CERTIFIED SOMMELIER EXAMINATION

GRAPE VARIETIES & GROWING REGIONS

Candidates preparing to take the Certified Sommelier Examination should be familiar with the following list of possible
grape varieties and growing regions. The CMS-A Examination Committee recognizes that these grape varieties produce
quality wine in many other regions of the world, but for exam efficiency and clarity limits the selection to the wines
below. This document may be updated by the CMS-A Examination Committee at any time.
* NOTE: Regions listed under Grape Variety may include blends in which the listed grape variety represents a majority
of the wine’s composition along with regionally accepted blending grape varieties.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
GAMAY

FRAN C E F RANCE AUSTRALIA CHILE USA

BURGUNDY
BORDEAUX SOUTH AUSTRALIA CENTRAL VALLEY CALIFORNIA

Beaujolais
Graves Napa Valley
(Villages, Cru) WESTERN AUSTRALIA
(Carbonic Maceration) Haut-Médoc Sonoma
(AOC, Cru Classé)

MERLOT

FRANCE USA
GRENACHE

BORDEAUX CALIFORNIA
FR AN C E AU ST R ALIA
Pomerol Napa Valley
St.-Émilion Sonoma
RHÔNE VALLEY SOUTH AUSTRALIA (AOC, Grand Cru, Grand Cru Classé)

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Gigondas SYRAH

FRANCE AUST RA LIA USA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
RHÔNE VALLEY CALIFORNIA

Northern Rhône WESTERN AUSTRALIA Napa Valley

Sonoma
VICTORIA Central Coast
NEBBIOLO

PINOT NOIR
ITALY

FRA NCE USA NEW ZEA LA N D

PIEDMONT

Barolo
BURGUNDY CALIFORNIA OREGON SOUTH ISLAND NORTH ISLAND
Barbaresco
(Normale, Riserva)
Côte d’Or Napa Valley Willamette Valley Central Otago Martinborough
(Villages, 1er Cru) Sonoma
Central Coast

MALBEC SANGIOVESE TEMPRANILLO ZINFANDEL

ARGENTINA I TALY SPAIN USA

Mendoza Rioja
TUSCANY CALIFORNIA
Ribera del Duero

Brunello di Montalcino (Reserva and Gran Reserva) Napa Valley

Chianti Classico Paso Robles
(Annata, Riserva) Sonoma

JUNE 2016