Sommelier Level 2 Practice Exam

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• Which latitude lies outside the typical viticulture band of 30-50 degrees?
• To convert Northern to Southern Hemisphere month, how many months should be added?
• Bunch Rot positive effect under favorable conditions is which of the following?
• Pierce's Disease is spread by which vector?
• Which of the following is a step in oak barrel making?
• In the Geneva and Lyre system, which statement best describes the canopy?
• Which system uses a permanent cordon extending horizontally from the trunk, instead of a two-year-old cane?
• What is the effect of pairing a high-acid white with a fatty dish?
• What temp range is ideal for the vine?
• Which aroma is associated with volatile acidity (vinegar-like aromas)?
• What is elevage?
• What term denotes the maturation period?
• How many fruiting canes does each spur produce each year in spur pruning?
• Which temperature is correct for ripening white grapes?
• Which grape dominates most red Rioja?
• What is malolactic fermentation (secondary fermentation)?
• What is the primary role of sulfites in wine?
• Which technique can be used to approximate the effects of a new barrel at a fraction of the cost?
• Malolactic fermentation converts malic acid into which acid?
• What role does acidity play in wine balance, aging potential, and food compatibility?
• What distinguishes non-vintage from vintage sparkling wines in terms of aging potential and style?
• Cork taint is typically associated with which aroma?
• Which statement correctly differentiates ambient yeast from cultured yeast?
• Stuck fermentation is best defined as?
• In what year did Flavescence Dorée first appear in Armagnac?
• In reverse osmosis, what are the two components of the permeate and retentate?
• What is racking (soutirage)?
• Carbonic maceration involves fermentation of what in what environment?
• Which wine characteristics are generally favored when pairing with spicy cuisine?
• Which statement about saignée is true?
• What is the temperature range for yeast to convert sugar to alcohol?
• The Gobelet system is best described how?
• Which statement correctly contrasts Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc?
• Which acids are allowed for acidification?
• Which bands of latitude are best for viticulture?
• How does fermentation temperature affect aroma development in white wines, and what ranges are typical for neutral vs aromatic varieties?
• What is the Douro Valley’s contribution to wine production and which grape varieties are central?
• Batonage refers to which winemaking technique?
• Fanleaf Degeneration results in which production outcome?
• Veraison in the Southern Hemisphere occurs in which months?
• Brettanomyces can produce which aromas?
• What is veraison?
• What is cork taint (TCA) and how does it typically affect aroma and flavor?
• Which statement describes Alsace’s labeling and style for Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewürtraminer?
• How does downy mildew affect the vine?
• Which fault is most closely associated with damp cardboard aromas?
• What is Bordeaux mixture?
• What is vin de presse?
• Which symptom is associated with Flavescence Dorée?
• What is vendage?
• In oak barrel making, which term refers to warming?
• Which Loire Valley subregions are well-known for producing crisp, high-acid Sauvignon Blanc?
• What do warmer climate New World vintners do to address excessive ripening and high alcohol?
• Which statement best describes Riesling progression from Kabinett to Auslese, and how sweetness influences style?
• Which statement best describes the aging in Chianti Classico?
• The Tendone system is an overhead training method where vines are trained upward along wooden frames or trees, allowing workers to pass underneath.
• What is pigeage?
• How do you handle a cork that sticks or breaks during opening to minimize wine loss?
• Which label term indicates the year of production?
• Pierce's disease causes the vine to be unable to produce which substance, leading to death within 1-5 years?
• Which statement about Port aging is accurate?
• Which compound is primarily responsible for buttery aromas in wine?
• To convert the Northern Hemisphere month to the Southern Hemisphere month, what offset is used?
• What is the proper order of the major seasonal events in the life of the vine?
• In Riesling, which style is typically the ripest and richest?
• Which process most influences a red wine's color?
• What is delestage?
• Which closure type is associated with minimizing oxygen exposure and enabling freshness?
• What is malolactic fermentation and how does it affect acidity, texture, and flavor?
• Outline proper pouring etiquette at the table, including how to present the bottle, pour, and refill order.
• Which statement describes cordon training?
• Which are the four main groups of diseases that can affect the vine?
• Where was phylloxera believed to spread from to cause widespread vineyard decline?
• To convert Northern Hemisphere month to the corresponding Southern Hemisphere month, which offset is used?
• Which grape is characterized by uneven ripening?
• Bordeaux mixture is primarily used to prevent outbreaks of which vine disease?
• Which option correctly lists the two basic methods of rose winemaking?
• Black Rot can be controlled through which method?
• Maceration in red winemaking is best described as which?
• In Burgundy, which grape variety dominates red wine and reflects terroir with subtle fruit and earth?
• Powdery Mildew is most accurately described as preferring which canopy condition and impacting what part of the vine?
• How does dosage affect the sweetness level of sparkling wine, and what are common terms from driest to sweetest?
• Which red wine style is typically best with roasted lamb, and why?
• What is an anaerobic environment?
• What is chaptalization?
• Which leaf symptom is typical of Fanleaf Degeneration?
• Which term is the maturation period of wine?
• What is Diacetyl?
• Which statement accurately describes the pairing approach for spicy foods?
• What happens in Dead Arm (Eutypa Dieback)?
• Which term describes a sparkling wine produced from a single year's harvest?
• How do sulfites relate to sensitivity and typical sensory expectations?
• What is Micro Oxygenation (microbullage)?
• Which aromas indicate oxidative development in wine?
• Which statements best reflect the scope of a sommelier's role in wine service beyond tasting knowledge?
• The Cordon de Royat system is similar to the Guyot system but features what modification?
• Which system is particularly associated with Pinot Noir in Champagne?
• What is cold stabilization?
• Which gas is released during malolactic fermentation?
