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Test your basic knowledge |
Certified Sommelier Exam
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Study First
Subject
:
certifications
Instructions:
Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can
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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. Sherry Soil Types
Terroir
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
2. Montlouis
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
3. Appellations shared between WA and OR
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
90km northeast of Paris
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
4. Sherry Grape Varietals
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
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
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Red wines from 100% Syrah
5. Late Bottled Vintage Port
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
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
Alluvial clays
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
6. Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux)
7. Nelso
8. Soils in St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage
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)
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
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
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
9. Vinsobres
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Pinot Noir
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Aged in glass - may be ready to drink on release OR aged further in bottle - Sees less oxygen than Tawny - so it doesn't lose its color - Vintage Port - LBV Port (4 -6 years) - Single Quinta Port - Reserve Port
10. Loire Valley Major Regions
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
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
Lychee
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
11. Rueda
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
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
12. Touraine AOCs
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
13. Right Bank Grapes (Bordeaux)
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
14. Loire Valley
15. Pfalz
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Juicyfruit Gum
16. New Zealand's North Island Regions
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
America's oldest wine industry
17. Cotes de Beaune ACs
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
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Collection of vineyards
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
18. Oxidative Sherry Styles & Descriptions
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
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
19. Primary Spanish Red Varietals
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
20. Australian Wine Producing States
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland
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
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
21. Central Vineyards AOCs
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
22. NV Champagne Aging Requirements
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
12 months
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Plum
23. South Australia
24. Provence
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
New Zealand
America's oldest wine industry
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
25. 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")
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Terroir
26. Southern Rhone Varietals (Red)
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
27. North Central Spain: Notable Regions
Aged in glass - may be ready to drink on release OR aged further in bottle - Sees less oxygen than Tawny - so it doesn't lose its color - Vintage Port - LBV Port (4 -6 years) - Single Quinta Port - Reserve Port
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
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
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
28. Gamay (Beaujolais)
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)
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
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Bubblegum
29. Campania
30. 85% Varietal Madeiras
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
31. Alsace Noble Varietals
32. SA's Primary White Cultivars
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
33. Rheinhessen
34. Vin de Liqueur
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
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
35. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
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
Sour red cherry
Smoked meats/Bacon fat
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
36. Emilia Romagna
Aged in glass - may be ready to drink on release OR aged further in bottle - Sees less oxygen than Tawny - so it doesn't lose its color - Vintage Port - LBV Port (4 -6 years) - Single Quinta Port - Reserve Port
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
37. Mosel Valley
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
38. Sonoma County
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
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
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
39. Viognier
Fruit loops
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
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)
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
40. Alsace
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Lychee
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
41. Malbec (Argentina)
90km northeast of Paris
Blueberry
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
Aged in glass - may be ready to drink on release OR aged further in bottle - Sees less oxygen than Tawny - so it doesn't lose its color - Vintage Port - LBV Port (4 -6 years) - Single Quinta Port - Reserve Port
42. Sancerre
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Continental with LeMistral winds
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
43. Pauillac
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Red and rose classified as Vin de Pays
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 -
44. Transfer Method
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Major Growing Region
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
45. Sauternes
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
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
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Sercial - Verdelho - Bual - Malmsey
46. Cabernet Franc (Loire)
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Tartared raspberry
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
47. Primary Spanish White Varietals
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
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
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
48. 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.
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
49. Ripasso
50. Germany
Lentils
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 -
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
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