2025 VEN 125 Final Exam 2&3 Best
Studying Material with All Questions from
Actual Past Exam ALREADY GRADED A
What information is implied by a Controlled Appellation of Origin (PDO in English)? -
ANSWER>>the grape's origin, variety, how it was grown, how the wine was made
What are "country wines" and "table wines" in the European Union? - ANSWER>>Country Wines :
PGI : Protected Geographical Indication : Produced in a distinct geographical area, has specific
attributes characteristic of that place"
Table Wines : Wines not qualified for PDO or PGI status, lowest quality category
What are the main characteristics of Burgundy wines? - ANSWER>>high alcohol (13%), often
chapitalized, low color and low tannin, sloping shoulders bottle (varietal: pinot noir &
chardonnay)
What are the main characteristics of Bordeaux wines? - ANSWER>>usually varietal blends,
Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot, the Bordeaux 5, sauvignon blanc, semillion, reds have more color
and tannins, less alcohol
What are the similarities between Burgundy and Bordeaux wines? - ANSWER>>varietal blends,
What are the differences between Burgundy and Bordeaux wines? - ANSWER>>Burgundy : low
color, tannins, high alcohol
Bordeaux : more color, tannins, less alcohol
What is meant by "Grand Cru" in Burgundy appellations? - ANSWER>>grand cru "great growth"
What is meant by "Premier Cru" in Burgundy appellations? - ANSWER>>"first growth" second
place
What is meant by a "Chateau" in Bordeaux appellations? - ANSWER>>a winery "castle," main
identifier of Bordeaux wine, not part of AOC system but name is usually larger on label
What is meant by "Premiers Grands Crus Classés" in Bordeaux appellations? - ANSWER>>1 =
Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
,2 = Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)
3 = Latour (Pauillac)
4 = Margaux (Margaux)
5 = Haut-Brion (Graves)
What are the characteristics of Beaujolais wine? - ANSWER>>new, thanksgiving wine, gamay noir
grape, made with carbonic maceration, fruity, light, red
How are Beaujolais wines made? - ANSWER>>with carbonic maceration from Gamay noir grapes
Compare and contrast the Italian and French AOC systems. - ANSWER>>Italian appellation
system is not hierarchal, Italian system has DOC and DOCGs
What grape(s) are used to make Barolo wines - ANSWER>>Piedmont/Nebbiolo grape
What grape(s) are used to make Barbaresco wines? - ANSWER>>Piedmont/Nebbiolo grape
What grape(s) are used to make Traditional Chianti? - ANSWER>>between 80%-100%
Sangiovese, no white varieties allowed, 20% other red varieties
What does Lambrusco mean? - ANSWER>>wine/grape from Emilia-Romagna? (Italy)
What are the major wine grapes grown in Spain? - ANSWER>>airen, tempranillo,
garnacha/grenache, sherry
What classification names, based on aging, are used for Spanish red wines? - ANSWER>>Crianza
: 24 months, 6+ in cask
Reserva : 36 months, 12+ in cask
Gran Reserva : 60 months, 18+ in cask
What are Fino, Oloroso and Amontillado, and how do they differ from one another? -
ANSWER>>Fino : flor, fortify to 15%, does not get fortified again, age through solar system
Oloroso : no flor, fortify to 18%; age/blend
Amontillado : has flor early and becomes "oloroso' -like; so little both in flavor, then fortified in
18%
, What are the characteristics of Sherry? - ANSWER>>Sherry (or Jerez-Xeres-Sherry & Manzanilla-
Sanlucar de Barrameda) is from Jerez (Spain), white palomino grapes fermented dry, solera
system
How is Sherry made? - ANSWER>>1 = base wine fermented dry
2 = fortified to 15% (18% for oloroso)
3 = partially full barrels
4 = wait for flor to develop
5 = Formation of aldehydes, strong aromas
How much alcohol does Sherry contain? - ANSWER>>15% or 18% for oloroso
What is Flor? - ANSWER>>form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that produces aldehydes with nutty
oxidized flavors in the presence of air
What is a Solera? - ANSWER>>blend of sherries of different ages to ensure constant age and no
year-to-year variation
What is Port wine? - ANSWER>>Sweet, fortified red wine, blended, British influence from Douro
(Portugal)
How does Port compare to Sherry? - ANSWER>>Port is ALWAYS SWEET. Sherry is usually DRY
Port uses RED grapes; Sherry uses WHITE grapes
Port uses many VARIETIES of grapes; Sherry only uses PALOMINO grapes
In Port, fermentation is ARRESTED when sugar conc. is 9-12% and brandy is added; Sherry is
FERMENTED DRY
Port is BLENDED; Sherry is blended through SOLERA
APort is AGED BY TYPE/STYLE and fortified to 18%+; Sherry is aged under Flor OR fortified to
18% and allow oxidation
What is Vinho Verde? - ANSWER>>"green style" wine: fresh, underripe, low alcohol 8.5% from