• Which statement best describes Chianti Classico aging and Sangiovese?
• Which statement best differentiates Prosecco production from Amarone in Veneto?
• How can you distinguish a wine intended for early drinking from one meant for long aging based on style cues such as fruit, acidity, tannin, and aroma development?
• Crown Gall infection is linked to which seasonal condition that allows bacterial invasion?
• What is a byproduct of malolactic fermentation?
• Which of the following is NOT a standard step in oak barrel making?
• Which Sherry style is dry to sweet, rich, and almond-like, with aging influencing its character?
• Besides leafhopper transmission, Flavescence Dorée can spread through which method?
• Which statement best reflects the foundational pairing approach in wine and food matching?
• The drained juice from saignée may be used to produce which style of wine?
• Which term best describes the climate of a specific vineyard?
• Which term describes pumping fermenting wine over the cap?
• Which description best matches the flavor components associated with oak aging?
• What are the main differences between the traditional Champagne method and the Charmat (tank) method for producing sparkling wines?
• Which statement about the Douro is correct?
• What is debourbage?
• The Tendone system is known by which regional names?
• What is phylloxera?
• In the Gobelet system, how are the fruiting canes arranged relative to the trunk?
• The Guyot system is best described as requiring which setup?
• What do Rioja aging classifications Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva indicate?
• VINEA is best described as?
• Bacterial blight primarily kills which part of the grapevine?
• What is the correct order of the vine growth stages from budbreak to harvest?
• What is ideal serving temperature and appropriate glassware for sparkling wine to maximize its aroma and mousse?
• Which statement describes head-trained vines?
• What is fining (collage)?
• In the Geneva and Lyre vine training system, which statement best describes how the cordons extend to form the canopy?
• What steps should be taken when offering water, bread, palate cleansers, and closing service?
• What are the optimal storage conditions for wine in a retail or home environment?
• Which statement best characterizes the stylistic difference between Ribera del Duero and Rioja red wines?
• What is the recommended serving temperature for Cabernet Sauvignon?
• During which stages is micro oxygenation applied in winemaking?
• Fanleaf Degeneration is spread by which organism?
• What is saignée (bleeding) in winemaking?
• What is the minimum annual sunshine hours required to support viticulture?
• Which attribute is most closely associated with aging potential in wine?
• At what average temperature will the vine emerge from dormancy?
• Outline the basic steps of a formal wine tasting: sight, swirl, smell, palate, and conclude with a verdict.
• Which term refers to tannic press wine?
• Leafroll virus causes which combination of symptoms in fall?
• Which combination best describes Barossa Valley Shiraz characteristics?
• Which label term most directly signals geographic origin, and what is its significance?
• Which Port style is aged in wood for extended periods, showing lighter color and nutty, caramel notes?
• Which statement correctly describes Amarone’s production?
• What is remontage?
• Bunch Rot may adversely affect the character of the wine, imparting it with which flavor profile?
• What is cold stabilization and why is it used in winemaking?
• What is the impact of sur lie lees contact on a wine’s texture and flavor, particularly for white wines?
• What ave temp must be achieved to successfully ripen white grapes?
• In rose winemaking, the primary method for achieving color is through which approach?
• What is Brettanomyces and how can it present in wine?
• Which Sherry type is light, dry, flor-aged?
• Which grape adds softness and richness to traditional Bordeaux blends?
• Tendone vines may be either spur- or cane-pruned.
• Which of the following describes the early physiological effect of Flavescence Dorée on grapevines?
• Which is a common symptom of Flavescence Dorée on the fruit or vines?
• In older vines, Black Measles causes what to occur in the trunk and arms?
• Which combination of attributes suggests an age-worthy label and wine with long cellaring potential?
• OSCW stands for which of the following?
• Which grape varieties are most commonly used in classic Champagne, and what roles do Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier play?
• Which disease weakens growth on young vines and may cause sudden death in hot weather?
• Crown Gall is particularly associated with which climate condition?
• Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) is a trellising system that may be used for which pruning methods?
• Which Sherry style is oxidative, typically medium dry to dry, with nutty flavors?
• Which grape adds structure and tannin to traditional Bordeaux red blends?
• Which flavor descriptors are associated with autolytic notes from lees contact?
• Which activities fall under a sommelier's responsibilities in wine service?
• Biodynamic viticulture was introduced by which figure and in what year?
• What glassware is typically recommended for red wines?
• What is vin de goutte?
• What is carbonic maceration?
• Which aromas indicate reductive aromas in wine?
• Which statement about soil fertility and wine quality is supported by practice?
• What is pomace?
• Which term denotes a virtually no added sugar dosage in sparkling wine?
• When should you decant a wine, and what types benefit most from decanting?
• How should you pair a dessert wine with a salty cheese course?
• What ave temp must be achieved to successfully ripen red grapes?
• Spur-pruned pruning involves which of the following?
• Approximately how many weeks after budbreak does flowering occur?
• Powdery mildew affects all green parts of the vine, is favored by densely shaded canopies and overcast weather, and can reduce yields if infection occurs before flowering.
• Which term refers to free run juice?
• Pomace refers to which material in winemaking?
• What are anthocyanins?
• How does oak aging influence wine texture and flavor, and what is the difference between new and neutral oak?
• Which statement best describes the flavor and texture impact of stainless steel fermentation compared with oak aging?
• Cordon-pruned pruning retains which feature?
• Which Port is aged in bottle after short cask aging and shows intense fruit and structure?
• Crown Gall causes the vine to develop tumors on which part of the plant?
• Which closure type is traditionally associated with aging potential due to micro-oxygenation?
• In New World climates, how do warmer versus cooler regions influence Pinot Noir and Chardonnay styles?
• Which sparkling wine method typically yields a more fruit-forward profile and faster production?