Level 1 sommelier exam test questions
with passed solutions
What is the main species of wine grapes CORRECT ANSWERS Vitis vinifera
What is a green harvest CORRECT ANSWERS Pruning bad grapes in order to send
nutrients to the healthy ones
Name 4 vineyard pests CORRECT ANSWERS Phylloxera, mealybug, mites, glassy
winged sharpshooter
Name 4 vine diseases CORRECT ANSWERS Powdery mildew, downy mildew, leaf roll
virus and fanleaf degeneration, pierces disease
What is brix CORRECT ANSWERS Sugar measurement of grapes
Sugar+ yeast= CORRECT ANSWERS Co2+alcohol+flavor+aroma+heat
What is chaptalization CORRECT ANSWERS Adding sugar to unfermented grape must
to increase the alcohol content after fermentation
What is carbonic maceration CORRECT ANSWERS Whole grapes are fermented in a
co2 rich environment prior to crushing
What is malolactic fermentation CORRECT ANSWERS The conversion of malic acid
into softer lactic acid, can often give a buttery taste
What is a stelvin CORRECT ANSWERS A screw cap
Wines in burgundy are defined mainly by what CORRECT ANSWERS Their producers
Negociant CORRECT ANSWERS Merchants who do not own the vineyard land, but will
buy grapes and or finished wine for blending and bottling under their own label
Domaine CORRECT ANSWERS The entire process from growing the grapes to bottling
and ageing the wines takes place at the domaine itself
What are the main grapes in burgundy CORRECT ANSWERS Pinot noir and
chardonnay
Chablis climate CORRECT ANSWERS Continental (high in acid)
Chablis soil CORRECT ANSWERS Kimmeridgian clay/limestone (mineral)
, What are the five distinct regions of burgundy CORRECT ANSWERS Chablis, cote d'or,
maconnais, cote chalonnaise, Beaujolais
Soil of cote d'or CORRECT ANSWERS Marl and limestone
What grape dominates cote de nuits CORRECT ANSWERS Pinot noir
What grape dominates cote de beaune CORRECT ANSWERS Chardonnay
What aoc has the most grand crus in cote de nuits CORRECT ANSWERS Gevrey-
chambertin (9)
Highly regarded vintages of cote de nuits CORRECT ANSWERS 02,05,09,10,11,12
Highly regarded vintages of the cote de beaune CORRECT ANSWERS
02,05,09,10,11,12
What region of the cote chalonnaise makes the wine from aligote CORRECT
ANSWERS Bouzeron
Famous region in maconnais that makes wine from chardonnay CORRECT ANSWERS
Pouilly-fuisse
What grape is Beaujolais made from CORRECT ANSWERS Gamay
Name four crus in Beaujolais CORRECT ANSWERS Moulin-a-vent, Morgon, brouilly,
cote de brouilly
What method is used to make prosecco CORRECT ANSWERS Charmat method
What is the most common method of making champagne CORRECT ANSWERS
Methode champenoise aka methode traditionnelle (2nd fermentation in bottle)
What is liqueur de tirage CORRECT ANSWERS A mixture of wine, sugar, and yeast
that is added to still wine during secondary fermentation in champagne
What are the main steps of the classic method of making champagne CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. primary fermentation 2. Secondary fermentation (liqueur de tirage, and
sur lie aging) 3. Removal of sediment (riddling, disgorging, and dosage)
What is autolysis CORRECT ANSWERS The gradual breakdown of yeast cells in the
bottle
How long does secondary fermentation take in the classic method CORRECT
ANSWERS 6-12 weeks
with passed solutions
What is the main species of wine grapes CORRECT ANSWERS Vitis vinifera
What is a green harvest CORRECT ANSWERS Pruning bad grapes in order to send
nutrients to the healthy ones
Name 4 vineyard pests CORRECT ANSWERS Phylloxera, mealybug, mites, glassy
winged sharpshooter
Name 4 vine diseases CORRECT ANSWERS Powdery mildew, downy mildew, leaf roll
virus and fanleaf degeneration, pierces disease
What is brix CORRECT ANSWERS Sugar measurement of grapes
Sugar+ yeast= CORRECT ANSWERS Co2+alcohol+flavor+aroma+heat
What is chaptalization CORRECT ANSWERS Adding sugar to unfermented grape must
to increase the alcohol content after fermentation
What is carbonic maceration CORRECT ANSWERS Whole grapes are fermented in a
co2 rich environment prior to crushing
What is malolactic fermentation CORRECT ANSWERS The conversion of malic acid
into softer lactic acid, can often give a buttery taste
What is a stelvin CORRECT ANSWERS A screw cap
Wines in burgundy are defined mainly by what CORRECT ANSWERS Their producers
Negociant CORRECT ANSWERS Merchants who do not own the vineyard land, but will
buy grapes and or finished wine for blending and bottling under their own label
Domaine CORRECT ANSWERS The entire process from growing the grapes to bottling
and ageing the wines takes place at the domaine itself
What are the main grapes in burgundy CORRECT ANSWERS Pinot noir and
chardonnay
Chablis climate CORRECT ANSWERS Continental (high in acid)
Chablis soil CORRECT ANSWERS Kimmeridgian clay/limestone (mineral)
, What are the five distinct regions of burgundy CORRECT ANSWERS Chablis, cote d'or,
maconnais, cote chalonnaise, Beaujolais
Soil of cote d'or CORRECT ANSWERS Marl and limestone
What grape dominates cote de nuits CORRECT ANSWERS Pinot noir
What grape dominates cote de beaune CORRECT ANSWERS Chardonnay
What aoc has the most grand crus in cote de nuits CORRECT ANSWERS Gevrey-
chambertin (9)
Highly regarded vintages of cote de nuits CORRECT ANSWERS 02,05,09,10,11,12
Highly regarded vintages of the cote de beaune CORRECT ANSWERS
02,05,09,10,11,12
What region of the cote chalonnaise makes the wine from aligote CORRECT
ANSWERS Bouzeron
Famous region in maconnais that makes wine from chardonnay CORRECT ANSWERS
Pouilly-fuisse
What grape is Beaujolais made from CORRECT ANSWERS Gamay
Name four crus in Beaujolais CORRECT ANSWERS Moulin-a-vent, Morgon, brouilly,
cote de brouilly
What method is used to make prosecco CORRECT ANSWERS Charmat method
What is the most common method of making champagne CORRECT ANSWERS
Methode champenoise aka methode traditionnelle (2nd fermentation in bottle)
What is liqueur de tirage CORRECT ANSWERS A mixture of wine, sugar, and yeast
that is added to still wine during secondary fermentation in champagne
What are the main steps of the classic method of making champagne CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. primary fermentation 2. Secondary fermentation (liqueur de tirage, and
sur lie aging) 3. Removal of sediment (riddling, disgorging, and dosage)
What is autolysis CORRECT ANSWERS The gradual breakdown of yeast cells in the
bottle
How long does secondary fermentation take in the classic method CORRECT
ANSWERS 6-12 weeks
