My old blind tasting partner from Hawaii and I shoot e-mails full of questions back and forth to each other of varying degrees of difficulty.  Since I already typed these up I figure if someone is bored or wants to test themselves why not throw them up here. These are some easier questions on parts of France that I sent him today. I am sure there are some mistypes and misspellings that you'll have to deal with.

Umm, I'll take California jug wines for 100, Alex...

Some tough questions in there

Hard questions. Without studying or looking anything up I knew about 12, mostly the Champagne ones. LOL. I realized that since I don't have a huge interest in Bordeaux I don't know too much of the related minutia.

Jason - are these from the CMS exam?

No, I made them up tough they are example of what you would find on the Certificate, Certified and the real easy ones on Advanced. We are both studying for our MS and these are baseline (or you better not have to think twice) level questions.

Anyway, probably a stupid idea but I figured why not.

The answers for those that care.

1. Name the communes of Margaux?
Arsac, Cantenac, Labarde, Margaux, Soussan

2. Name the communes of Pessac-Leognan? When were they classified?
Cadaujac, Canejan, Gradignan, Leognan, Martillac, Merignac, Pessac, Talence, St. Medard d’Eyrans, Talence - 1987

3. What was the original classification year of the Graves? When was it last updated?
1953, 1959

4. Name the communes that maybe labeled as Sauternes?
Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac, Sauternes

5. What classification and commune are Chateau d’Arche? Chateau Coutet?
Chateau d’Arche – Deuxieme Cru – Sauternes, Chateau Coutet – Premier Cru - Barsac

6. Name the original year and every year after that the St.Emilion classification has been modified?
1958, 1969, 1985, 1996, 2006

7. What were the two major changes in the last St. Emilion classification?
Chateau Pavie Macquin and Chateau Troplong Mondot were upgraded to Grand Cru Classes B

8. Name three soil types of St. Emilion?
St. Christophe plateau, Graves, Ancient Sand

9. Name 6 wines from Pomerol?
Petrus, Le Pin, Vieux Chateau Certan, La Fleur, La Fleur Petrus, Chateau L’Evangile

10. Name the Grand Cru Champagne Villages that are for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir exclusively?
Chouilly – Chardonnay only, Tours-sur-Marne – Pinot only

11. What is the still wine AC of Champagne?
Coteaux Champenois

12. What is the Tete du Cuvee of Jacquesson?
Avize Grand Cru

13. What is the name of Krug’s new Champagne?
Krug Clos d’Ambonnay

14. Name the four trellising methods permitted in Champagne?
Guyot simple, Guyot double, Chablis, Cordon de Royat

15. Name 3 of the other permitted varietals for Champagne besides Chard, PN and PM?
Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc Vrai

16. What are the minimum alcohol levels for Red and White Grand Cru Burgundy? 1er Cru?
Grand – White 12%, Red 11.5% 1er Cru White 11.% , Red 10.5%

17. Name all the Grand Cru monopole of Burgundy and who owns them?
Romanee Conti – DRC; La Tache - DRC; La Grand Rue – Francois Lamarche; La Romanee – Liger-Belair; Clos de Tart – Mommessin; Clos de Lambrays – Domaine de Lambrays;

18. What two Grand Cru that can produce both red and white wines?
Corton and Musigny

19. Criots Batard Montrachet is in which village?
Chassagne-Montrachet

20. Name the five villages that make up the Cote de Nuits Village?
Brochon, Comblachien, Corgoloin, Fixin, Prissey

21. Name the 1er Cru vineyards of Vougeout?
La Cras, La Petite Vougeots, Clos de la Perriere, La Vigne Blanche

22. What is the min. alcohol level for Petit Chablis AC?
9.5%

23. What are the two predominant soil types of the Chablis region?
Kimmeridgian, Portlandian

24. Name the lieu dit located within the Grand Cru of Vaudesir?
Les Moutonne

25. What are the varietals of Irancy AC?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Cesar

26. Name the AOC villages of the Cote Chalonnaise?
Bouzeron, Givry, Mercurey, Montagny, Rully

27. Name the Cru Beaujolais villages, from North to South?
St. Amour, Julienas, Moulin-A-Vent, Chenas, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Regnie, Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly

28. Name 7 villages of the Macon that may be appended?
Chanes, Chardonnay, Fuisse, Milly Lamartine, Loche, Solutre, Vire

29. What are the only varietals allowed to be produced as Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat

30. What are the exception(s) to the above? What vineyard(s)?
Sylvaner - Zotzenberg & Kaefferkopf

31. What is Edelzwicker?
“Noble blend” a blend of two or more of any of the 9 permitted varietals of Alsace

32. Where is Clos St. Hune located?
Rosacker

33. What is the varietal of Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Savagnin Rose

34. What is the min. alcohol for Alsace Grand Cru?
11%

35. Name 9 of the 52 Grand Cru vineyards?
Brand, Brudertahl, Eichberg, Engelberg, Florimont Frankstein, Froehn, Furstentum, Geisberg,

