©SOPHIABENNET@2024/2025 Tuesday, August 20, 202410:21 AM
Certified Sommelier Exam Practice
Questions and Answers (100% Pass)
Gamay (Beaujolais) - Answer✔️✔️-BUBBLEGUM, BANANA, STRONG
CRUSHED GRANITE, strawberry, black cherry, violets, pear drop
Riesling - Answer✔️✔️-HIGH ACID, SLATE, PETROL, RS, apricot,
peach, lime, lime zest (NW), lime blossom, linear texture
Albarino (Rias Baixas) - Answer✔️✔️-JUICYFRUIT GUM, ORANGE
OIL, CREAMY TEXTURE, SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY OXIDATIVE
(BLANCHED ALMONDS), fresh ripe peach, bright finish
Gruner Veltliner - Answer✔️✔️-LENTILS, RADISH, CELERY, WHITE
PEPPER, watercress, lime blossom, lime, under-ripe stone fruit,
subtle, bitterness on finish
Merlot - Answer✔️✔️-PLUM, BLACKBERRY, CHOCOLATE, fern leaf,
round shape/texture
Chardonnay - Answer✔️✔️-HAZELNUT, SOFT CHEESE RIND,
BUTTER/DIACETYL (NW), golden apple, lemon, pineapple (NW),
rich texture
Malbec (Argentina) - Answer✔️✔️-BLUEBERRY, GREEN COFFEE
BEAN, MAGENTA/ELECTRIC PINK RIM, ripe plum, blackberry,
violets, bright acid
1
, ©SOPHIABENNET@2024/2025 Tuesday, August 20, 202410:21 AM
Cabernet Franc (Loire) - Answer✔️✔️-TART RED RASPBERRY,
JALAPENO, STEMMY/TWIGGY, MARIJUANA, black currant, red
currant, green bell pepper, cut grass, violets, tart finish,
pronounced earth, brettanomyces is often encountered
Cabernet Sauvignon - Answer✔️✔️-BLACK PLUM, GREEN BELL
PEPPER, TOBACCO, SAGE, black currant, edgy texture
Sauvignon Blanc - Answer✔️✔️-GRASS, JALAPENO, GOOSEBERRY,
grapefruit, tarragon & chervil (OW), passionfruit (NW)
Pinot Noir - Answer✔️✔️-CRANBERRY, VIOLETS, BLACK TEA,
TOMATO LEAF, black cherry, red cherry, cola nut, strawberry
Tempranillo (Rioja Riserva/Gran Riserva) - Answer✔️✔️-STEWED
FRUITS, DESSICATED FRUITS, SWEET & SOUR (CHINESE
RESTAURANT AROMA), tart red raspberry, tobacco, dill, bay leaf,
ripe strawberries, coconut, MP acid, M-MP alcohol
Gewurztraminer (Alsace) - Answer✔️✔️-LYCHEE, CANDIED GINGER,
BITTER FINISH, rose, potpourri, grapefruit pith
Syrah/Shiraz - Answer✔️✔️-SMOKED MEATS/BACON FAT,
LEATHER, VIOLETS, raspberry, blackberry, freshly cracked pepper,
sometimes blueberry
Grenache - Answer✔️✔️-DEHYDRATED STRAWBERRIES, BLACK
PEPPER, RAISINS, GRENADINE, OXIDATIVE, SWEETNESS TO THE
FRUIT ON THE FINISH, strawberry jam, raspberry, black cherry,
powdered sugar
2
, ©SOPHIABENNET@2024/2025 Tuesday, August 20, 202410:21 AM
Chenin Blanc (Loire) - Answer✔️✔️-BRUISED RED APPLE
(OXIDATIVE), CHAMOMILE, WASABI, WET WOOL, PRONOUNCED
CHALK/LIMESTONE, honey, tangerine, high acid
Sangiovese (Tuscany) - Answer✔️✔️-SOUR RED CHERRY, CHERRY
PITH, LEAFY UNDERBRUSH, HIGH ACID, licorice root, fennel,
black tea
Pinot Gris (Alsace) - Answer✔️✔️-SWEET PEAR, POTTING SOIL,
SMALL AMOUNTS OF RS, WHITE FLOWERS, white mushrooms,
green apple, honey, slightly bitter finish
Viognier - Answer✔️✔️-FRUIT LOOPS, ORANGE PEEL, VANILLA, M-
