SOMM Wine Laws and Appellations 2

Question 1

What is the minimum Champagne grape sourcing requirement — what percentage must come from within the Champagne AOC?

Accepted Answer

100%

Answer

All grapes used in Champagne AOC wines must be sourced entirely from within the delimited Champagne appellation; no outside grapes are permitted.

Question 2

Which term on an Italian wine label indicates the wine has been aged longer than the standard DOC/DOCG requirements?

Accepted Answer

Riserva

Answer

The term 'Riserva' on Italian wine labels designates wines that have been aged for longer periods than the minimum required for standard DOC/DOCG wines.

Question 3

In Spain, a wine labeled 'Gran Reserva' red must be aged for a minimum of how many years total?

Accepted Answer

5 years

Answer

Spanish Gran Reserva red wines must be aged a minimum of 5 years total, with at least 18 months in oak barrel and the remainder in bottle.

Question 4

The EU wine quality classification replaced the old 'table wine' designation with which term?

Accepted Answer

Wine without a Protected Designation (Vinho de Mesa/Vin de France)

Answer

The 2009 EU wine reform replaced older table wine terminology with 'Wine without a GI,' allowing simpler labeling while still permitting vintage and variety on labels.

Question 5

In France, a wine labeled 'Mis en bouteille au Château' means what?

Accepted Answer

Estate-bottled at the property where the grapes were grown

Answer

'Mis en bouteille au Château' means the wine was bottled at the estate where it was produced, indicating the producer controlled the entire process from vineyard to bottle.

SOMM - Certified Sommelier Examination Practice Test

SOMM - Certified Sommelier Examination Practice Test

SOMM Wine Laws and Appellations 2