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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. Einzellage
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Single Vineyard
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray

2. Tokaji
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
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
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
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World

3. Single Quinta Port
Stewed fruits
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
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values

4. Colheita
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny

5. Northern Rhone Appellations
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
12 months

6. New York State AVAs
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
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
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities

7. Tasmania

8. Southern Rhone Appellations
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
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
hite wines from Viognier
Lentils

9. New South Wales

10. Marches
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
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
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero

11. Vacqueyras
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate

12. Airen
Most widely planted grape in the world
What varietals are called in South Africa
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)

13. Canterbury
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
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. Reuilly
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Red wines from 100% Syrah
Sour red cherry

15. Marlborough

16. Gruner Veltliner
Lentils
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
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
2009 Great 2008 Not so great

17. Rioja DOCa Sub -Zones
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
hite wines from Viognier
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja

18. Regions of Alsace
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
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
Tartared raspberry
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino

19. Rias Biaxas
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
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
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah

20. Gigondas
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
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

21. South Australia

22. Chateauneuf -de -Pape Soils
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
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)
Collection of vineyards
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder

23. Pays Nantais
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
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
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
Red wines are predominantly Grenache

24. Saumur Mousseux
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
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
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)

25. VORS
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
Alluvial clays
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy

26. Northern Rhone Grape Varietals
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Tartared raspberry

27. Primary Greek White Varietals
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
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir

28. Vendage Tardive (VT)
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values

29. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
Lychee
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay

30. Red Port 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
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao

31. Chianti Classico
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
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted

32. Marsala DOC
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak

33. Austria Major Regions
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel

34. Schist
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
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
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)

35. White Port Varietals
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
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Continental with LeMistral winds
Dehydrated strawberries

36. Northwest Spain: Notable Regions
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
Plum
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero

37. North Central Spain: Primary Red Varietals
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
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 -
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
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

38. North Central Spain: Notable Regions
Dehydrated strawberries
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
America's oldest wine industry
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

39. Trentino

40. Pipe
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)
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
eanut shell
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)

41. Cultivars
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
What varietals are called in South Africa
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne

42. Loire Valley Major Regions
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino

43. DO Pagos Estates
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)

44. Sherry Vinification
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Vintage dated sherries
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser

45. Ribera del Duero
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
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
90km northeast of Paris
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier

46. Portugal Wine Quality Levels
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
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
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
Red - white - and rose wines produced in the Minho province (9 sub -districts) - Bottled young to undergo malolactic fermentation in the bottle (thus - have a prickle or bubble to it) - Best whites are from Alvarinho or Loureiro

47. Champagne Location
Yeast remnant popped out
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
90km northeast of Paris
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago

48. Beaujolais ACs
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
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
Collection of vineyards
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)

49. Friuli Venezia Giulia
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
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
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes

50. South Africa's Wine of Origin System (WO)
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
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
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