MM ACIDITY, peach apricot, mandarin orange, orange blossom,
honeysuckle, mango, weighty texture, bitter finish
Muscat - Answer✔️✔️-ORANGE CANDY, ROSE PETAL
Pinot Grigio (Italy) - Answer✔️✔️-PEANUT SHELL, FLAT BEER, lemon
rind, melon, bitter finish
Nebbiolo - Answer✔️✔️-DRIED SOUR RED CHERRY, TRUFFLE,
FENNEL, HIGH TANNIN, CINNAMON, MARASCHINO CHERRY, tar,
dried rose petal, red licorice, anise, mushroom, clay, high acid, MP-
H alcohol
Zinfandel - Answer✔️✔️-PLUM SKIN, BLUEBERRY JAM,
PEPPERCORN, PEACH YOGURT, cranberry, blackberry pie, high
alcohol
3
, ©SOPHIABENNET@2024/2025 Tuesday, August 20, 202410:21 AM
Listrac & Moulis - Answer✔️✔️-- Lesser appellations
- Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines
- No classified growths
Margaux - Answer✔️✔️-- Largest AOC in Haut Medoc
- Wines know for ELEGANCE and FINESSE
- 1 First Growth (Chateau Margaux)
- Other notables: Chateau Palmer, Giscours, Brane- Cantenac
Pauillac - Answer✔️✔️-- Considered the epitome of "claret"
- Wines balance POWER and FINESSE
- 3 First Growths: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild
Saint-Julien - Answer✔️✔️-- Smallest commune, but 11 classified
growths
- Styles combine ELEGANCE and STURDINESS
- 5 Second Growths: Ducru-Beaucaillou, Leoville-Las-Cases,
Leoville-Poyferre, Leoville- Barton, Gruard-Larose
Graves & Pessac-Leognan - Answer✔️✔️-- Appellation for red AND
dry whites
- No ranking; all designated Cru Classe
- Pessac-Leognan AC in northern part
4
Certified Sommelier Exam Practice
Questions and Answers (100% Pass)
Gamay (Beaujolais) - Answer✔️✔️-BUBBLEGUM, BANANA, STRONG
CRUSHED GRANITE, strawberry, black cherry, violets, pear drop
Riesling - Answer✔️✔️-HIGH ACID, SLATE, PETROL, RS, apricot,
peach, lime, lime zest (NW), lime blossom, linear texture
Albarino (Rias Baixas) - Answer✔️✔️-JUICYFRUIT GUM, ORANGE
OIL, CREAMY TEXTURE, SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY OXIDATIVE
(BLANCHED ALMONDS), fresh ripe peach, bright finish
Gruner Veltliner - Answer✔️✔️-LENTILS, RADISH, CELERY, WHITE
PEPPER, watercress, lime blossom, lime, under-ripe stone fruit,
subtle, bitterness on finish
Merlot - Answer✔️✔️-PLUM, BLACKBERRY, CHOCOLATE, fern leaf,
round shape/texture
Chardonnay - Answer✔️✔️-HAZELNUT, SOFT CHEESE RIND,
BUTTER/DIACETYL (NW), golden apple, lemon, pineapple (NW),
rich texture
Malbec (Argentina) - Answer✔️✔️-BLUEBERRY, GREEN COFFEE
BEAN, MAGENTA/ELECTRIC PINK RIM, ripe plum, blackberry,
violets, bright acid
1
, ©SOPHIABENNET@2024/2025 Tuesday, August 20, 202410:21 AM
Cabernet Franc (Loire) - Answer✔️✔️-TART RED RASPBERRY,
JALAPENO, STEMMY/TWIGGY, MARIJUANA, black currant, red
currant, green bell pepper, cut grass, violets, tart finish,
pronounced earth, brettanomyces is often encountered
Cabernet Sauvignon - Answer✔️✔️-BLACK PLUM, GREEN BELL
PEPPER, TOBACCO, SAGE, black currant, edgy texture
