Test your basic knowledge |

Certified Sommelier Exam

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
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. Languedoc -Roussillon AOCs
Cotes du Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Collioure (southernmost AC in France other than Corsica) - Coteaux du Languedoc - Minervois - Fitou - Corbieres - St. Chinian
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil

2. Soils in Cote Rotie
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part

3. Emilia Romagna
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
Adriatic Sea coast - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG - Conero DOCG - Rosso Conero
Chardonnay - Riesling - Semillon - Muscat - Sauvignon Blanc - Chenin Blanc - Verdelho - Viognier
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers

4. Montlouis
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray
12 months

5. Crozes -Hermitage
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Fino: lightest; fortified to 15.5% - Manzanilla: a delicate style of Fino aged only in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda - Amontillado: a Fino that has been left in cask for additional aging and develops a rich - nutty flaor; usually dry -

6. Northern Rhone Appellations
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
Lychee
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino

7. Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers

8. Cava Varietals
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Yeast remnant popped out
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay

9. South Africa
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet

10. Wachau Wine Classifications
White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Pinot Gris
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part

11. Sicily

12. Cannonau
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

13. Chablis
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
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
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
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs

14. Right Bank Grapes (Bordeaux)
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals

15. DO Pagos Estates
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
Sparkling wine made from Glera (Prosecco) grape - Superiore DOCG: Conegliano - Valdobiaddene - Colli Asolani
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia

16. Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

17. Colheita
Lentils
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.

18. 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
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
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

19. Nelso

20. Bereich
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
District of villages & vineyards
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc

21. Germany
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
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Pinot Noir

22. Beaumes -de -Venise
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Bubblegum
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging

23. Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Sour red cherry
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Sweet pear

24. Penedes Sub -Districts
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
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
'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
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes

25. GI Quality Categories
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
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)
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay

26. German Wine Classifications
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
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
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)

27. Gigondas
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Red wines with maximum with maximum 80% Grenache
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
hite wines from Viognier

28. Advantages to Transfer Method
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
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
hite wines from Viognier

29. Chateau -Grillet
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
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
White wines from Viognier from small single estate

30. Saumur Mousseux
Finos fortified to 15.5% (let the flor grow) - Oloroso fortified to 18% (NO intention to let the flor grow)
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
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc with up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - Best wines made by Methode Traditionelle

31. 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.
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Fino: lightest; fortified to 15.5% - Manzanilla: a delicate style of Fino aged only in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda - Amontillado: a Fino that has been left in cask for additional aging and develops a rich - nutty flaor; usually dry -
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne

32. Vacqueyras
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
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

33. 2009 or 2008 in Cotes -du -Rhone?
2009 Great 2008 Not so great
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio

34. Niederosterreich
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
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
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils

35. Grosslage
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Collection of vineyards

36. Aged Tawny Port
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
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")
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Fruit character

37. Lombardy
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
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
Terroir

38. Willamette Valley Subregion AVAs
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
Wine pumped into tanks with liqueur de tirage - Fermentation complete in 4 -5 days - Best for certain varietals (e.g. Moscato d'Asti - Prosecco - Sekt)
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines

39. Northern Rhone Climate
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Continental with LeMistral winds

40. Pinot Grigio (Italy)
eanut shell
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)
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
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

41. Cote Challonaise ACs
Grass
Bourgogne Aligote Bouzeron (Aligote) - Rully (AC & Premier Cru) - Mercurey (AC & Premier Cru) - Givry (AC & Premier Cru) - Montagny AC (white only) - Premier Cru if more than 11.5% alcohol
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal

42. New York State

43. Grapes in Valpolicella and Amarone
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio

44. NV Champagne Aging Requirements
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
12 months
Finesse
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy

45. Primary Spanish White Varietals
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
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 are predominantly Grenache
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino

46. Layon Valley Wines
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)
Plum skin
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years

47. Friuli Venezia Giulia
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities

48. Marsala DOC
hite wines from Viognier
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
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
Roussanne - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourbolenc - Grenache Blanc - etc.

49. Savennieres
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Anjou AOC - Dry wines from Chenin Blanc - Tiny appellation with low yields - Best wines have great aging potential - Clos de la Coulee de Serrant - Chateau de la Roche aux Moines
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
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine

50. Saumur Champigny