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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. Gigondas
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Dried sour red cherry
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache

2. Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux)

3. Tax and Trade Bureau
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero

4. Madeira Grapes (Driest to Sweetest)
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
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak

5. New York State AVAs
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
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
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
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes

6. Vintage Madeira
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
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
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

7. Bairrada
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
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
Alluvial clays
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port

8. Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
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
Bubblegum
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils

9. Cremant de la Loire
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken

10. Saint -Joseph
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel

11. Gisborne
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Dried sour red cherry
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County

12. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Dehydrated strawberries
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla

13. Beaujolais ACs
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC
Glassy -winged sharpshooter

14. Sherry Classifications
AVAs - Columbia Valley - Yakima Valley - Walla Walla Valley - Red Mountain - Horse Heaven Hills - Columbia Gorge - Wahluke Slope - Snipes Mountain - Lake Chelan - Puget Sound
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas

15. Chinon
Fruit loops
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)

16. Soils in St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Heavier - clay -oriented soils

17. Prosecco
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil

18. Late Bottled Vintage Port
Most important DO in Southern Spain
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
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
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils

19. Highest average bottle price of any country
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
New Zealand
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
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

20. South Australia

21. Umbria
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Albariza - Barros - Arenas

22. Rheingau
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
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
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)

23. Montlouis
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro

24. Vacqueyras
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc

25. AVA
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown

26. Soave
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
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

27. Red Rioja Quality Levels & Requirements
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
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
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers

28. Austria Major Regions
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
Dehydrated strawberries
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal

29. Ahr Valley
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
North Coast Super AVA - Sierras - Central Coast (Santa Cruz to Santa Barbera) - Central Valley (south to Clarksburg and Lodi) - Southern Valleys ( Santa Ynez to San Diego)
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser

30. Vouvray
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Lentils

31. Pipe
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
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
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect

32. Airen
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
Most widely planted grape in the world

33. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
Fruit character
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)

34. SA's Primary Red Cultivars
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)

35. Menetou Salon
Semi -sparkling
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay

36. Lirac
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Continental with LeMistral winds

37. Pinot Meunier's Role in Champagne
Cranberry
Fruit character
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal

38. Mosel Valley
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
'Re -passed' - Traditional winemaking technique in the Veneto - Young Valp put into tanks or barrels containing lees or dried fruits from previous Amarone fermentation - Causes secondary fermentation - increasing alcohol content - and adding Amaron
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Gradual breakdown of yeasts

39. Brunello di Montalcino Aging
Most widely planted grape in the world
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine

40. Vintage Solera Madeira
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
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
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market

41. VORS
Semi -sparkling
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Very Old Rare Sherry - Aged 30 years (average minimum age)
What varietals are called in South Africa

42. Northeast Spain
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona

43. Cornas
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Red wines from 100% Syrah
eanut shell
Juicyfruit Gum

44. Touraine AOCs
District of villages & vineyards
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil

45. Right Bank Grapes (Bordeaux)
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals

46. Rias Biaxas
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
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

47. Willamette Valley Subregion AVAs
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
North Coast Super AVA - Sierras - Central Coast (Santa Cruz to Santa Barbera) - Central Valley (south to Clarksburg and Lodi) - Southern Valleys ( Santa Ynez to San Diego)
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
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)

48. North Central Spain: Primary White Varietals
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)
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine

49. Apulia

50. 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.
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
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
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