36. Is a VdT most likely affected by botrytis or passerillage?
Passerillage

37. What is the min. sugar level for an SGN?
Riesling/Muscat – 276; Gewurztraminer/Pinot Gris - 306

38.What are the aging requirements for vin jaune?
6 years in sealed casks with no topping up

39. What are the varietals of vin jaune?
Savagnin

40. What varietals are permitted for Arbois (rouge)AC?
Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard

41. What is Bugey Cerdons? Varietal(s) and style of wine?
AC in the Jura/Savoie, a sweet sparkling rose produced from Gamay and Poulsard

42. What are the varietal(s) of Crepy?
Chasselas Roux and Chasselas Vert

43. What are the varietal(s) of Jurancon?
Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Corbu, plus up to 15% Camaralet and Lauzet

44. What is Chateau Chalon?
The most famous AC for vin jaune in Arbois

For Advanced and Masters level these are gimme questions and should be very easy for anyone at that level.

But don't forget that sommelier's don't actually know anything about wine and are just glorified waiters etc. ;)

Unfortunately, I think there are many claiming the title without having won the crown...

PS - keep posting these. Thanks.

Yes and I agree, but everyone throws the baby out with the bath water. I actually don't care and find it humorous.

I will post are back and forth questions if you are interested. If you think these are hard though, wait to I get to Germany. ;)  

He sent me these the other day, little more international in focus;

1. List the German sekt sweetness levels in order of dry to sweet?
2. What does Garrafeira mean?
3. List 3 sub zones in Rias-Baixas?
4. What year was the AC established?
5. What region is Ay? Ambonnay? Avize?
6. List 3 synonyms for Chenin Blanc?
7. Where is Irouleguy?
8. Kerner is a cross between what two varietals?
9. How do you address a Cardinal?
10. How many full size bottles go into a Balthazar?
11. What are the regions in the Breede River?
12. What are the districts of Mendoza?
13. What region does Ausbrush come from?
14. What are the 3 classifications in Bulgaria?
15. Name 4 regions of the Valle Central?
16. What is Commandarie St. John?
17. What is the min. alcohol for Gattinara DOCG?
18. What are the 3 areas of Lombardy?
19. What is the varietal(s) of Ciro?
20. Name 3 AVA’s of New York?
21. Where is Shoalhaven?
22. How much of a vintage must be in an Australian wine to list that vintage?
23. Name 4 sub-regions in Marlborough?
24. What is Esca?

I like wine. It smells pretty and tastes yummy.

My newest set from him:

Name 5 DOCs of Liguria
What are the DOCGs of Lombardy?
What are the 5 sub regions of Valtelina Superiore
Name 4 sub appelations in valle d'aosta
What are the DOCGs of Emilia Romagna
What are the DOCGs of Veneto
What's the grape in Colli Bolegnesi DOC and where is it from?
What is Bolgheri and where is located?
What is the aging requirments for Franciacorta NV and Vintage?
Where is Cerrasuolo di Vittoria DOCG and what is the grape
What are the DOCGs of Tuscany?
What are the Sub regions of Chianti
What are the sub regions of Chianti Classico
What are the DOCGs of Umbria?
What's the grape in Torgiano Rosso Riserva?
Where is EstEst Est di Montefiascone and what is the variety?
Where is Orvieto and what is it made from?
What kind of wine is Cerasuolo Montepulciano?
What are the DOCGs of Abruzzo?
What are 2 DOCs from Molise? What are they made from?
Where is Montescuadio DOC and what is the grape>?
Where is Colli Altotiberni DOC and what is the grape>
Where is Focara? What is it made from?
Name 6 DOCs from Puglia?
Name the DOC from Balisicata
What are the DOCGs of Campania
What's the main varietal and the min of it in Taurasi?
Where is Ciro? Where is it located?
What are the grapes in Marsala?
What are the 3 color types of Marsala?
What are the 4 types of Marsala?
What is the min age for Fine Marsala?
What is the min age for Superior Marsala?
What is the min age for Vergine Marsala?
Whats the min age for Solera Marsala?
How much more age must a Riserva or Stavecchio have?
What is the DOCG of Sardina?
What grapes are allowed in Vin Santo?
What is the aromatized DOCG of Piedmont?
What is Vernaccia di Serrapatrone and what is it made from?

I think I just flatlined. Those are very, very granular questions.

Well, at least I knew #20...

Pretty interesting, at least to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5tANkR2wRI&feature=email

Touche