Level 1 Sommelier Practice Test

Question 1

Which process turns sharp malic acid into softer lactic acid?

1. a)Chaptalization
2. b)Malolactic conversion
3. c)Carbonic maceration
4. d)Fining

Question 2

Carbonic maceration is most closely linked to which wine?

1. a)Beaujolais
2. b)Barolo
3. c)Rioja Gran Reserva
4. d)Sauternes

Question 3

What is chaptalization?

1. a)Adding sugar to the grape juice to raise the final alcohol
2. b)Adding acid to the grape juice
3. c)Removing sediment from a finished wine
4. d)Blending wines from different vintages

Question 4

Which fungus causes the noble rot behind Sauternes and Tokaji Aszú?

1. a)Phylloxera
2. b)Oidium
3. c)Botrytis cinerea
4. d)Flor

Question 5

In which method does the second fermentation happen in the same bottle the wine is sold in?

1. a)Tank (Charmat) method
2. b)Traditional method
3. c)Transfer method
4. d)Carbonation

Question 6

What is phylloxera?

1. a)A fungal disease of the leaves
2. b)An insect that feeds on vine roots
3. c)A way of pruning vines
4. d)A wild yeast

Question 7

At what temperature do you serve a full-bodied red, such as a Bordeaux?

1. a)6–8 °C (43–46 °F)
2. b)10–12 °C (50–54 °F)
3. c)15–18 °C (59–64 °F)
4. d)22–24 °C (72–75 °F)

Question 8

How do you open a bottle of sparkling wine at the table?

1. a)Remove the cage, then pull the cork straight out
2. b)Keep a thumb on the cork, hold the bottle at about 45° and turn the bottle, not the cork
3. c)Point the bottle at the ceiling and let the cork pop
4. d)Twist the cork quickly while holding the bottle upright

Question 9

Why do you decant an old red wine?

1. a)To chill it
2. b)To separate the wine from its sediment
3. c)To remove sulfites
4. d)To make it sweeter

Question 10

Who tastes a bottle first to approve it?

1. a)The oldest guest
2. b)The host who ordered it
3. c)The sommelier only
4. d)Whoever sits nearest

Question 11

A wine smells of wet cardboard and a damp cellar, and the fruit is muted. What is the most likely fault?

1. a)Oxidation
2. b)Cork taint (TCA)
3. c)Brettanomyces
4. d)Volatile acidity

Question 12

Which part of a red wine gives the drying feeling on your gums?

1. a)Acidity
2. b)Tannin
3. c)Alcohol
4. d)Residual sugar

Question 13

White Burgundy, such as Meursault, is made from which grape?

1. a)Sauvignon Blanc
2. b)Chardonnay
3. c)Chenin Blanc
4. d)Viognier

Question 14

White Sancerre is made from which grape?

1. a)Chenin Blanc
2. b)Sauvignon Blanc
3. c)Melon de Bourgogne
4. d)Chardonnay

Question 15

Which part of Bordeaux is led by Merlot?

1. a)Pauillac
2. b)Margaux
3. c)Saint-Émilion and Pomerol
4. d)Sauternes

Question 16

The 1855 Classification ranked the red wines of which area?

1. a)The Médoc
2. b)Saint-Émilion
3. c)Pomerol
4. d)Entre-Deux-Mers

Question 17

Where is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and which grape usually leads its red blend?

1. a)Northern Rhône, Syrah
2. b)Southern Rhône, Grenache
3. c)Burgundy, Pinot Noir
4. d)Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc

Question 18

Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage reds are based on which grape?

1. a)Grenache
2. b)Syrah
3. c)Merlot
4. d)Gamay

Question 19

Which three grapes make most Champagne?

1. a)Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier
2. b)Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris
3. c)Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay
4. d)Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc

Question 20

What does Brut mean on a Champagne label?

1. a)Very sweet
2. b)Dry
3. c)Medium sweet
4. d)Made without grapes from the best villages

Question 21

Which grape is not one of the four classic Alsace Grand Cru grapes?

1. a)Riesling
2. b)Gewurztraminer
3. c)Pinot Gris
4. d)Chardonnay

Question 22

Barolo and Barbaresco are made from which grape?

1. a)Sangiovese
2. b)Nebbiolo
3. c)Barbera
4. d)Corvina

Question 23

Amarone della Valpolicella is made from grapes that are:

1. a)Frozen on the vine
2. b)Dried after harvest before fermenting
3. c)Aged under a layer of flor
4. d)Fortified with grape spirit

Question 24

Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100% of which grape?

1. a)Sangiovese
2. b)Montepulciano
3. c)Nebbiolo
4. d)Aglianico

Question 25

Prosecco is made mainly from which grape?

1. a)Glera
2. b)Trebbiano
3. c)Moscato
4. d)Pinot Grigio

Question 26

Soave is made mainly from which grape?

1. a)Vermentino
2. b)Garganega
3. c)Fiano
4. d)Cortese

Question 27

Which German Prädikat level needs the ripest grapes?

1. a)Kabinett
2. b)Spätlese
3. c)Auslese
4. d)Trockenbeerenauslese

Question 28

The Mosel is most famous for which grape?

1. a)Müller-Thurgau
2. b)Riesling
3. c)Silvaner
4. d)Pinot Noir

Question 29

What is Austria's signature white grape?

1. a)Grüner Veltliner
2. b)Welschriesling
3. c)Chardonnay
4. d)Sauvignon Blanc

Question 30

In the Wachau, which category is the richest and fullest dry wine?

1. a)Steinfeder
2. b)Federspiel
3. c)Smaragd
4. d)Kabinett

Question 31

Which grape makes most Sherry?

1. a)Tempranillo
2. b)Palomino
3. c)Garnacha
4. d)Albariño

Question 32

What is the main red grape of Rioja?

1. a)Garnacha
2. b)Tempranillo
3. c)Monastrell
4. d)Mencía

Question 33

In which valley is Port made?

1. a)The Douro
2. b)The Tagus
3. c)The Minho
4. d)The Dão

Question 34

Marlborough, in New Zealand, is most famous for which grape?

1. a)Pinot Noir
2. b)Sauvignon Blanc
3. c)Chardonnay
4. d)Riesling

Question 35

Mendoza, in Argentina, is best known for which red grape?

1. a)Carménère
2. b)Malbec
3. c)Tannat
4. d)Zinfandel

Question 36

Barossa Valley, in South Australia, is best known for which red grape?

1. a)Shiraz
2. b)Pinot Noir
3. c)Merlot
4. d)Cabernet Franc

Question 37

Napa Valley, in California, is best known for which red grape?

1. a)Zinfandel
2. b)Pinot Noir
3. c)Cabernet Sauvignon
4. d)Syrah

Question 38

Which wine is the classic regional match for a goat's cheese such as Crottin de Chavignol?

1. a)Sancerre
2. b)Barolo
3. c)Tawny Port
4. d)Amarone

Question 39

Tequila must be made from at least 51% of which plant?

1. a)Sugar cane
2. b)Blue Weber agave
3. c)Rye
4. d)Rice

Question 40

Sake is brewed from which main ingredient?

1. a)Barley
2. b)Rice
3. c)Grapes
4. d)Plums