

9. Estufagem
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
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
Continental with LeMistral winds

10. Label Integrity Program (LIP)
hite wines from Viognier
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)

11. Australian Wine Producing States
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
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
Tartared raspberry
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)

12. Tokaji
Sicily - Full -bodied reds from vineyards on the slopes of Mt. Etna made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio - White grape is Carricante (clone of Garganega)
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
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
Dried sour red cherry

13. Disgorging/Degorgement
Yeast remnant popped out
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
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
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

14. Gruner Veltliner
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
Lentils

15. Aguardente
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Sour red cherry
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli

16. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
Lychee
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino

17. Chianti Sub -Zones
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)

18. Mendocino 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
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)

19. Australia Primary Red Varietals
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
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
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

20. Chateau -Grillet
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
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
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
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

21. South African Wine Regions
District of villages & vineyards
Semi -sparkling
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache

22. South Africa
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)

23. Cotes de Beaune ACs
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
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
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines

24. Grapes in Valpolicella and Amarone
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay

25. Emilia Romagna
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers

26. Reuilly
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
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. Wairarapa
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin

28. Oxidative Sherry Styles & Descriptions
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Vintage dated sherries
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
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

29. Beaumes -de -Venise
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
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
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
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

30. Rheinhessen

31. SA's Primary White Cultivars
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino

32. Aged Tawny Port
Single Vineyard
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
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
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")

33. Galets
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
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
Sicily - Full -bodied reds from vineyards on the slopes of Mt. Etna made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio - White grape is Carricante (clone of Garganega)

34. Pfalz
What varietals are called in South Africa
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona

35. Central Vineyards AOCs
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
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly

36. Santa Barbera County
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
District of villages & vineyards

37. Charmat Process (Cuve Close)

38. Vin Doux Naturel
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
Juicyfruit Gum
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle

39. Loire Valley Primary Red Varietals
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
What varietals are called in South Africa

40. Alsace Noble Varietals

41. Palo Cortado
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
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
America's oldest wine industry

42. Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux)

43. Einzellage
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
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Single Vineyard

44. Sherry Classifications
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
Dried sour red cherry
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache

45. Soils in Cote Rotie
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)

46. 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
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage

47. Appassimento Process
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
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
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines

48. Cornas
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
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Red wines from 100% Syrah

49. Portugal Red Varietals
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Lentils

50. Rheingau
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Saint -Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus - Le Pin - La Fleur Petrus - La Conseillante - Vieux -Chateau -Certan - Trotanoy)
hite wines from Viognier