Sauvignon Blanc - Answer✔️✔️-GRASS, JALAPENO, GOOSEBERRY,
grapefruit, tarragon & chervil (OW), passionfruit (NW)
Pinot Noir - Answer✔️✔️-CRANBERRY, VIOLETS, BLACK TEA,
TOMATO LEAF, black cherry, red cherry, cola nut, strawberry
Tempranillo (Rioja Riserva/Gran Riserva) - Answer✔️✔️-STEWED
FRUITS, DESSICATED FRUITS, SWEET & SOUR (CHINESE
RESTAURANT AROMA), tart red raspberry, tobacco, dill, bay leaf,
ripe strawberries, coconut, MP acid, M-MP alcohol
Gewurztraminer (Alsace) - Answer✔️✔️-LYCHEE, CANDIED GINGER,
BITTER FINISH, rose, potpourri, grapefruit pith
Syrah/Shiraz - Answer✔️✔️-SMOKED MEATS/BACON FAT,
LEATHER, VIOLETS, raspberry, blackberry, freshly cracked pepper,
sometimes blueberry
Grenache - Answer✔️✔️-DEHYDRATED STRAWBERRIES, BLACK
PEPPER, RAISINS, GRENADINE, OXIDATIVE, SWEETNESS TO THE
FRUIT ON THE FINISH, strawberry jam, raspberry, black cherry,
powdered sugar
2
, ©SOPHIABENNET@2024/2025 Tuesday, August 20, 202410:21 AM
Chenin Blanc (Loire) - Answer✔️✔️-BRUISED RED APPLE
(OXIDATIVE), CHAMOMILE, WASABI, WET WOOL, PRONOUNCED
CHALK/LIMESTONE, honey, tangerine, high acid
Sangiovese (Tuscany) - Answer✔️✔️-SOUR RED CHERRY, CHERRY
PITH, LEAFY UNDERBRUSH, HIGH ACID, licorice root, fennel,
black tea
Pinot Gris (Alsace) - Answer✔️✔️-SWEET PEAR, POTTING SOIL,
SMALL AMOUNTS OF RS, WHITE FLOWERS, white mushrooms,
green apple, honey, slightly bitter finish
Viognier - Answer✔️✔️-FRUIT LOOPS, ORANGE PEEL, VANILLA, M-
MM ACIDITY, peach apricot, mandarin orange, orange blossom,
honeysuckle, mango, weighty texture, bitter finish
Muscat - Answer✔️✔️-ORANGE CANDY, ROSE PETAL
Pinot Grigio (Italy) - Answer✔️✔️-PEANUT SHELL, FLAT BEER, lemon
rind, melon, bitter finish
Nebbiolo - Answer✔️✔️-DRIED SOUR RED CHERRY, TRUFFLE,
FENNEL, HIGH TANNIN, CINNAMON, MARASCHINO CHERRY, tar,
dried rose petal, red licorice, anise, mushroom, clay, high acid, MP-
H alcohol
Zinfandel - Answer✔️✔️-PLUM SKIN, BLUEBERRY JAM,
PEPPERCORN, PEACH YOGURT, cranberry, blackberry pie, high
alcohol
3
, ©SOPHIABENNET@2024/2025 Tuesday, August 20, 202410:21 AM
Listrac & Moulis - Answer✔️✔️-- Lesser appellations
- Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines
- No classified growths
Margaux - Answer✔️✔️-- Largest AOC in Haut Medoc
- Wines know for ELEGANCE and FINESSE
- 1 First Growth (Chateau Margaux)
- Other notables: Chateau Palmer, Giscours, Brane- Cantenac
Pauillac - Answer✔️✔️-- Considered the epitome of "claret"
- Wines balance POWER and FINESSE
- 3 First Growths: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild
Saint-Julien - Answer✔️✔️-- Smallest commune, but 11 classified
growths
- Styles combine ELEGANCE and STURDINESS
- 5 Second Growths: Ducru-Beaucaillou, Leoville-Las-Cases,
Leoville-Poyferre, Leoville- Barton, Gruard-Larose
Graves & Pessac-Leognan - Answer✔️✔️-- Appellation for red AND
dry whites
- No ranking; all designated Cru Classe
- Pessac-Leognan AC in northern part
4
