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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. Carricante
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
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals
Clone of Garganega grown in Sicily
Stewed fruits

2. Aguardente
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
2009 Great 2008 Not so great

3. Mosel Valley
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
Burgenland - Niederosterreich - Steiermark (Styria) - Wien (Vienna)

4. Penedes Sub -Districts
12 months
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
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Pinot Noir

5. South African Wine Regions
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
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
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Coastal (Stellenbosch - Paarl - Constantia - etc.) - Breede River Valley - Olifants River - Klein Karoo (Sweet Muscadelle and light whites) - Boberg (for fortified wines only)

6. Gisborne
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
Collection of vineyards
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes

7. Touraine AOCs
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)
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Major Growing Region

8. California Major Regions
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
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)
Blueberry

9. 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
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
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache

10. Rias Biaxas Sub -Zones
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla

11. New Zealand's South Island Regions
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago
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
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
Volcanic soils - red basalt - low fertility - Cool maritime climate - high humidity - windy (East facing slopes) - Chardonnay - Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Pinot Noir - sparkling wines - Hobart - Launceston - Piper's River - Coal River

12. Vin Santo DOC
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years

13. Nebbiolo
Dried sour red cherry
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
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
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

14. Southern Rhone Climate and Vineyards
Mediterranean climate with Mistral winds - Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
Tuscany's dry white DOCG - Up to 10% Chardonnay and Trebbiano allowed
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Volcanic soils - red basalt - low fertility - Cool maritime climate - high humidity - windy (East facing slopes) - Chardonnay - Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Pinot Noir - sparkling wines - Hobart - Launceston - Piper's River - Coal River

15. Ruby Port & Styles

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16. Soils in Cote Rotie
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
What varietals are called in South Africa

17. Cote Challonaise ACs
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
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
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
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 -

18. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Wachau: steep vineyards facing the Danube - Wagram - Kremstal - Kamptal
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
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

19. Savennieres
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
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Red wines from 100% Syrah
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part

20. Hermitage
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County

21. Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Stewed fruits
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Bubblegum
Sweet pear

22. Airen
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Most widely planted grape in the world

23. Provence
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Tartared raspberry
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve

24. Valdepenas
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Chenin Blanc - Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) - Sauvignon Blanc - Chardonnay
Most important DO in Southern Spain
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne

25. Grapes in Valpolicella and Amarone
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
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
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)

26. North Coast Super AVAs
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County

27. Notable Anbaugebiete
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Syrah - Grenache - Mourvedre - Cinsault - Counoise - Terret Noir - Vaccarese - Muscardin - etc.
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
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

28. Bual & Malmsey
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Terroir
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam

29. South Africa
Mediterranean climate with maritime mountain influences - Whites: Grillo - Grecanico - Inzolia - Carricante - Catarratto - Reds: Nero d'Avola - Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Capuccio
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Plum skin

30. Grosslage
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
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube
Collection of vineyards
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus

31. Soave
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
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
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils

32. Alsace

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33. North Central Spain: Notable Regions
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC

34. Medoc First Growths
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion
Orange Candy
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Black plum

35. Zinfandel
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
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
Plum skin
Hazelnut

36. Rias Biaxas
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
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
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted

37. Southern Rhone Appellations
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Orange Candy

38. Bereich
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
District of villages & vineyards
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)

39. Saumur AOCs
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
District of villages & vineyards
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny

40. Western Australia
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
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
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier

41. Chinon
Winery and vineyards must be located in the same AVA - Winery must own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser

42. Sancerre
Great oyster wines made from Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne - Maritime climate - Muscadet de Sevre et Maine AOC - Muscadet Sur Lie (must be used in conjunction with one of the appellations - Sur lie bottling: wines matured on lees for 6 -9 months follo
Limestone -based soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc - Reds and roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay (25% total productions)
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Finesse

43. Wairarapa
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
South end of North Island - Includes Marlborough - Quality Pinot Noir (up and coming region)
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel

44. Umbria
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
Trebbiano called "Procanico" - Grechetto - Drupeggio - Sangiovese - and Sagrantino grown - Best know white is Orvieto - Torgiano DOC - Torgiano Riserva DOCG - Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
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
Grass

45. Emilia Romagna
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
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
Tawny Port: - Ruby Port
Known for Poverty Bay - High yields and large quantities of Muller -Thurgau - Bulk wine and carafe wine

46. Cabernet Sauvignon
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Black plum
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

47. Label Integrity Program (LIP)
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Generic term for sparkling
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia

48. Tasmania

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49. Anejo
Aged 24 months in bottle or barrel
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years
Glassy -winged sharpshooter

50. Sherry Soil Types
Produces aromatic whites from Verdejo plus Sauvignon Blanc and Viura
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
Albariza - Barros - Arenas
Home of Rome - Cesanese del Piglio Rosso/Reserva DOCG - Frascati (carafe wine blended from Trebbiano & Malvasia) - Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone