SOMM Spirits and Fortified Wines 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which grape variety must comprise at least 51% of a wine labeled 'Vintage Port'?
- Touriga Nacional (Correct answer)
- Touriga Franca
- Tinta Roriz
- Tinta Barroca
Correct answer: Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional is considered the finest Port grape and typically dominates Vintage Port blends, contributing structure, aroma, and longevity.
Question 2: What distinguishes an 'Oloroso' Sherry from a 'Fino' Sherry in terms of production?
- Oloroso uses only Palomino grapes; Fino uses Pedro Ximénez
- Oloroso ages oxidatively without flor; Fino ages under a protective flor yeast layer (Correct answer)
- Oloroso is always sweet; Fino is always dry
- Oloroso must be aged at least 20 years; Fino has no minimum age
Correct answer: Oloroso ages oxidatively without flor; Fino ages under a protective flor yeast layer
Oloroso Sherry is fortified to a higher alcohol level (18%+) that prevents flor growth, aging entirely through oxidation and developing a dark, nutty, full-bodied character.
Question 3: Armagnac differs from Cognac in that it is typically distilled using which method?
- Double pot still distillation
- Continuous column still (alambic armagnacais) (Correct answer)
- Triple distillation in copper pot stills
- Vacuum distillation at low temperatures
Correct answer: Continuous column still (alambic armagnacais)
Armagnac is typically distilled once through a continuous alambic armagnacais column still, unlike Cognac's double pot still distillation, resulting in a heavier, more rustic spirit.
Question 4: In sparkling wine production, 'dosage' refers to what?
- The amount of sulfites added at bottling
- A mixture of wine and sugar added after disgorgement to determine final sweetness (Correct answer)
- The yeast and sugar added to trigger secondary fermentation
- The amount of base wine blended from different years
Correct answer: A mixture of wine and sugar added after disgorgement to determine final sweetness
Dosage (liqueur d'expédition) is a blend of wine and sugar syrup added to Champagne after disgorgement to adjust the final sweetness level before corking.
Question 5: Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is which style of wine?
- Dry white wine from the Rhône
- Naturally sweet fortified wine (Vin Doux Naturel) from Southern Rhône (Correct answer)
- Sparkling Muscat from Alsace
- Red dessert wine from Beaujolais
Correct answer: Naturally sweet fortified wine (Vin Doux Naturel) from Southern Rhône
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is a Vin Doux Naturel (VDN) from the Southern Rhône, made by adding grape spirit to fermenting Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains juice to retain natural sweetness.
Question 6: Which of the following is the correct hierarchy of Champagne sweetness levels from driest to sweetest?
- Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux (Correct answer)
- Extra Dry, Brut, Brut Nature, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux
- Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec
- Doux, Demi-Sec, Sec, Extra Dry, Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
Correct answer: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux
The official Champagne sweetness scale from driest to sweetest is: Brut Nature (0-3g/L), Extra Brut (0-6g/L), Brut (<12g/L), Extra Dry (12-17g/L), Sec (17-32g/L), Demi-Sec (32-50g/L), Doux (>50g/L).
SOMM Spirits and Fortified Wines 2
Which grape variety must comprise at least 51% of a wine labeled 'Vintage Port'?