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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. Nahe
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.

2. Burgundy (Climate)
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
New Zealand

3. Primary Hungarian White Varietals
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus

4. Chateauneuf -de -Pape Soils
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

5. Prosecco
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
District of villages & vineyards
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes

6. Central Otago
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
One of Italy's largest producing regions - Over 250 miles of coastline - flat regions of fertile plains - Montepulciano - Negroamaro - Primitivo - Malvasia Nera - Bombino are primary red grapes - Brindisi - Salice Salentino - San Severo - Man
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
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines

7. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
Sour red cherry
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
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
White wines from Viognier from small single estate

8. Southern Rhone Varietals (White)
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.
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
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

9. New Zealand's North Island Regions
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Blueberry
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets

10. Airen
Most widely planted grape in the world
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Heavier - clay -oriented soils

11. Rheingau
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Most widely planted grape in the world
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Grass

12. Tax and Trade Bureau
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache

13. Einzellage
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Single Vineyard
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura

14. South Africa
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Vintage dated sherries
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

15. Single Quinta Port
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
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Dried sour red cherry

16. New Zealand's South Island
New Zealand
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Sweet pear
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse

17. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
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
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

18. Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux)

19. Albarino (Rias Baixas)
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Juicyfruit Gum
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes

20. Reuilly
Gradual breakdown of yeasts
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
Red wines from 100% Syrah
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris

21. Cotes -du -Rhone
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
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
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
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone

22. Galets
hite wines from Viognier
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
The "pudding stones" found in Chateauneuf -de -Pape responsible for terroir
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

23. Gigondas
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
Bordered by the Vosges Mountains on the west and Germany's Rhein river to the east - 51 Grand Cru vineyards - Purity of fruit and terroir - New oak rarely used - Wines labeled by varietal - not by terroir - Concentrated - full -bodied dry white win
Lychee
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache

24. Champagne Dryness/Sweetness Levels
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc

25. Vin Doux Naturel
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira

26. Merlot
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Plum

27. Port
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Bordered by the Vosges Mountains on the west and Germany's Rhein river to the east - 51 Grand Cru vineyards - Purity of fruit and terroir - New oak rarely used - Wines labeled by varietal - not by terroir - Concentrated - full -bodied dry white win

28. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
Lychee
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown

29. SA's Primary White Cultivars
Generic term for sparkling
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
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
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon

30. Almacenistas
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities

31. Saumur Mousseux
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Just under half of production is rose - Whites from Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and Roses (both AOCs) from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay

32. Medoc First Growths
Most widely planted grape in the world
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion

33. Northern Rhone Climate
Fruit character
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
Continental with LeMistral winds
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge

34. Maconnais ACs
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Bubblegum

35. Anbaugebiete
Major Growing Region
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
America's oldest wine industry
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

36. Pipe
90km northeast of Paris
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines

37. Pinot Noir
Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Cranberry
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

38. Penedes
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
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

39. Palo Cortado
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

40. Chianti Sub -Zones
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Major Growing Region

41. New York State

42. DO Pagos Estates
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown

43. Primary Tuscan White Varietals
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia

44. Washington State
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre

45. Soils in St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Heavier - clay -oriented soils
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes

46. South Spain
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre

47. Friuli Venezia Giulia
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal

48. Paso Robles

49. Spumante
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Generic term for sparkling
2009 Great 2008 Not so great

50. Rainwater
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio