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Certified Sommelier Exam

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Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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1. Ruby Port & Styles

2. Vendage Tardive (VT)
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache

3. Vin Doux Naturel
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
Produced by adding distillate to a fermenting must (deliberately stuck fermentation) - Fortified wines typically 15 -16% - Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Banyuls - etc.
Moderate climate - Tradition - influence - innovation - research - Maremma - Morellino di Scansano - etc.
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs

4. Rainwater
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
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah

5. Soils in St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
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
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Heavier - clay -oriented soils

6. Sauvignon Blanc
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
What varietals are called in South Africa
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Grass

7. Ribera del Duero
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
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
High acid
Longest growing season in CA - Series of east -west valleys - Cool - dry coastal climate - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Syrah - Merlot

8. Burgundy (Climate)
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

9. Australia
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement
High acid

10. Bual & Malmsey
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)

11. Napa County AVAs

12. Primary Tuscan Red Varietals
90km northeast of Paris
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah

13. Portugal Red Varietals
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
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
Touriga Nacional - Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) - Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Baga - Ramisco - Trincadeira - Castelao Frances - Joao de Santarem - Periquita
Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace) - Sylvaner (Zotzenberg only)

14. Vinsobres
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
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated

15. Regions of Southern Portugal
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Plum
Alsatian blended carafe wine (2 or more grapes)
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

16. Listrac & Moulis
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
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
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
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

17. Layon Valley Wines
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla
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

18. DO Pagos Estates
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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

19. 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
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
Terroir

20. Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes

21. Pauillac
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
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)
Cava (most in Catalonia)
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 -

22. Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

23. Appassimento Process
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Single Vineyard
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Plum skin

24. Auckland

25. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
3 years
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla

26. 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
A form of slate with strata which allow the vine roots to penetrate and grow (common in Douro for grapes used in Port)
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

27. Rheingau
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)

28. Soil in Cote d'Or
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
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
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)

29. New Zealand's North Island
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
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
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
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed

30. Victoria
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
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge

31. Riesling
High acid
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
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)

32. Cabernet Franc (Loire)
Tartared raspberry
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
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
One of CA's oldest growing regions - Significant diurnal swings - Known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties

33. Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

34. Lombardy
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG
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
Dried sour red cherry

35. Solera system
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
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
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
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs

36. Friuli Venezia Giulia
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Best wines are made from Riesling - Area around Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach - Donhoff is a notable producer
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
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

37. Southern Rhone Varietals (Red)
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Gradual breakdown of yeasts

38. Anejo
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
Structure
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
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

39. Gigondas Soil
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines
Alluvial clays
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
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

40. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
Sour red cherry
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily

41. Loire Valley Primary White Varietals
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira

42. Chenin Blanc (Loire)
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Bruised red apple (Oxidative)
Pinot Noir
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals

43. Aguardente
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache

44. NV Champagne Aging Requirements
12 months
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
A vintage tawny with a minimum of seven years cask aging
hite wines from Viognier

45. SA's Primary White Cultivars
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon

46. Navarra
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay
Semi -sparkling
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre
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

47. Transfer Method
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards

48. Musca
Vaudesir - Valmur - Les Preuses - Grenouilles - Bougros - Les Clos - Blanchot - Highest minimum alcohol of Chablis ACs
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Dehydrated strawberries
Orange Candy

49. Northern Rhone Climate
Continental with LeMistral winds
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

50. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
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
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly