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Certified Sommelier Exam

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Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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1. Loire Valley Major Regions
Finesse
(Bordeaux)Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot - minor varietals (30%)
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc

2. Left Bank Communes
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
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
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes

3. Chardonnay
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
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
Hazelnut
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon

4. Vinho Verde
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
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
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
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

5. Primary Spanish White Varietals
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals

6. Sherry Grape Varietals
Palomino (95% of all plantings) - Pedro Ximenez - Moscatel: along with PX - used to sweeten blended wines and to add color
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
South of Paso Robles - Maritime influence - cool climate - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa

7. Saint -Joseph
On the Rhine - Muller -Thurgau - Silvaner - Reisling - Scheurebe - Quality extremes: Liebfraumilch (low quality) to Nackenheimer Rothenberg (one of Germany's great vineyards)
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc

8. Bual & Malmsey
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira
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
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
Medium sweet & sweet Madeiras served with dessert or cheese course - Fermentation is stopped by addition of spirit

9. SA's Primary Red Cultivars
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Red wines from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier allowed
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache

10. Medoc First Growths
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
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
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Lafite -Rothschild - Latour - Mouton -Rothschild - Margaux - Haut -Brion

11. Tokaji
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
AKA Palatinate - Warm climate - Trocken wines important (Grosses Gerwachs) - Riesling - Scheurebe - Grauburgunder - Muller -Thurgau - Spatburgunder
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
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago

12. Penedes Sub -Districts
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
After harvest - grapes are dried for several weeks - Used to produce passito - recioto - and Amarone wines

13. Primary Tuscan Red Varietals
Terroir
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
Aged in wood - ready to drink on release - Sees oxygen in the barrel and - thus - loses its color - Aged Tawny Port (with indication of age)
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah

14. Pinot Grigio (Italy)
A dry style of Sherry that has characteristics of both Fino/Amontillado and Oloroso - Develops limited flor
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
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
eanut shell

15. Australia Primary Red Varietals
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Collection of vineyards
Sancerre - Pouilly Fume - Menetou Salon - Quincy - Reuilly
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley

16. TTB Label Laws I

17. Champagne Location
Young industry - Semi -continental desert climate requiring irrigation - Cascade Mountains rain shadow effect; long - dry growing season - Drastic diurnal shifts
High acid
90km northeast of Paris
Albariza - Barros - Arenas

18. New Zealand's South Island Regions
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Dried sour red cherry
Glassy -winged sharpshooter
Marlborough - Nelson - Canterbury - Otago

19. Sauternes
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
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
Vintage dated sherries
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo

20. Colheita Madeiras
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
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Minimum 7 years aging from a single vintage
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB

21. QmP Pradikate Levels (Dry to Sweet)
Primary Whites Grown are Vernaccia and Vermentino - Primary Reds Grown are Cannonau - Carignano - and Nuragua
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
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
(Bordeaux)Haut Medoc - Saint -Estephe - Pauillac - Saint -Julien - Listrac & Moulis - Margaux - Graves - Pessac - Leognan - Sauternes

22. Tax and Trade Bureau
Regulators of American Viticultural Areas
Galicia (Rias Biaxas) - Toro - Rueda - Ribera del Duero
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
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao

23. Vintage Madeira
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
Red grape grown in Sardinia similar to Grenache
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
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot

24. Sherry Classifications
VOS (Very Old Sherry) - VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) - Anada - Almacenistas
Kabinett - Spatlese - Auslese - Beerenauslese (BA) - Eiswein - Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Tartared raspberry
Val do Salnes - O Rosal - Condado do Tea - Soutomaiort - Ribeira do Ulla

25. North Central Spain: Primary White Varietals
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
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)
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone

26. Rainwater
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
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
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out

27. Beaujolais Cru ACs
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Saint Amour - Julienas - Chenas - Chiroubles - Moulin a Vent - Fleurie - Morgon - Regnie - Brouilly - Cote de Brouilly
Base Rhone appellation - 95% in the Southern Rhone

28. Solera system
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
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
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin

29. Central Otago
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines
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
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
70% Merlot - 25% Cabernet Franc - 5% minor varietals