Portugal
Studying Material with All Questions from
Actual Past Exam ALREADY GRADED A
What information is implied by a Controlled Appellation of Origin (PDO in English)? -
ANSWER>>the grape's origin, variety, how it was grown, how the wine was made
What are "country wines" and "table wines" in the European Union? - ANSWER>>Country Wines :
PGI : Protected Geographical Indication : Produced in a distinct geographical area, has specific
attributes characteristic of that place"
Table Wines : Wines not qualified for PDO or PGI status, lowest quality category
What are the main characteristics of Burgundy wines? - ANSWER>>high alcohol (13%), often
chapitalized, low color and low tannin, sloping shoulders bottle (varietal: pinot noir &
chardonnay)
What are the main characteristics of Bordeaux wines? - ANSWER>>usually varietal blends,
Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot, the Bordeaux 5, sauvignon blanc, semillion, reds have more color
and tannins, less alcohol
What are the similarities between Burgundy and Bordeaux wines? - ANSWER>>varietal blends,
What are the differences between Burgundy and Bordeaux wines? - ANSWER>>Burgundy : low
color, tannins, high alcohol
Bordeaux : more color, tannins, less alcohol
What is meant by "Grand Cru" in Burgundy appellations? - ANSWER>>grand cru "great growth"
What is meant by "Premier Cru" in Burgundy appellations? - ANSWER>>"first growth" second
place
What is meant by a "Chateau" in Bordeaux appellations? - ANSWER>>a winery "castle," main
identifier of Bordeaux wine, not part of AOC system but name is usually larger on label
What is meant by "Premiers Grands Crus Classés" in Bordeaux appellations? - ANSWER>>1 =
Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
,2 = Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)
3 = Latour (Pauillac)
4 = Margaux (Margaux)
5 = Haut-Brion (Graves)
What are the characteristics of Beaujolais wine? - ANSWER>>new, thanksgiving wine, gamay noir
grape, made with carbonic maceration, fruity, light, red
How are Beaujolais wines made? - ANSWER>>with carbonic maceration from Gamay noir grapes
Compare and contrast the Italian and French AOC systems. - ANSWER>>Italian appellation
system is not hierarchal, Italian system has DOC and DOCGs
What grape(s) are used to make Barolo wines - ANSWER>>Piedmont/Nebbiolo grape
What grape(s) are used to make Barbaresco wines? - ANSWER>>Piedmont/Nebbiolo grape
What grape(s) are used to make Traditional Chianti? - ANSWER>>between 80%-100%
Sangiovese, no white varieties allowed, 20% other red varieties
What does Lambrusco mean? - ANSWER>>wine/grape from Emilia-Romagna? (Italy)
What are the major wine grapes grown in Spain? - ANSWER>>airen, tempranillo,
garnacha/grenache, sherry
What classification names, based on aging, are used for Spanish red wines? - ANSWER>>Crianza
: 24 months, 6+ in cask
Reserva : 36 months, 12+ in cask
Gran Reserva : 60 months, 18+ in cask
What are Fino, Oloroso and Amontillado, and how do they differ from one another? -
ANSWER>>Fino : flor, fortify to 15%, does not get fortified again, age through solar system
Oloroso : no flor, fortify to 18%; age/blend
Amontillado : has flor early and becomes "oloroso' -like; so little both in flavor, then fortified in
18%
, What are the characteristics of Sherry? - ANSWER>>Sherry (or Jerez-Xeres-Sherry & Manzanilla-
Sanlucar de Barrameda) is from Jerez (Spain), white palomino grapes fermented dry, solera
system
How is Sherry made? - ANSWER>>1 = base wine fermented dry
2 = fortified to 15% (18% for oloroso)
3 = partially full barrels
4 = wait for flor to develop
5 = Formation of aldehydes, strong aromas
How much alcohol does Sherry contain? - ANSWER>>15% or 18% for oloroso
What is Flor? - ANSWER>>form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that produces aldehydes with nutty
oxidized flavors in the presence of air
What is a Solera? - ANSWER>>blend of sherries of different ages to ensure constant age and no
year-to-year variation
What is Port wine? - ANSWER>>Sweet, fortified red wine, blended, British influence from Douro
(Portugal)
How does Port compare to Sherry? - ANSWER>>Port is ALWAYS SWEET. Sherry is usually DRY
Port uses RED grapes; Sherry uses WHITE grapes
Port uses many VARIETIES of grapes; Sherry only uses PALOMINO grapes
In Port, fermentation is ARRESTED when sugar conc. is 9-12% and brandy is added; Sherry is
FERMENTED DRY
Port is BLENDED; Sherry is blended through SOLERA
APort is AGED BY TYPE/STYLE and fortified to 18%+; Sherry is aged under Flor OR fortified to
18% and allow oxidation
What is Vinho Verde? - ANSWER>>"green style" wine: fresh, underripe, low alcohol 8.5% from
Portugal
