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Spirits and Fortified Wines Flashcards

6 cards from real SOMM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which fortified wine is produced in the Setúbal Peninsula of Portugal from Muscat grapes?

    Answer: Moscatel de Setúbal

    Moscatel de Setúbal is a DOC fortified wine made from Muscat of Alexandria grapes on the Setúbal Peninsula south of Lisbon, known for its luscious orange-marmalade character.

  2. The Calvados appellation in France produces a spirit made from which base ingredient?

    Answer: Cider (apples/pears)

    Calvados is a French apple (and sometimes pear) brandy produced in Normandy, distilled from cider and aged in oak barrels.

  3. What is Pisco, and in which two countries is it produced with ongoing legal dispute over its origin?

    Answer: A grape brandy produced in Peru and Chile

    Pisco is a grape brandy produced in both Peru and Chile, with both countries claiming it as their national spirit and having different legal standards for its production.

  4. A 'Late Bottled Vintage' (LBV) Port must be from a single year's harvest and aged in barrel for how long before bottling?

    Answer: 4-6 years

    LBV Port must be from a single declared year and aged in barrel for 4-6 years before bottling, creating a more approachable and affordable alternative to Vintage Port.

  5. Vermouth is a type of aromatized wine flavored primarily with which botanical?

    Answer: Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

    Vermouth derives its name from the German word 'Wermut' (wormwood), and wormwood must be a defining botanical ingredient in all vermouths.

  6. The CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) classifies which level of Bordeaux wine that is separate from the 1855 Médoc classification?

    Answer: Cru Bourgeois

    Cru Bourgeois is a classification for Médoc châteaux not included in the 1855 classification, revised most recently in 2020 with three tiers: Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, and Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.