CMS - Certified Sommelier Exam / WSET Advanced Questions and Answers

What is the formula of alcoholic fermentation? - Answer- Sugar + Yeast = Alcohol + Carbon Dioxide (C6H12O6 -> 2C2H5OH + 2CO2) What are the three main acids naturally occurring in the grapes? - Answer- Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid, and Citric Acid. What are the three main acids occurring as a result of fermentation? - Answer- Succinic Acid, Acetic Acid, and Lactic Acid. What are the two main acids occurring in botrytised wines? - Answer- Gluconic Acid, and Galacturonic Acid. Who discovered the effect of fermentation by yeast? - Answer- Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac What is the French term for Sparkling Wine? - Answer- Vin Mousseux, or Crémant What is the French term for effervescent, or lightly sparkling wine? - Answer- Vin Pétillant What is the German term for Sparkling Wine? - Answer- Schaumwein It is a blanket term encompassing all types of sparkling wine whether the gas naturally occurs as a result of fermentation or otherwise. What is the German term for effervescent, or lightly sparkling wine? - Answer- Sekt (secondary fermentation must occur in the bottle), Perlwein (CO2 can be added.) What is the Italian term for Sparkling Wine? - Answer- Vino Spumante What is the Italian term for effervescent, or lightly sparkling wine? - Answer- Vino Frizzante What is the Spanish term for Sparkling Wine? - Answer- Vino Espumosso What is the Spanish term for effervescent, or lightly sparkling wine? - Answer- Vino de Aguja What is the method of sparkling wine making in which the secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle? - Answer- Méthode Traditionelle, or Traditional Method in English ("Méthode Champenoise" is now outlawed in EU) What is the method of sparkling wine making in which the secondary fermentation and soutillage (racking) takes place in a large air-tight fermentation tank? - Answer- Méthode Charmat, or Méthode de la Cuvée Close