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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. Willamette Valley Subregion AVAs
Tartared raspberry
Chehalem Mountains - Ribbon Ridge - Yamhill -Carlton - Dundee Hills - McMinnville - Eola -Amity Hills
Soils: volcanic - gravel alluvial with sandstone - Cool maritime climate (warmer north - cooler south) - mountain ranges create rain shadow effect
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel

2. Viognier
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
Largest AOC in Haut Medoc - Wines know for elegance and finesse - First Growth (Chateau Margaux) - Other notables: Chateau Palmer - Giscours - Brane - Cantenac
Fruit loops
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot

3. Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
Lychee
Cranberry
18 villages with elevated status - Red wines are predominantly Grenache
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira

4. Chateauneuf -de -Pape
Xynomavro - Agiorgitiko - Mavrodaphne
AC for reds and whites - 13 grapes authorized - Minimum 12.5% alcohol content - Galets
Riesling is king - Very steep vineyards with S/SW aspect - Slate soils - Delicacy - purity of fruit - racy acidity - terroir - low alcohol - ageworthy
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne

5. Loire Valley Primary Red Varietals
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)
Vintage dated sherries
Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Pinot Noir - Gamay - Groslot
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983

6. Vinho Verde
ed wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
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
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)
Southwest Sicily - Blend of Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappatto (30%)

7. Soave
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
Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Cao - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Baroca - Mourisco Tinto - Sousao
Dry white made from Garganega (with some Trebbiano) - DOCG versions: Superiore - Superiore Classico - Recioto
Red wines are predominantly Grenache

8. German Wine Classifications
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
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
Condrieu - and Hermitage Steep slopes with granite soils
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

9. Aguardente
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Alsatian dessert wines from botrytis fruit - Made in small quantities and only in exceptional vintages
Neutral grape spirit at 77% alcohol added to port wine
New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland

10. Champagne Dryness/Sweetness Levels
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
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
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

11. Wachau Wine Classifications
Steinfeder (11% alcohol) - Federspiel (Kabinett level) - Smaragd (Spatlese level)
Brut Zero (Bone Dry) - Brut (Dry) - Extra Dry (Off -Dry - Sec - Demi -Sec - Doux
Pays Nantais - Anjou -Saumur - Layon - Touraine - Central Vineyards
Sweet pear

12. Sauternes
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
Sangiovese and Canaiolo with Trebbiano and Malvasia - Addition of white grapes no longer mandatory - Up to 20% CS - Merlot - and Syrah permitted
Dried sour red cherry
Well -known for quality rose wines - Includes Southern Rhone varietals and more - Bandol - Cassis

13. Canterbury
All DOCG - Classico - Rufina - Colli Fiorentini (Florence) - Colli Senesi (Siena) - Colline Pisane (Pisa) - Colli Aretini (Arezzo) - Montalbano - Montespertoli
American Viticultural Area - Refers only to geographic region - Guidelines finalized in 1978 - became mandatory in 1983
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
Quality Riesling and Pinot Noir - Warm summers - cool autumns - lower rainfall - Most vineyards in plains surrounding Christchurch

14. Brunello di Montalcino Aging
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
France's largest wine producing region (750K acres) - Cinsault -Grenache blends dominant - Also dry whites and Vin Doux Naturels - Mediterranean climate
Adjacent to Sancerre - White - red - and rose from SB - PN - and Gamay
BdM: 4 years with minimum 2 years in oak - BdM Riserva: 5 years with minimum 2.5 years in oak

15. North Central Spain: Primary Red Varietals
Steen (Chenin Blanc) - Hanepoot (Muscat) - Chardonnay - SB - Semillon
Hazelnut
Tempranillo - Graciano - Mazuelo (Carinena)
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional years

16. 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
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")
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB
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

17. Notable Anbaugebiete
Yeast remnant popped out
Columbia River - Walla Walla Valley - Columbia Gorge
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken

18. Languedoc -Roussillon Primary White Varietals
Grenache Blanc - Clairette - Picpoul - Bourboulenc - Mauzac
100% of grapes from named appellation - Vintage must be 85% of stated year - Varietal must be 85% of stated
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others
Rioja DOCa (sub -zones are Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja) - Navarra

19. Australia
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
Reds from Cabernets and Pineau d'Aunis - Best will mature 6 -10 years
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
GI originated in 1994 with EU agreement

20. Germany
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
Alsatian late harvest wines - Rich - full -bodied in style - Not necessarily sweet
NZ's 2nd fastest growing region (to Marlborough) - Stony - well -drained soils - Quality SB - Chardonnay - Riesling - and PN
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

21. Douro
Riesling & Spatburgunder - Wines are richer than Mosel - great aging potential - trocken wines are important - Erstes Gewachs (First Growths)
Lentils
Blueberry
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

22. Touraine AOCs
Red wines from Grenache blends with Syrah - Mourvedre - Clairette - and Bourboulenc
Bubblegum
Vouvray - Montlouis - Chinon - Bourgueil & Saint -Nicolas -de -Bourgueil
Whites: Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne Reds: Syrah

23. Primary Spanish Red Varietals
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino - etc.) - Carinena - Garnacha - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mencia - Monastrell
Hazelnut
Vintage dated sherries
Dry Madeiras served chilled as aperitifs - Alcohol is added after fermentation has been completed

24. Rioja DOCa Sub -Zones
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Rioja Alta - Rioja Alavesa - Rioja Baja
Alluvial deposits and "pudding stones"

25. Saumur Champigny

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26. DO Pagos Estates
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)
Pinot Noir
Tartared raspberry
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

27. New Zealand's North Island
Dry with warm - sunny summers - Rain shadow effect - Tremendously diverse soils - Bound by Vosges Mountains and the Rhine
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
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
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