30. Northern Rhone Climate
Aged in wood - ready to drink on release - Sees oxygen in the barrel and - thus - loses its color - Aged Tawny Port (with indication of age)
Continental with LeMistral winds
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated

31. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
Sour red cherry
Southern OR - Rogue Valley - Applegate Valley - Umqua - Douglas Red Hills - Snake River - Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge - Willamette Valley
Sweet pear
Traditional Port cask holding 500 liters (440L of wine added to 110L of aguardente)

32. Hawkes Bay
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
Single Vineyard
Pinotage - CS - CF - Merlot - Syrah - Grenache - PN
Driest region in NZ - 2nd in size to Marlborough - Sandy alluvial soils over gravel - limestone - Sunny climate - warmest in NZ - Known for Chardonnay - CS - and Syrah

33. Chateau -Grillet
White wines from Viognier from small single estate
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Albariza - Barros - Arenas

34. Produces more sparkling wine than any other country
Cava (most in Catalonia)
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
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)
New Zealand

35. Pinot Noir's Role in Champagne
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
hite wines from Viognier
Semi -continental (four seasons; climate issues like frost - rain at harvest - hail)
Structure

36. Cotes de Nuits Appellations
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
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray

37. Primary Greek White Varietals
3yr - 5yr Reserve - 10yr Special Reserve - 15yr Extra Reserve
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
Corvina - Rondinella - Molinara

38. Portugal White Varietals
Rugged mountainous region - Dry temperate climate - Stony schistous soild - Varietals: Garnacha - Carinena - Cabernet
Trajadura - Alvarinho - Loureiro - Gouveio - Encruzado - Maria Gomez - Fernao Pires - Arinto - Roupeiro
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
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)

39. Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Chaume Premier Cru - Bonnezeaux - Quarts de Chaume - Coteaux du Layon -Chaume - Coteaux du Layon Villages
Very Old Sherry - Aged 20 years (average minimum age)
Black plum

40. Germany
Pinot Noir
Siciliy - Fortified wine in both dry and sweet styles made from a blend including Catarratto - Inzolia - Grillo - etc.
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
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

41. Pouilly Fume
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
Limestone and silex soils - Whites from Sauvignon Blanc
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona

42. Regions of Alsace
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
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)
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam

43. Graves & Pessac -Leognan
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
Cinsault - Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils

44. 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 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
Center of Cava production - Traditional Whites: Parellada - Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Traditional Reds: Garnacha - Monstrell - Ull de Liebre

45. Vouvray
Driest region in NZ - 2nd in size to Marlborough - Sandy alluvial soils over gravel - limestone - Sunny climate - warmest in NZ - Known for Chardonnay - CS - and Syrah
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Auckland - Hawkes Bay - Gisborne - Wairarapa
Semi -sparkling

46. South Spain
Castilla: La Mancha - Whites from Airen (63%) - Reds from Cencibel (Tempranillo) - Large elevated central plateau - Arid climate with temperature extremes
Plum
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets

47. Southern Rhone Appellations
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
Chateauneuf -de -Pape - Gigondas - Vacqueyras - Cotes -du -Rhone - Cotes -du -Rhone Villages - Tavel - Lirac - Beaumes -de -Venise - Vinsobres
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Lesser appellations - Cabernet Sauvignon -based wines - No classified growths

48. Primary Tuscan White Varietals
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
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
Viura - Malvasia - Garnacha Blanca - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia

49. Douro
Sangiovese & clones (Prugnolo Gentile - Brunello - Morellino) - Canaiolo - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Syrah
Only a small percentage of grapes grown may be used for Port production - DOC status for table wines earned in 1982 - Grapes: Touriga Nacional - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca
Same styles as Chinon - Sandy soils
Most southerly wine region in the world - Alluvial soils with outcroppings of chalk and limestone loams - Potential for Rieslings and sparkling wines

50. Northern Rhone Grape Varietals
Northeast corner of Italy adjacent to Slovenia and Austria - Known for whites - but Merlot is most planted varietal
Limestone (best whites) and Marl (best reds)
High acid
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah