CMS - Advanced Sommelier – USA Exam
2025 Questions and Answers
Oldest winery in Napa? - ANSWER✔✔-Charles Krug in St Helena
Which mountain you can find in Napa? - ANSWER✔✔-Mayacamas to the west & Vaca Range to
east
Who is André Tchelistcheff? - ANSWER✔✔-A Russian winemaker trained in France, to oversee
the production at Beaulieu. He introduced the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon, a new benchmark in quality for American wine, and brought new standards of hygiene
and techniques to California, including temperature-controlled fermentations and controlled
malolactic fermentation. Tchelistcheff, dubbed the "dean of American winemakers", mentored many
of California's young talents, including Robert Mondavi, Louis Martini, Joe Heitz, and Mike
Grgich—men who would become industry giants and help reshape the image of Napa and
Californian wines in general.
Who is often Dubbed the "father of California wine"? - ANSWER✔✔-The Hungarian-born, self-
styled "Count" Agoston Haraszthy arrived in Sonoma in 1849, where he founded Buena Vista, one
of California's oldest commercial wineries. the colorful Haraszthy introduced more than 300
varietals to the state, collected as vine cuttings during his European travels.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Explain the Petaluma Gap. - ANSWER✔✔-Cool ocean air funnels through the Petaluma Gap into
the San Pablo Bay and upward through the valley, cooling the region, with the moderating effect
dissipating northwards. 2017 Petaluma Gap AVA is approved.
Name all the AVAs of Napa County. - ANSWER✔✔-1. Atlas Peak
2. Carneros (shared with Sonoma)
3. Chiles Mountain
4. Diamond Mountain
5. Howell Mountain
6. Mount Veeder
7. Napa Valley
8. Oakville
9. Rutherford
10. Spring Mountain District
11. St. Helena
12. Stags Leap District
13. Wild Horse Valley
14. Yountville
15. Coombsville
16. Calistoga
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, What is Napa County's first approved sub-AVA? - ANSWER✔✔-Howell Mountains
Where is Screaming Eagle, Colgin, and Harlan Estate located? - ANSWER✔✔-Cult wines from
Napa Valley
Name the AVAs of Mendocino County, North Coast. - ANSWER✔✔-1. Anderson Valley
2. Cole Ranch
3. Mcdowell Valley
4. Mendocino
5. Potter Valley
6. Redwood Valley
7. Yorkville Highlands
8. Mendocino Ridge
9. Dos Rios
10. Covelo
11. Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak (shared with Sonoma)
Name one rivers in Anderson Valley, Mendocino. - ANSWER✔✔-Navarro River
What is the smallest AVA in America? - ANSWER✔✔-Cole Ranch AVA, Mendocino County
What are the 2 single producer AVA in Mendocino? - ANSWER✔✔-1. Cole Ranch (Owned by
Esterlina)
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
2025 Questions and Answers
Oldest winery in Napa? - ANSWER✔✔-Charles Krug in St Helena
Which mountain you can find in Napa? - ANSWER✔✔-Mayacamas to the west & Vaca Range to
east
Who is André Tchelistcheff? - ANSWER✔✔-A Russian winemaker trained in France, to oversee
the production at Beaulieu. He introduced the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon, a new benchmark in quality for American wine, and brought new standards of hygiene
and techniques to California, including temperature-controlled fermentations and controlled
malolactic fermentation. Tchelistcheff, dubbed the "dean of American winemakers", mentored many
of California's young talents, including Robert Mondavi, Louis Martini, Joe Heitz, and Mike
Grgich—men who would become industry giants and help reshape the image of Napa and
Californian wines in general.
Who is often Dubbed the "father of California wine"? - ANSWER✔✔-The Hungarian-born, self-
styled "Count" Agoston Haraszthy arrived in Sonoma in 1849, where he founded Buena Vista, one
of California's oldest commercial wineries. the colorful Haraszthy introduced more than 300
varietals to the state, collected as vine cuttings during his European travels.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Explain the Petaluma Gap. - ANSWER✔✔-Cool ocean air funnels through the Petaluma Gap into
the San Pablo Bay and upward through the valley, cooling the region, with the moderating effect
dissipating northwards. 2017 Petaluma Gap AVA is approved.
Name all the AVAs of Napa County. - ANSWER✔✔-1. Atlas Peak
2. Carneros (shared with Sonoma)
3. Chiles Mountain
4. Diamond Mountain
5. Howell Mountain
6. Mount Veeder
7. Napa Valley
8. Oakville
9. Rutherford
10. Spring Mountain District
11. St. Helena
12. Stags Leap District
13. Wild Horse Valley
14. Yountville
15. Coombsville
16. Calistoga
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, What is Napa County's first approved sub-AVA? - ANSWER✔✔-Howell Mountains
Where is Screaming Eagle, Colgin, and Harlan Estate located? - ANSWER✔✔-Cult wines from
Napa Valley
Name the AVAs of Mendocino County, North Coast. - ANSWER✔✔-1. Anderson Valley
2. Cole Ranch
3. Mcdowell Valley
4. Mendocino
5. Potter Valley
6. Redwood Valley
7. Yorkville Highlands
8. Mendocino Ridge
9. Dos Rios
10. Covelo
11. Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak (shared with Sonoma)
Name one rivers in Anderson Valley, Mendocino. - ANSWER✔✔-Navarro River
What is the smallest AVA in America? - ANSWER✔✔-Cole Ranch AVA, Mendocino County
What are the 2 single producer AVA in Mendocino? - ANSWER✔✔-1. Cole Ranch (Owned by
Esterlina)
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