28. Navarra
Cote Rotie - Condrieu - Chateau -Grillet - St. Joseph - Crozes -Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas - Saint -Peray
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Red wines from Cabernet Franc and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Tufa soils
Borders Rioja - Known for Rosado wines - Five sub -districts - Reds based on Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet - Merlot - Whites based on Viura with Malvasia and Chardonnay

29. Hawkes Bay
Lentils
A single Solera sherry bottled unblended and produced in small quantities
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
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino

30. Saumur AOCs
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Longest tenure of winemaking in the New World
Saumur Mousseux - Cremant de la Loire - Saumur Champigny
Airen - Viura (Macabeo) - Chardonnay - Verdejo - Albarino

31. Northeast Spain
Mosel Valley - Rheingau - Rheinhessen - Pfalz - Ahr Valley - Nahe - Franken
Regions: Penedes and Priorat DOCa - Mediterranean - Home of Catalunya and Barcelona
Sweet botrytis wines from Chenin Blanc made only in exceptional 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

32. Vintage Solera Madeira
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
Arrested fermentation fortified wine - Vineyards planted on steep slopes (up to 60 degrees) with schist soils
19th century style now illegal to produce - but still available on the market
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus

33. Cremant de la Loire
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
Howell Mountain - Chiles Valley - Napa Valley - Atlas Peak - Stag's Leap District - Oak Knoll - Wild Horse Valley - Los Carneros - Yountville - Mount Veeder - Oakville - Rutherford - Spring Mountain District - Diamond Mountain District
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Saumur AOC - Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and others

34. Sangiovese (Tuscany)
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
Sour red cherry
Bas Rhin (North) - Haut Rhin (South)
33 total - Important ones are Minho (Vinho Verde) - Dao - Bairrada - Porto & Douro - Borba - Alentejo - Madeira

35. Vouvray
Volcanic slate soils - Predominantly reds from Spatburgunder and Portugieser
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc - Limestone over tufa - Wide range of styles (Sec - demi -sec - moelleux - doux - still - petillant - mousseux)
Vernaccia - Trebbiano - Malvasia
The Hamptons - North Fork Long Island - Long Island - Hudson Valley - Seneca Lake - Cayuga Lake - Finger Lakes

36. Basis for Burgundy AOC
Harvest in early September - Palomino grapes pressed immediately - Pedro Ximenez grapes sun dried (Soleo) for use in sweetening agents - Fortification with neutral grape spirit
As little as 90 from harvest to final bottling - Potential for lees contact - Eliminates need for riddling - More suitable for some grapes
Terroir
Montagne de Reims (known for PN) - Vallee de la Marne - Cote de Blancs (lots of Chardonnay) - Cote de Sezanne - Aube

37. Vin Santo DOC
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
Wines traditionally bottled in bocksbeutel - Wines from Silvaner - Riesling - and Muller -Thurgau
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
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 -

38. Pays Nantais
Soft Verdelho -style wine created in the 18th century
Blueberry
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
Assyrtiko - Moschofilero - Malagousia - Roditis - White Muscat - Chardonnay - SB

39. Single Quinta Port
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache
Aged 12 months in bottle or barrel
Fruits sourced from BEST quintas - Usually produced in non -declared vintages - Ageworthy - excellent values
Lentils

40. Penedes Sub -Districts
Maritime climate - 90% Albarino planted
Sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Baix Penedes - Medio Penedes - Alta Penedes
Beaujolais AC - Beaujolais Nouveau AC - Beaujolais -Superieur AC - Beaujolais Villages AC - Beaujolais Cru AC

41. Western Australia
Dessert wine from passito grapes (Trebbiano & Malvasia) fermented slowly in small wooden barrels - Matured minimum 3 years and up to 6 years
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
Bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tank - filtered - and rebottled - Used for bottles smaller than half/larger than Jeroboam
Lugana (Trebbiano) - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) - Franciacorta DOCG - Lugana di San Benedetto DOC - Valtellina Superiore DOCG

42. California Major Regions
Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier
Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon - Grenache - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Red wines from 100% Syrah
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)

43. Pinot Grigio (Italy)
Red wines are predominantly Grenache - Home of a famous Vin Doux Naturel
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
eanut shell
Used in dosage phase to fill the space left after the yeast remnant pops out

44. Auckland

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45. Most widely planted grape in Champagne
Pinot Noir
Yeast remnant popped out
Arinto - Codega - Malvasia Fino - Malvasia Corada - Rabigato - Vioshino
Red wines with a minimum of 50% Grenache

46. Maconnais ACs
Macon - Macon -Superieur - Macon -Villages - Saint -Veran - Pouilly -Loche - Pouilly -Vinzelles - Pouilly -Fuisse
Central Italy - The food center of Italy - Divided by 7 rivers
Furmint - Harslevelu - Muskatoly (Muscat Ottonel) - Oremus
Semi -sparkling

47. Languedoc -Roussillon

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48. Victoria
Red wines from minimum 90% Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and/or Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
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
Xarel -lo - Macabeo - Parellada - Chardonnay
Finesse

49. Monterey County
Appellation for red and dry whites - No ranking; all designated Cru Classe - Pessac -Leognan AC in northern part
Santa Lucia Highlands - Chalone - San Bernabe
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
Dominio de Valdepusa - Finca Elez - Pago Guijoso - Dehesa del Carrizal (Toledo) - Senorio de Arinzano (Navarra) - Bodegas Otazu (Navarra)

50. Northern Rhone Climate
Red wines from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne - Whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Introduced in Australia in 1990 - Guarantees all claims made on label (variety - vintage - region - etc.) - 85% for vintage - variety - and origin
Napa County - Sonoma County - Mendocino County - Lake County - Marin County - Solano County
Continental with LeMistral winds